About me

Hey there, I'm Maya Jay, a Canadian artist who calls Toronto home.

I'm a lover of all things creative - I learned how to sew and draft patterns in high school and have been experimenting with different mediums ever since. When I was a kid, I even tried making clothes for my dolls. My mom taught me how to crochet, and while I'm not the best at it, I still love it. I've also tried embroidery, scrapbooking, jewelry making, and just about anything creative that catches my interest. However my main passion is art and surface pattern design.

I adore painting with gouache and watercolor and painting on different surfaces, like denim jackets, shoes, and purses. I've put on two fashion shows and two art shows to showcase my work, and I love wearable art because it combines two of my favorite things - fashion and art.

My process

I start my creative journey with a black ballpoint pen, using loose and sketchy strokes to create a simple yet lively look. Gouache and watercolor add emotions to my work, telling stories with each expressive stroke. Recently, I've also started using digital tools like Procreate and Illustrator. This mix of traditional and modern lets my sketches turn into captivating stories, while colors give life to feelings, creating something special.

Fun Facts

  • A simple black pen from the dollar store. They are trusty and I don’t feel so bad when I misplace or lose one.

  • Why yes! I love roller skating and ice skating.

  • I'm usually in creative mode with music playing in the background. The type of music varies depending on my mood and the vibe I want to capture.