Q&A with Lucy Young (PT1)

I recently had a Q&A session with Emily from the Mayne Gallery and I thought i’d share the answers with you guys. Please hit the link to the gallery and have a look at all the amazing artists they have.

Can you tell us about your journey to the arts? 

Being creative has always come very naturally to me, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t creating something.  So deciding which direction to pursue was very easy, studying art at A-level, foundation level and finally University London.  My earliest artworks were predominantly figurative with intricate details, but as I developed my skills, I knew my deep love of the ocean was my calling me to paint the sea.  My early figurative paintings still serve me now, as I love to get lost in the intricate details of people enjoying a day at the beach.

What made you decide to become a painter?

I am passionate about the medium of paint on canvas, I love to loose myself in a painting using the liquid light to capture the spirit of the sea.  Paint is so versatile and satisfying, I love to experiment and push boundaries daily.  Every aerial scene I paint from has varying light and textures, so I find myself continually growing, learning and experimenting and as a result, no two paintings are ever the same.

What is the inspiration behind your work?

From a very early age growing up on the Dorset Coast, I have been fascinated by the sea and it’s ever-changing flow through the seasonal changes. When painting I have this indescribable sense that through the medium of paint I am channeling the essence of the sea, bringing that invigorating yet calming emotion we all feel when close to or in the water.

I am truly inspired by the human interaction with the sea, I want to transport you with my aerial scenes, and bring that connection into clients homes.  After discovering aerial photography, I knew I had found a way to capture the connection of the ocean and human life, in the most elegant and breathtakingly beautiful way.  

What is your creative process?

A painting starts in my heart and mind long before paint touches a canvas.  I am continually absorbing the changes of the sea and capturing the world from above with my drone.  I select photos from my drone photography instinctively, I get an excited flutter in my stomach when I see the image I want to paint. Fresh from my morning walk or run by the sea, I am then ready to step into my studio, select my favourite music, light a scented candle and immerse myself in my creative process.  I am most alive when painting, there is no sense of time, a daily meditative practice painting from my soul.

As an artist what does a typical day look like for you?

I always rise early to give myself time to exercise before the children wake.  A combination of running, sea swimming or yoga all before the hour of 7am.  After the morning routine of breakfast with the children followed by school run, I am then in the studio and ready for my day ahead. I have a ritual of tea, scented candle, breathing and singing bowl before selecting my favourite playlist.  I then loose myself in paint and canvas feeling transported to the shores.  I can even see the sea from my studio so I am lucky to have the inspiration there in front of me daily.  My working day ends at school run time, often heading out with paint splatters on my hands and face.  Sometimes it is hard to pull myself away from my studio, but I am a true believer that a painting should never be rushed.  Some of my best painting have resulted from a pause, then when I return to my artworks fresh the next morning I know instinctively what a painting needs to make it truly special.

Part two coming soon! Sign up to my newsletter for updates.