Jay Spalding is not only an artist but a career educator as well. As an artist, he has had his art in galleries throughout the southeastern United States and has his works in international collections. He gives lectures on art, has judged for many venues, given workshops, and has maintained his own studio for decades. As an educator, Jay has taught not only ceramics and sculpture, but also drawing, design, and art history. Being a Florida native, Jay found infinite inspiration from the ocean, which nearly all his work is based on. Using simple subject matter, he can focus on the aesthetics of the work, which are inspired mainly by Art Nouveau.