Meet Caroline Young | Asian Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline, why did you pursue a creative career?
From an early age, external forces have guided me in that direction. My mother’s belief in my artistic ability, the mentorship of my art teacher, the appreciation of my collectors, my “discovery” by a leading art publisher who put me under exclusive contract, the gallery successes, none of which was sought by me. All just kind of lined up as if it was the natural order of things.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is primarily watercolor on silk. My technique is the ancient style of gongbi Chinese brushpainting, whereby multiple layers of thin washes are applied onto Japanese silk to build color intensity and dimension. I also paint on paper and 22K gold leaf. My subjects are mainly figures from Chinese history and mythology. Each painting has a back story or symbolism from Chinese culture. A lot of my collectors are 2nd and 3rd generation Chinese Americans who find renewed interest in their heritage through my work.

I grew up in Hong Kong, an adopted child of expatriate Chinese Americans who emigrated from Honolulu Hawaii after WWII. From day one, I was intrigued by the myths and legends of China. Just as American children listened to stories of Snow White and Cinderella, I heard stories about gods and goddesses, Chang Er and her rabbit, among others. These eventually became the inspiration for my paintings. Hopefully, through my work, I can provide a better understanding of the Chinese people and what makes them tick.

I was “discovered” by an art publishing company, Images International of Hawaii, back in 1984. I signed an exclusive contract with them, and they put my work in galleries all over the nation. Without their influence and promotional expertise, I would not have gained the recognition and success I enjoy. The turning point in my career was when I saw Bernard Bertolucci’s “The Last Emperor” in 1988. Up to that point, I had been doing mostly Japanese ukiyo’e paintings, as Images Int’l was geared mainly toward that art genre. Watching “The Last Emperor”, I was dazzled by the magnificence of the costumes, the beauty of the sets, and the panoramic scope of the saga. I decided to go back to my Chinese roots and concentrate on Chinese history and mythology. In doing so, my art was transformed to a different level, and collectors saw my “truth” in the work. That was what brought success and recognition.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in Reno NV. I don’t know AZ well. I only come there for shows, and that’s what I focus on, not the entertainment. I usually stay with Dr. Anthony Yeung and his wife, Eileen, and they take us to the different eateries in the area. I can’t remember the names of the restaurants. They’ve all been really good.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been many people to whom I owe a debt of gratitude: first and foremost, my mother Betty Young, who saw promise in the scribblings of a 3 year old child; my mentor and art teacher Lam Oi Char, who instilled in me the love of my culture and heritage, and taught me that art is the perfect vehicle to bridge that gap between east and west; my art publisher, Stevenson Higa of Images International of Hawaii, who took a chance on an unknown artist, and guided and promoted my artwork to an international audience; Marc Witter, who believed in me and encouraged me to reach beyond my dreams; and most importantly my husband Les Zieba, who handles all my business and designed my website, bringing his expertise in running the Addi Gallery chain to my benefit.

Website: www.carolineyoungstudios.com

Image Credits
© Caroline R. Young, All Rights Reserved