Justin Hayward stands in front of his painting that hangs in the hallways of Casper College’s new visual arts building.
By LucyJane Crimm
People say if you love what you do, you’ll never have to work a day in your life and for Casper College drawing and painting instructor Justin Hayward, that definitely rings true. For 16 years, Hayward has taught and inspired art students at CC while continuing to further his own art career.
“I [paint] as a profession, but it’s also my hobby. I love to do it,” Hayward said. “I’m constantly drawing, sketching, creating. Outside of class, between classes, and during classes I’m always working on something.”
Hayward doesn’t just paint as a hobby,for class or for exhibits. He also does portrait and landscape commissions as a profession. People reach out to him after finding him on social media or hearing about him by word of mouth. There are even some commissions that he applies for. Hayward is currently doing a commission for the Air Force Academy in Colorado.
“The graduating class every year hires an artist to do a painting, I applied and they chose me,” Hayward explained. “The painting is going to be given to the keynote speaker of the graduation. There’s some rumors of who it is, but I don’t know for sure until they actually announce it.”
Hayward’s passion for art began at a young age, and he drew as a child. He knew he wanted to continue pursuing art, and he wanted to be a Disney animator when he grew up. When he first started art as a child, he had limited access to mediums so he mainly drew, but when he was in high school, he was introduced to the world of painting, which became his main medium when starting his career.
“I was always good at it [art] and teachers started to point it out at a young age. I wasn’t good at anything else, so I just kept pursuing it,” Hayward said. “Oil paint is my main medium. I’ve used it for so long. I just know all the tricks to it and selling work- – it seems like buyers want oil painting more than an acrylic or watercolor.”
Hayward is a realist artist and mostly does landscape paintings but also explores portraiture and still life. When creating his landscape artworks, he said he takes an immersive approach by going on hikes, photographing the scenes, and carefully observing the surroundings before translating them onto a canvas. He even occasionally brings his art supplies out on hikes with him and paints the landscape right there.
“Usually when people go [hiking] with me, they get annoyed because I have to stop to look and take pictures, or I’ll just sit for a while and just see how the light is falling on the objects,” Hayward said.
Hayward originally got a degree in illustration and illustrated a few books, but ultimately decided that his role was to teach others. He found inspiration from the teachers he had in high school and college to get him to where he is now.
Art Courtesy of Justin Hayward
Justin Hayward, visual arts instructor at CC, shared a photo of one of his paintings for publicaiton in the Chinook. Hayward’s art is exhibited across the country.
He said, “I wanted to be an animator as a little kid. Then as I got older, I had some really good teachers throughout high school and college, and that inspired me to be a teacher. I think if I didn’t have those teachers, I probably wouldn’t be where I’m at.”
Much like his teachers before him, Hayward’s passion also extends to his students who admire his artistic abilities. Fine art major Sierra Farquhar-Baltazar took 2D design in the spring of 2023 and is currently taking his drawing class. She said she’s learned a lot from Hayward.
“I was a one-trick pony, and taking his 2D class really forced me out of my box… I was able to try different media, color palettes [and] subjects. His drawing class made me realize I really didn’t have as great of a grasp on the fundamentals that make a drawing go from good to great. These tools have greatly improved my work and my confidence within these works,” Farquhar-Baltazar said.
If Hayward didn’t seem busy enough already, he’s also had his art featured in numerous art exhibits and shows in museums. Locally he exhibited his art in the Nicolaysen Art Museum, Art 321, Casper College and other art shows around town. He displayed a portrait in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Many museums around the nation featured his work including Utah, Michigan and New York to name a few.
“I think early on I knew I wanted to do something with art,” Hayward said. “The A/’s came easy in Art… I knew at an early age, I just didn’t know what I was going to be doing… but I just knew it would be something with art.”
Hayward made his mark with his art, but it’s still just the beginning for him. As he furthers his art career, he will continue to inspire and teach the new generation of artists.
“I’ve seen many of his [paintings]. I have a profound respect for him as an artist, so I stalked him a bit- – artistically, that is. I love them. He’s very versatile, and his talent is inspiring,” Farquhar-Baltazar said. “Justin is tough and sometimes he seems very stern. That’s not uncommon with instructors, but he warms up to you and then he’s hilarious. He’s very honest but he’s really helpful and goes the extra mile to see you succeed. If he tells you (that) you did a great job, you know he’s not pulling your leg. He has good hair, good jokes, and good clothes. Despite what other people might say.”
