AXIS AUGUST ARTIST FEATURE: JAY SENETCHKO, Vancouver, BC

AXIS Contemporary Art on the main level

'I believe in: interesting ideas; compelling narratives; representing themes, beliefs and values; the importance of history; emotional impact; and excellence of execution. Pictures affect people by telling stories...it is important to tell them well, and to be saying something important.'

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Jay Senetchko now lives and works in Vancouver British Columbia.

Jay Senetchko graduated from the University of Alberta in 1997 with a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction and then spent several years as a professional soccer player in Edmonton and Montreal before moving on to entrepreneurial interests in Canada and the United States. In June of 2000 he changed direction, moved to Vancouver and received a Diploma of Classical Animation from the Vancouver Film School in 2001.

He began painting in 2000 and although he is primarily self-taught he has been strongly influenced by apprenticeships with both Gideon Flitt and Odd Nerdrum. Senetchko began exhibiting his work in 2002 and has since shown throughout North America and Europe.

Jay is founder and partner of Red Hand Design, a Vancouver design company through which he acted as Conceptual Designer for Streamy and Leo nominated Riese the Series.

He is currently finalizing a book on perspective and composition for the visual arts as well as illustrating and writing a storybook.

Senetchko has been teaching life-drawing, perspective, composition, and art history at Vancouver Film School since 2002, and teaching painting privately since 2003. He also currently holds independent lectures on the arts in alternating locations throughout Vancouver.

Jay Senetchko is also member of the figurative collective Phantoms in the Front Yard.