about me
jay rather --
a watercolor artist, and pipe carver
If you would like to contact me please do not use the contact form here on the website, instead the best place to reach me is through Ebay messages or etsy messages.
Click on any of the blue links below to find places you can view and purchase my work or message me at either using thEir Messaging. We do custom orders as time allows.
our EBay Store:
stores.ebay.com/Simms-Creek-Trading-Post
our Etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/Pipecarvers?ref=search_shop_redirect
I was born in 1959, in houston, texas, the third child of L.h. (Herb) rather. Jr., A.W.S., N.W.S. and Jacquelyn Rather. I married Karen Morgan Rather, (my girlfriend since 13 years of age), we have been married for 41 years. We have four wonderful children and four equally wonderful grand- children, and an awesome great grandson. we have been greatly blessed in life.
In 1980, shortly after the birth of our first child, We decided to reinvent our lives, and moved to a remote area of the texas "hill country". our life became very simple, far removed from the fast lane of houston. Over the years we grew to have a family of four children, two boys and two girls. (Above) copyright Jay rather
" Library of congress", by artist Jay rather
Watercolor painting 22" x 30"
we We raised a wide assortment of animals during our time far removed from city life, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, goats, horses. We hunted, smoked meat, used wood burning stoves, a windmill, and well that provided our water, and we had no phone.
Originally the house had no plumbing, whatsoever. We showered outdoors underneath an overhead water storage tank, in our first summer. a “two-seater” outhouse, we referred to as the “King and Queen’s Throne Room”, was part of the 1904 homestead, abandoned for decades., where we found ourselves now living.
We fixed up the old home and added a full bath and plumbed the kitchen after living in a camper during our first summer. It was a record summer heat wave, over 100 degrees daily for 3 months,. karen was pregnant with our second child, at that time. we didn't have airconditioning like we were accustomed to in houston, and it was tough for her to aclimate, at first. (we did become accustomed to the change and worked outside all day at all times of the year).
Click on any of the blue links below to find places you can view and purchase my work or message me at either using thEir Messaging. We do custom orders as time allows.
our EBay Store:
stores.ebay.com/Simms-Creek-Trading-Post
our Etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/Pipecarvers?ref=search_shop_redirect
I was born in 1959, in houston, texas, the third child of L.h. (Herb) rather. Jr., A.W.S., N.W.S. and Jacquelyn Rather. I married Karen Morgan Rather, (my girlfriend since 13 years of age), we have been married for 41 years. We have four wonderful children and four equally wonderful grand- children, and an awesome great grandson. we have been greatly blessed in life.
In 1980, shortly after the birth of our first child, We decided to reinvent our lives, and moved to a remote area of the texas "hill country". our life became very simple, far removed from the fast lane of houston. Over the years we grew to have a family of four children, two boys and two girls. (Above) copyright Jay rather
" Library of congress", by artist Jay rather
Watercolor painting 22" x 30"
we We raised a wide assortment of animals during our time far removed from city life, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, goats, horses. We hunted, smoked meat, used wood burning stoves, a windmill, and well that provided our water, and we had no phone.
Originally the house had no plumbing, whatsoever. We showered outdoors underneath an overhead water storage tank, in our first summer. a “two-seater” outhouse, we referred to as the “King and Queen’s Throne Room”, was part of the 1904 homestead, abandoned for decades., where we found ourselves now living.
We fixed up the old home and added a full bath and plumbed the kitchen after living in a camper during our first summer. It was a record summer heat wave, over 100 degrees daily for 3 months,. karen was pregnant with our second child, at that time. we didn't have airconditioning like we were accustomed to in houston, and it was tough for her to aclimate, at first. (we did become accustomed to the change and worked outside all day at all times of the year).
(left)
Presentation Pipe, Hand carved by Jay rather, pipe carver.
Jay rather copyright 2014
This is a large pipe created from catlinite (aka pipestone) and steatite, both types of stone used by prehistoric american indian pipecarvers in the past and current day carvers.
(on the right)
Platform Pipe, by Jay rather, pipe carver
platform pipes made during pipe making times were commonly
carved by the hopewell people. this handcarved platform
pipe jay carved is made using the traditional type of stone of choice
catlinite and steatite.
copyright jay rather
Platform Pipe, by Jay rather, pipe carver
platform pipes made during pipe making times were commonly
carved by the hopewell people. this handcarved platform
pipe jay carved is made using the traditional type of stone of choice
catlinite and steatite.
copyright jay rather
Early on, While raising four children there were times
one of us worked outside the home to supplement income
when needed. When we had become parents we decided one
parent would stay home with the children. We chose
to take turns so each of us would get to enjoy that
time with the kids equally. We were fortunate that we were able to do so, and the majority of time we all lived and worked together, as families did in years past.
We worked on our ranch, raising livestock for income and sustenance, had a wide variety of skills and jobs, and had businesses of our own. karen trained horses. She was also a large animal veterinary Technician. on our ranch, We bred and raised quarter and thoroughbred horses, and a large herd of south african boar goats. we even began home schooling children and before karen and i knew it, the ranch soon was not only home to our children , but our grandchildren. What a
wonderful place to live and what a life we have been
afforded. We have been so fortunate to have been able to live and grow our family in this manner.
"Half mast", by artist jay rather
Watercolor painting 22 x 30"
copyright jay rather
It was during one of the times that Karen was working at a horse breeding farm on the night shift assisting with births that I began painting with watercolors. My father was an architect and artist so I have been creating artwork since a small child. He painted with watercolors, but I had never really delved too deeply into watercolor painting as it’s an unforgiving medium in many ways. Long story shortened, I developed a love of watercolors and soon I was represented by galleries across the country selling my work.
