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Painter Jennifer Young has discovered that the best place to spend the day creating lush country landscapes is deep in the heart of the city
Jennifer Young always dreamed of opening her own gallery, and this Friday it's finally going to happen in her hometown.Young, an accomplished landscape painter, will welcome the public to her gallery and studio space on Friday, as part of Richmond's First Fridays art series. Young paints vibrant landscapes, many of them depicting scenes from the French and Italian countryside-themes that are a world away from the urban setting of her new studio space. "I've been going to France and Italy about once a year over the last few years," Young said. "My husband Dave has been helping me run the art business. We do have a good time over there, but it's still a lot of work." Young takes in the sights, always keeping an eye out for scenes to paint. Frequently, she'll bring along her digital camera and take "thousands of photos," Young said, which she will then use as a reference while working in the studio. But often Young will bring an easel and set up her canvas in the field, painting on location, the way many of the old masters would. She did just that on a visit in 2003 to Giverny, the former home of impressionist Claude Monet in the Normandy region of France. Her paintings from that visit are reminiscent of Monet's own paintings of the same location in the late 19th century-they feature the same colorful flower gardens and an arcing Japanese bridge over the celebrated water lily pond. Although Young conceded it's difficult to leave the picturesque locales of France and Italy behind and return to Richmond, she does have to work somewhere, she said. Before her decision to open her own gallery, Young operated out of a warehouse on Westwood Avenue. Although it has served her well, Young said the new space on Main Street has a lot more to offer-chiefly enough space for a spacious gallery and a private studio for her. Previously home to a non-profit business, the building itself dates back to the early 1900s and features 11-foot ceilings and original picture moldings. At the gallery, Young will showcase her latest landscape paintings and other experimental works. "In this new space, the front two rooms will be more of a gallery space. The third room will be my workspace," Young said. "I'll be in there daily." One long-range plan Young has been toying with is the idea of teaching some artist workshops, but that won't happen right away, she said. Although the gallery's grand opening will happen Friday, it will remain open by appointment only through January, Young said, while the finishing touches are put on her personal studio. A lifelong Richmonder, Young graduated from the art program at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1994, and credits the school for fostering such a formidable artist community here. It wasn't always the case, Young said, "But now there's stuff popping up everywhere, and I think that's exciting. It seems like it's really building momentum." The opening reception for the Jennifer Young Studio & Gallery happens Friday from 6 to 9pm, with music by The Unknown Favorites. The exhibit of Young's artwork will continue Saturday from 11am - 4pm. The gallery is located at 16 E. Main St., two blocks east of the Jefferson Hotel. For more information, call 254.1008 or visit www.jenniferyoung.com. |