Neil Young Art – Courage City!

A few weeks back, I came across the work of Ottawa native Neil Young at The New Art Festival.  More than any other art work there, his left the biggest impression on me.  I am by no means an expert, and would never qualify as an art collector, but for some reason I had a very strong feeling that if I were, Young’s paintings would be ones to snap up as soon as possible.  They are simply fantastic.

Anyway, during the course of our conversation Young was kind enough to tell me that he had recently left a job as an architect to become an artist full time, which of course peaked this girlaboutOtown’s interest.  In my book, leaving a career behind to pursue art full time is a pretty bold step, and one I knew I wanted to understand better.

Brink,  36″ x 36″, acrylic with resin on board

So, as I occasionally do, I approached Young and inquired whether he would be amenable to sharing his story.  

His response was unequivocal, exuberant, and honest.  At the moment we connected, Young was overwhelmed with the positive reaction he had received at The New Art Festival, and utterly elated that his work had affected so many people so deeply.  With candour, he described to me how hard it had been for him to come to the realization that he was meant to do art, and how significant it was to discover the road he had chosen was clearly heading in the right direction.  Having struggled, Young articulated passionately how important it was to him that his work make people feel good, and how profoundly happy he was to finally be fulfilling his promise as a person. 

I was hardly surprised to learn that his work had caused a sensation and sold quickly given his obvious talent, but I was seriously struck by his genuine, unreserved enthusiasm.  It was truly inspiring – and when you look at Neil Young’s paintings, you will catch a bit of my drift, I am sure.

Tell me a bit about your history.  Where did you grow up and go to school?  

I went to Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School in Orleans, and loved taking art every year.  It was always my passion.  Not believing that there would be any possible future in the arts, I made the mistake of studying business at Ottawa U.  I could only bear one year before returning to high school to take all the maths and physics courses required to apply to an architecture program.  I knew I wanted to be an artist and I thought the “next best thing” could fill the void I was carrying.  I graduated from U of T with an architecture degree and practiced in the field for almost 10 years at the “next best thing”.  Eventually the “next best thing” caught up with me and the void returned.  I knew I had to go for it and the time was now.  Best decision ever!

Why did you decide to leave your job instead of painting “in the margins”?   Facebook!  I know.  I reconnected with a grade 8 friend, Valerie Butters, who is now a successful Canadian artist represented by multiple galleries across Canada.  She saw some of my pieces I was working on for fun via Facebook and told me that I could make it.  My partner, Gregory White, also saw this potential and gave me the “okay” one morning on my way to work. I left my job that day, with 2 weeks’ notice of course.  I told everyone that I would give it one year and pay back the debt when I was through, but I lied.  I knew I would work harder than ever before to make this work.  As it turns out, it has not felt like work at all, and this is the first time in 20 years that I am debt free!

How long has it been since you left your job?  I started painting about 5 months ago and quit my professional architecture career 3 months ago.  “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that that’s what you should be doing”.   My boss told me that on a car ride home from a job site, and this was the trigger statement that resonated in me.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?  Focusing on the positive and not the doubts.

Can you describe your average day?   Wake up without an alarm, go to the gym, get a coffee from Starbucks, and then paint while listening to music.  Does it get better than that?!

Flight, 36″ x 36″, acrylic with resin on board

Who have been your biggest supporters?  Absolutely my partner.  He is my biggest fan.

How did you get started painting?  My grandmother Nanny, who always encouraged arts and crafts, she is a painter herself.  Her reaction to my childhood drawings may have been typically grandmotherly, but not to a 5 year old.

Have you had any formal training?  I did take a more artistic approach to architecture than most in my class, taking electives in graphic design, furniture design, pencil drawing, landscape drawing, and nude model drawing. You could always find me building a model in studio and would never find me in the technical/business classes.  I knew nothing about architecture when I applied, but I knew that there must be some component of art to it.  I had the worst high school average amongst the students applying, but thankfully, the submission was half based on my portfolio.  I ended up with and 85% on my thesis.  

Did you love art as a kid?  Definitely!

