Biography - Biographical Summary "Never say never", says artist Jennifer Young. "That's my new mantra!" This viewpoint came into fruition over time and years of study and experimentation. An avid figurative painter of the modern expressionist school, Jennifer never thought the day would come that she would be painting impressionist landscapes in the great outdoors. Jennifer received her formal training in painting and art history at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, a prominent school of the arts with a decidedly modernist/abstract expressionist bent. "When I left school, and for some time afterward I was painting these huge, mural size figurative paintings full of angst," Young explains. "I learned a lot, but I also learned a lot of prejudices about what qualified as an important work of art. Many of my peers and most of my instructors looked down upon landscape paintings, or anything the least bit decorative, for that matter. In school I was scolded more than once because my paintings were 'too pretty'." But years of struggle and personal hardship gradually altered Jennifer's attitude, and eventually her art. During her college years, Jennifer found herself up into the wee hours of the night, studying for exams, worried about an absentee husband, and dreading another long work day at the local bank. Desperately holding together a full time job, a full course load, and a failing marriage became a strain. Although she maintained the job, and held a 3.8 grade point average, the marriage fell apart. Despite the burdens, she persevered and received a scholarship to study overseas. But the overseas studies did more than provide a respite from her troubles. A chance visit to the Uffizzi Gallery in Florence provided an epiphany for the beleaguered artist. "I remember seeing works of the masters - Botticelli, Massaccio, and, my favorite, Piero Della Francesca, to name but a few. I responded to those works because they hit me at a very emotional level. The Italian landscape was absolutely breathtaking and inspiring, with cypress trees and sunflowers galore. I had never seen such color, and I was exhilarated in a way I had not felt before". But in spite of this energizing experience, fatigue and personal loss began to take its toll. Worn down by the pain of divorce, and an exhaustive work and school schedule, Young's physical fatigue eventually evolved into a clinical depression that dampened her hopes of ever becoming a professional artist. However, fate would intervene. A chance meeting with a charming young man named David Webb evolved into romance and marriage. In marriage, Dave assumed not only the role of husband, but business partner as well. He convinced Jennifer to quit her bank job and devote her life to painting. First, though, the couple recognized that Jennifer needed to devote some time to herself, to heal. With loving support Dave urged Jennifer to seek an aggressive treatment program, which proved to be a torturous string of trial-and-error treatments. The regimen was grueling, but once again, her determination paid off and she recovered to produce stellar work. Earning shows at museums and art centers around the country, Young ascended to the rank of "rising star" in the art world. After the clouds lifted, Jennifer began to express more lightness and joy in her paintings. Angst-ridden figures evolved into joyful paintings celebrating music and dance. Floral still-life paintings emerged, bursting with color and energy. And, according to Jennifer, something else amazing happened. "Dave bought me a portable easel so I could paint outdoors. I fell in love with plein air painting." Scouring through volumes on the techniques of Monet, Renoir, and Sisley, Young bounded for the outdoors like a child at recess. "For me," she enthuses, "painting is a playful process of discovery; and painting from nature offers a whole new world to explore. It's learning to see in a new way. Light and shadow, color and texture-these are the real subjects, regardless of whether I am painting the hills of Tuscany or a vase of flowers in my own back yard." In pursuit of her newfound love of landscape painting, Young's travels have taken her overseas to Italy and most recently, to France where she immersed herself in the colors of the Provincial countryside. The joy of creation that is now evident in her oil paintings is indebted to her perseverance and optimism through tough times. "I definitely have a new appreciation for life, and I believe it reflects in my work," she says. Undoubtedly, her life's journey to this point in time has provided the frame of reference to produce such work. To view some of Jennifer's figurative paintings, please visit our sister site at www.jenyoung.com.