The subtle elegance and simplicity embodied in Jay's hand-sculpted pieces are not reliant on involved joinery or the extensive use of exotic woods, but rather the result of a very personal relationship between an artist and his material. Beginning with logs gathered from fallen trees near his studio in rural Minnesota, McDougall sculpts pieces that are often distinguished by the glowing beauty of the wood contrasted by a very organic carved texture. "I strive for a balance in my work, a point where my skill as an artist and the natural beauty of my material become blurred, they sustain one another." says McDougall. It's no wonder his work is often described in very living terms: sensual, flowing, poetic, soulful, and alive.