Jeff Faust was exposed to art and started painting at a very young age. Self-taught, Faust opposed the lack of freedom in a formal education in art. His paintings host an array of styles, of which he likes to call, "subtle surrealism." With a preference for certain objects like clouds, ropes, leaves, bowls, and birds, Faust creates beauty and mystery out of everyday elements. "The process of painting is, for me, an attempt to integrate elements that reside in my mind into a sort of visual poem- a visual form of the written word. I feel a need to share these ideas in my mind, to make them visible." -Jeff Faust A California native, Faust continues to assemble his paintings in his studio, often working in long stretches on multiple paintings simultaneously. He and his wife, Jan, reside in Claremont on the outskirts of Los Angeles. "Life is so loud these days. We are bombarded with loud music, loud images and loud people. I'm trying to create these windows I can look at to re center myself...and also give others respite from the world, and maybe help them recenter as well."