Cynthia J. Young

Art was the one thing I could do when I was little that could keep me perfectly content for hours and hours.  I loved it in high school and was president of our art club.  I went to college to become an Interior Designer, not a fine artist, but an Interior Designer, because everyone knows you can’t become a full-time artist and survive.  Yes, I bought into the stereotypical answer when someone finds out you want to be an artist.  I graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts with concentration in Interior/Environmental Design.  I figured I at least I would have a creative-type job.  I was an Interior Designer for 20 years.  I squeezed in art whenever I could by painting murals, faux finishes and commissioned paintings for my design clients.

Still longing for more art in my life I answered a job ad for a Summer Arts Camp Instructor.  I loved kids and art and I thought this would at least put me closer to art.  I loved working there, coming up with creative art projects for the campers was a thrill!  I did this every summer for several years in addition to my Interior Design business.

Then the economic downturn of 2007-08 hit and design jobs were scarce.  The place where I was working as a summer art instructor had an opening for an Art Center Director.  As a matter of fact, the job came open three times before I had the nerve to apply, leaving my design career to become the Art Center Director at the SullivanMunce Cultural Center in Zionsville.  I figured I would once again be closer to art as I would be talking to artists to plan art exhibitions and hiring artist instructors for our camps and classes to name a few exciting parts of my job.

In 2012, my immediate supervisor, the Executive Director, was leaving and had asked me if I was interested in the position of Executive Director.  I knew so much about the organization by this time, I was honored to accept the position while still glad I was incorporating art into my job.

During my whole life, I have been trying to find my voice as a fine artist.  Trying this, trying that.  Nothing was really resonating with me.   I would hear other artists say they couldn’t stop creating, like they had a force behind them urging them on.  They loved what they are doing, and nothing could stop them.  I kept searching for this for myself.

I took a portrait/figure class because I loved figure drawing in college and wanted to revisit it.  Then, it happened!  I fell in love with the human figure and portrait.  I can’t stop now!  Drawing and painting the human figure has improved my work all-around, no matter the subject.

I am inspired by Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Franz Kline, Richard Diebenkorn, Matisse to name a few.  I hope my work inspires others to discover their own creativity and helps them see the world as the colorful creation it is.