Did you keep it up over the years or return to it as an adult?  I guess that since I graduated from architecture 7 years ago, I did give it up.  I never really knew I gave it up, maybe because I always knew I would one day make it my career.  Everything I have done has influenced my art to be what it is, so I have no regrets!

Can you identify any strong artistic influences?  Oddly, it is not the famous artists in history books.  One particular classmate in University, Malini Rao, simply amazed me in her gestural and emotional approach to architecture.   I could see the artist behind the work. 

I have always had a hard time expressing myself, but I can do that in my art.  For me it is not as important the picture that is generated, but how the artist works with the materials and colours.

Tree, 36″ x 36″, acrylic with resin on board

Who encouraged your creativity the most?   Interestingly, the people who don’t know me personally.  A reaction from a stranger is pure genuine.

How does it feel when you are painting?   I am a perfectionist and am very critical of my own art.  I can easily repaint the same canvas 20 times.  Some days it feels like a total waste, but I am learning that the layering is what is giving my artwork depth.  (Read his artist statement here)

Crimson, 48: x48″, acrylic with resin on board

How do you define “good art”?   Easy.  I know good art when I see the artist behind the piece.  In the way they handle the material.  If I can’t see that then I am not drawn to it.

Where do you draw inspiration?   From my surroundings.  I love merging organic shapes found in nature with colours only found in the city in my works.

What are your favourite colours?  Why?  Lime green, teal, and white.  They are fresh and clean.

Would it be fair to say that art is your passion?   Yes.

Are there other things you are passionate about?   Not like creating art, but I am open to new ones.  I need to find some balance.

Do you collect anything?   Nope, I am clutter free.

What are your most prized possessions?   Funny, I am trying to think of objects, but I don’t particularly care for objects.  I do love my condo which houses all of them, but I am going to have to say my family and friends.  I don’t have a lot of friends but the ones I have I hold very close.  Did I mention I have a twin?  We are complete opposites.  He is more of a scientist in his thinking.  I can’t imagine life without him.

Do you have a favourite place?    My favourite place as a kid was in the woods by my home.  I found a secret place where I could go and feel safe.  It was a concrete pipe about 4′ in diameter.  It was cool and mildly damp in there, and only the sounds of the echoing creek can be heard.  I wouldn’t stay long and I didn’t go often, but it was my favourite place.

Where do you feel most comfortable?  I feel most comfortable at home.  I like my personal time.

You are an architect.  What type of space do you live in?  Is the design of your personal space important to you? Can you describe your studio?

My studio is my home.  I convert it every day and every night.  It is a stunning new downtown condo with warm gray walls, concrete ceiling, and warm-coloured hardwood floors.  The furniture is sparse with a cream leather L-sectional and large flat screen TV, oversized mirrors, and clutter free.  Not many pieces but the pieces are well thought out and mobile.  Mobile because sometimes it is a condo for entertaining, sometimes my studio, and sometimes a dark room to take photos of my work.

What are you most proud of?   I am most proud that my partner believes in me and he is just as excited about this change as I am.  I am also so proud that my family and friends believe in me too.  They truly believe that it will all work out.

Is there anything you want to change?   I need to find more balance in my life.  Being an artist is very solitary.

What has been the hardest thing for you to learn?  To learn to please yourself and to not be doing things for affirmation from others.

Is there anything you still want to learn?  Still working on the whole being confident and feeling comfortable around people.  I am finding it a lot easier since I am doing what I love and not feeling like I am fake.

It has been a month since this girlaboutOtown met Neil Young and witnessed his art scene debut.  I am no art aficionado, but I can say without hesitation that every painting I have seen since has paled in comparison to my memory of Young’s bright, joyful, explosions of emotion.  I cannot seem to shake their impact, and I struggle regularly with a strong desire to buy.  I don’t ever recall going so squarely in my mind from passive appreciation to serious consideration of art acquisition! 

Given my current economic circumstances however, I will have to draw my inspiration from Neil Young’s story instead of his work, by following his lead and finding my own road.  When the day comes though, and I can hang one of his paintings on my wall, I will know that I too am heading in the right direction… 

To learn more about Neil Young, his art and his progress, check out his website and Flickr page, or follow him on Facebook.

Images courtesy of Neil Young.