Mac Reflections


This oil pastel painting by Ben Young depicts a solemn, textured portrait of a man's face, emerging from a dark background with a rough, expressive brushwork that conveys a sense of introspection or melancholy.

Benjamin J. Young
American, 1990 - Current
Mac Reflections ( 2024 )
Oil Pastel on Construction Paper


About Painting

The Mac Reflections painting depicts a close-up impressionism portrait of myself, rendered with a strong emphasis on texture and a limited color palette, to show it’s reflective nature. My figure is implied to be emerging from a dark background, with light only faintly illuminating the right side of the face. The strokes are expressive and sculptural, creating an array of thick, impasto strokes that give the image a dynamic and tactile quality. My expression is pensive and subdued, with eyes cast downward and away from the viewer, adding to the painting’s introspective quality. The overall effect is one of profound reflection, with the textured brushwork and dramatic chiaroscuro suggesting a moment captured in time, where the inner world of my personal subject is as significant as the outer representation. It’s a powerful image that invites the viewer to consider the subject’s thoughts and feelings.

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Inspiration

Mac Reflections Reference Photo

The inspiration came to me from seeing my reflection in the darkened and smudged glossy screen from Apple MacBook Pro. I really like the depth and effect of how it looked, so it struck me to try to convey that same emotion to paper. My choice was to stay with what I enjoy best, impressionism. Broad strokes of oil pastels is what I decided on, after already recently completing Ms. Cezanne.

Artwork Process

Drawn with oil pastels on black construction paper. This took a few days of stepping away from the art, getting a fresh pair of eyes, and continuing to develop the depth of the artwork.

Here is a visual overview of the process:


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The original of this painting has been sold.

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