Andersch, Joerg Perfection by Degrees

Inside Arts, The Mercury
Saturday 19 May, 2007

Reference Point
Colville Street Art Gallery , Battery Point
Price Range $850 to $6000

Modest, almost reticent, Jock Young is a painter and printmaker with a national reputation.

Working in the landscape genre, Young is at once traditional and contemporary, leaving the viewer in a most positive frame of mind, where the reference to the past, with all its familiarity, is presented in a context of modern landscape-painting practice. This is a wonderful position for the artist, especially in an era when contempt and admiration are so vehemently expressed by opposing sides.

Young's art is simple in essence, yet touches principles and formulas time-honoured in the practice of painting. The overriding feature is the artist's use of light. Working en plein air – out in the open – he deals with the essential structures in the landscape – and quickly at that. Light changes, so accuracy and speed are essential.

However, with this rapid approach a form of honesty is preserved, encompassing the whole of the scene, hues and shades coming from peripheral vision as well. Technical drawing accuracy, in a visual sense, is not warranted as the essence is somewhere between impression and expression – yet there's nothing slapdash about the work. The reason for Young's national reputation is evident and as our weather turns colder his views of Sa Eagle Cove will warm the coldest room.

Andersch, Joerg New Works The Mercury 24 December, 2005 p38

New Works
Colville Street Gallery, Battery Point
Price range: $1000 to $7000

Jock Young is the artist showing his latest paintings and prints here.

The well-travelled Young's many coastal scenes are Tasmanian, interesting locations interstate and a few from overseas. Using a quite saturated palette, Young weaves magic into his portrayals of these aquatic scenes.

Besides being an astute observer, he is also a fine draughtsman. His paintings are well constructed, which underpins the exuberant capture of light so essential to the creation of a seascape or landscape. When Leonardo de Vinci conceived the rules of constructing a painting, he wasn't being flippant.

Young's present exhibition is his first major showing in some time, and if you are not familiar with his work, you're in for a treat. He is represented in collections in major Australian galleries and has been a contributor to major Australian prize exhibitions for several years.