Art has always been an integral part of our life together, Karen and I owned an art gallery and custom framing shop for a number of years. We purchased a large two story historic building on the town square with plenty of room for studio space for ourselves and art instruction. The kids by then ranged from 4 years to 14 years of age and had plenty of room for themselves and friends. During those years Karen and I, and our two sons earned our black belts in TaeKwonDo during the evenings. our oldest became an adult, married, and our first grandchild was born. Thus began a new chapter for us.
I had always been very interested in Native American artifacts, and when I began finding points, blades, and tools my interest greatly escalated. Soon I began adding to my collections, buying from individuals, artifact shows, and other venues.
I studied the techniques and materials used. Pipes intrigued me but they are not as common and can be very pricey. I decided I would make some of the pipes in styles that interested me. Soon the house was filling with pipes, and as was the case with my watercolor paintings, my wife encouraged me to begin selling my work. By this time however, the internet appeared and instead of physical locations, such as my art gallery affiliations, I opened my own store online. Overnight I was selling the pipes I carved and custom orders were coming in. I was also carving and knapping many other types of reproduction items.
. All my children are extremely talented and artistic in many ways. The children had art supplies from a very young age, and were encouraged to create alongside their parents. they explored many different endeavors from painting, sculpting, drawing, carving, dance, jewelry making, crocheting, knitting, sewing, Tanning hides and skins, smoking meats, creative writing, and musical instruments, and so much more. there were always ongoing projects. children weren't told they were to young to accomplish their desires and requests and because of this, i believe, were afforded so many opportunities others may have missed.
My youngest son Lance, in addition to other artistic abilities has become an incredible pipe carver. I have some of his art work pictured here along with mine. He does extremely detailed realistic effigy pipes and stems. Karen, my wife has been busy again, and encouraged me to begin selling in some other venues and in having my own web presence with this website. I've been carving now for a couple of decades and karen, too began carving. she is most interested in carving effigy pipes.
I am very humbled that my pipes are in the hands of many native american people for personal use and ceremonial use. it is because of my adoration of the work of those carvers today and american indian artisans of the past that i have chosen this as my path. i endeavor to gain as much knowledge and skill as i am able and to not only share it through the pipes i make in my life but to pass this artistic ability and interest on to future generations.
If you would like to contact me please do not use the contact form here on the website, instead the best place to reach me is through Ebay messages or etsy messages.
Blessings, Jay
Click on any of the blue links below to find places you can view and purchase my work or message me at either using thEir Messaging. We do custom orders as time allows. my gmail account has been hacked along with my facebook account multiple times so i avoid them at present. i have found ebay and etsy secure, however.
our EBay Store:
stores.ebay.com/Simms-Creek-Trading-Post
our Etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/Pipecarvers?ref=search_shop_redirect
If you've already purchased from us and want another copy of our pipe care leaflet click here:
www.picmonkey.com/p/efxK66QaAfz/m/etVy9f
Jay Rather water color paintings
corporate art collections: (Partial list)
Washington D.C. convention center, U.s.
Fmc Corporation, Brussels
Merrill Lynch
Sallie Mae student loan and Marketing, Assn.
U.s. National bank
Motel 6 Headquarters
Tompson and Mitchell-bellville Il
Fidelity Management and research
bank of the southwest
Transco energy corporation, houston
Continental national Bank
southwest bank shares
coopers and lybrand
o.r. worley architects
greens parkway bank
vinson and elkins law
Medical plaza
First texas bank
Mc camish, Ingram, Martin and brown, Law offices
mckinney at knox, dallas
andrews and kurth, attorneys
brown, maroney rose, barber, and dye, law
small, craig and werkenthin, Law
geary, stahl, and spencer, Attorneys
huges and luce
Sawtelle, goode, davidson, and triolo, Law firm
Publications:
the best of watercolor, rockport publishers, 1999 hardback, cover and page 58
Awards and Juried exhibitions:
American watercolor society annual exhibition-1997
national watercolor society annual exhibition-1996
national watercolor society annual exhibition-1992
Western colorado watercolor society annual exhibition=1992
Western federation of watercolor societies-1984
Artist magazine annual competition finalist-1991
Texas watercolor society-1986
Texas watercolor society-1985
texas visions-1985
"let freedom ring", two man show kincannon fine arts, dallas, tx june 1999
"preservation texas ", two man show, state thomas gallery, dallas tx october 1999
"texas renaissance vi", two man show, international festival institute, round top tx, novemer 13 1999
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
*A.W.S., N.W.S are acronyms for "american watercolor society" and "National Watercolor society". Herb rather, Jay's father is a signature member of both. Membership is by invitation only after meeting criteria quite stringent. he's a very accomplished painter. He is now in his mid 80's and was able to paint until his late 70's.
As a side note, I created the smoking buffalo banner at the top of this page. it is not meant disrespectfully, and i hope no offense is taken. as an artist, too, i enjoy photographic manipulation along with many other mediums. it's just meant to be light-hearted.--Karen rather
all Images on this website are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the artists. it is illegal to do so. the artist will take all measures as allowed by law in the event these are reproduced without their permission.. Artists: jay rather, lance rather, Herb rather, and karen rather
(images have been cropped and resolution lowered so they would load quickly for you. therefore they differ from the originals.)