Artwork by James M. Young

Artist’s Statement

I have been creating images for as long as I can remember. I have always loved to draw and it has been my constant companion. My work is primarily representational with a strong focus on craftsmanship and the physicality of the medium in use. Many years of experience in professional digital design have provided a valuable contrast that further supports my love and respect for the process and presence of painting.

Whether it is more observational portraiture, or imaginary scenes and subjects, I enjoy creating an open narrative that engages viewers – providing just enough detail to allow them to fill in the blanks. I believe that art serves as a personal outlet for a kind of open-ended storytelling.

There is often a strong autobiographical undertone in my work, yet I truly enjoy the ambiguity of infusing my work with the characteristics of personas gleaned from observing the outside world in my often cynical way.

I continue to experiment with a mixture of small and large format works, but consistent among all is the attempt to create a rich deep texture in my paintings. I tend to build up many layers of paint and include various details, drawings, and writings that will often be obscured in the finished piece. I feel that these lost or “hidden” artifacts contribute to the overall sense of energy that a work has when closely inspected.