Friday, September 7, 2012

Bryan Young - Painter


Bryan Young
Painter

Bryan Young 

Tell me about your work? What are you currently working on? How is this different from past projects?
Night Ice.
My current work is based on the neighborhood ice rinks near our house. I decided to work on a series of paintings of the rinks and broom ball players who play there at night. Last winter I would sit in my car with my painting supplies in the rink parking lot and paint scenes of players, cars, snow, and occasionally the outhouse. Some of the work that was done on location was then brought back into the studio and enlarged or used to create a larger painting from a series of smaller ones. When working at night in the car,I would sometimes paint 'etudes' or small studies to capture a certain light effect or scene and then bring those into the studio to create a larger work. 

For five years I had driven by the rinks and thought how interesting they looked lit up at night with players in bright colored uniforms running around making patterns in the snow so I decided to spend some time exploring the concept. I have worked on the idea for two years now, and I don't feel I have exhausted the possibilities, so this winter I plan to continue the project. 



How did you decide to become an artist?
I have always considered myself to be an artist, but I don't really know what that means. I have always enjoyed the challenge of working on things and trying to get them "right," although I often don't know what that means either. 


What was the best advice given to you as an artist? 
Make the work you want to make. Be careful of both praise and criticism. 

Many artists struggle to find ways to sell their art.  How do you sell your work?  How do you market yourself?
I have largely relied on galleries but have not had the best experience. Over the past few years I have not put forth much of an effort to market myself and have just enjoyed the process of painting work that I find interesting. My website is bryanyoungstudios.com

Who are some of the Minnesota artists you enjoy? 
I don't follow any Minnesota artists...not enough time, but I I regularly visit The Museum of Russian Art and love their paintings. 


If I were to follow you around to see art in Minnesota, which places would we go?  What would we see?
In the winter I spend a great deal of time snowboarding and nordic skiing with my family. In the summer I  am often at the little league baseball fields or traveling with my family. As I get older these things have impacted my art as I attempt to paint the daily scenes of my life rather than trying to invent something new to create. It has also pushed me in new directions as a painter trying to paint something that might not be that interesting as subject matter as something special. In the art world I spend quite a bit of time at the Russian Museum of Art because the artists represented there were able to make beautiful paintings from daily life. That to me is interesting.

Do you have any exhibits to promote in the near future? 
NIGHT ICE: Bloomington Art Center, Atrium Gallery, September 13 through November 2.
1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd
Bloomington, MN 55431


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