Adam Young
Lost Garden, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, 28 x 25”
Describe your artistic style in three words.
loose. spirited. inspired
What's inspiring you right now?
The goodness and kindness of others. The unbelievable spring here in central Texas. And music as always John Fahey. JOHN PRINE forever. Ian Noe. John Lee Hooker. Will Johnson. Gillian Welch.
What do you do when you're feeling uninspired?
Getting out in nature, listening to music or reading stories of hardship help those lulls in inspiration
Tell us something unique about your process.
As a wood worker I start by making a bunch of wood panels with loose ideas of what imagery will fill them. Some panels may be built from 100 yr old longleaf pine and others from new Douglas fir. All carry a substance of living and warmth to the final imagery. Words that carry over from conversations, songs, or ideas will help the image speak. And the rest just comes on along from somewhere......some process for sculptural work or paintings.
What advice do you have for other artists?
Take on all opportunities even the scary ones. They are great teachers. And be nice, no one wants to work with a jerk.
Anything else you'd like to share?
I want to say thank you to my wife and daughter for the daily inspiration and to my abundance of amazing and gifted friends for the goodness you show us. And to the many gallerists who have always held faith in me and given me opportunities even when I maybe wasn't so deserving.
Thank you to Big Medium for the chance to show how I fulfill this inner need to make things. and lastly thank you! yes you!
Give/give, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, 26 x 26”
Photo by Matt Rainwaters
Drifted Freely, 2020, Acrylic on found wood, 18 x 18”
Confluence of Rivers, 2020, Acrylic on found wood, 18 x 18"
Great Listening, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, 16 x 12”
Mother, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, 16 x 12”
The Labyrinth Walker, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, 18 x 18”
Greater Good, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, 10 x 10”
Photo by Matt Rainwaters
Rain for Dawn, 2019, Acrylic on found wood, wildflowers, 22 x 12”
Nurture, 2017, 15 x 12 x 10’
Adam Young is a self taught woodworker, metalworker and visual artist from southwest Louisiana. his fondness for music, local lore, the art of story‑telling and the all‑enchanting natural world influence his work. he is a longtime resident of Austin where he still lives with his wife and daughter.