Veronica Young

“My creative process always to begins with nature. I draw inspiration from the wider landscape but also from the more intimate details of that close at hand – the form of a seed head or the texture of a clay rock face. Often these motifs show up in my work as a kind of shorthand for nature in general. Small fern leaflets can seem to become trees or the torrent of a river, creating an ambiguous depiction of the landscape. Painting in acrylic allows me to build up layers and textures quickly. Sometimes these layers get sanded or scraped back to evoke a sense of history on the canvas – much as nature builds or erodes the land. I always have several paintings on the go at once so I can work on one while another is drying. Once a layer is dry, I come back to the painting, adding to it until I know it is done.”

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Artist Biography

Veronica’s paintings present the viewer with a complex perspective of the landscape. Landforms appear to shift in and out of focus on the canvas, while irregular pattern and texture become signifiers of vegetation or water. Characterising her work is an interplay of rawness and refinement: loose, gestural brushstrokes juxtapose areas of quiet spaciousness, bringing both energy and rest. These paintings evoke the land without quite defining it.

Veronica studied fine art and photography at Massey University and graduated with a Bachelor of Design (hon.) in photography in 2007. Since then, she has exhibited her artwork in various shows and galleries around New Zealand. After taking a break from these creative pursuits to start a family she has recently returned to painting.

Veronica works from her home studio in Karori, Wellington

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