Ben Young – Ohio Contemporary Artist & Watercolorist

Artist Statement

I work primarily in watercolor, a medium I chose not for ease, but for the resistance it offers. While oil painting comes more naturally to me, watercolor demands patience, restraint, and attentiveness. Its unpredictability slows the process, giving me time to reflect as I gradually build value through many transparent layers. That pace allows the act of painting to become as meaningful as the finished work.

My paintings are deeply emotional and narrative in nature, drawn from my own experiences and inner life. Painting functions as a form of therapy—an honest way to process feeling, memory, and emotional weight. Through this work, I seek not only personal understanding, but connection.

I hope viewers feel the sadness or pain present in the work. Not as something negative, but as something necessary. Allowing space for difficult emotion can be an act of release—an invitation to sit with what weighs on us, acknowledge it, and let it pass. If my paintings help others recognize or move through their own struggles, then the work has served its purpose.

Ben Young’s Artist Story

I began painting in December 2023, with no formal background in art beyond an eighth-grade class. Since then, I’ve primarily worked in watercolor, occasionally exploring oil, with a focus on narrative realism. My approach is rooted in expressing emotion first and capturing values second—if a painting evokes a genuine emotional response in someone, then I consider it a success.

Interestingly, many viewers have compared my style to that of Andrew Wyeth, a connection I wasn’t initially aware of until it was pointed out to me. After exploring his work, I realized the resemblance is purely intuitive—an organic outcome of my own developing expression and technique. Much of my work is drawn from personal experience, emotion, and past trauma. Through this visual storytelling, I aim to create work that resonates with others on a deeply human level.

Ben Young’s Featured Artwork

My featured work is a deeply personal narration of my own life—told not through words, but through vivid imagery, emotional gestures, and atmosphere. Each painting feels like a chapter, capturing moments of memory, solitude, resilience, and quiet beauty. I invite viewers into an inner world shaped by personal experience—sometimes raw, sometimes tender, but always honest. Whether it’s a solitary figure in motion or a still landscape bathed in silence, my art doesn’t just aim to depict life—it strives to reveal the emotional undercurrents of my own. In sharing my story, I hope others can find a piece of theirs within it.

Learn More About Ben Young's Story

Ben Young's CV

Contact Ben Young

Bio Facts

• Name: Ben Young
• Medium: Watercolor and oil
• Focus: Emotional, narrative-driven paintings rooted in personal experience
• Themes: Memory, reflection, sadness, and emotional release
• Approach: Layered, patient process emphasizing atmosphere and feeling over precision
• Location: United States
• Works Available: Original paintings and fine art reproductions