SYDNEY YOUNG
Artist Statment
Mundane. Content. Sunlight. Pattern
When I think of my work these words are what come to mind.
Creating a sense of contentness is important to my work. My figures relax and intermingle with their surroundings. The intention is to work all parts together to allow the figures and their environments to combine and create a sense of solitude. One or two figures are presented in their everyday actions or sometimes no figures appear at all, allowing the space to be just as important as their surroundings. This allows my work to seem peaceful and calm.
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Sunlight is meant to bring a feeling of warmth to my pieces. I choose mornings because I believe that time of day brings a sense of restfulness to my work. I use limited colors to make my pieces less chaotic and more cohesive, using more cool greens and blues in my spaces to contrast with the warm magenta and yellow, of skin and sunlight.
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I also use patterns in my work – to disrupt, to lead, to give a sense of familiarity, and a sense of relief. These patterns disrupt their surroundings and lead the eye. When found as patterns from windows, stripes or bedding they tend to give a sense of familiarity within the surroundings. Patterns even give a sense of relief to their opposing simple surroundings, allowing one object to become specific and non-specific at the same time.
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Influences for my work include artists like Edward Hopper and Jim Holland. Who both make art about life and solidarity. Their use of light and space in their work has influenced my paintings and how I set up compositions. Focusing more on people’s surroundings and how it feels. I also am inspired by Dan Flavin who is a light artist, I reference his work the way I reflect light onto objects.
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The intention of my work is to have a sense of calmness and familiarity to the spaces I create. When I create these spaces, I focus on the comfort of the figures, pattern, and lighting. I focus on the everyday because I believe living in the moment is crucial to living a happy life, especially in these trying times.