Ann Korologos Gallery presents “Dan Young: Mountain Majesty,” a solo exhibition featuring the impressionist landscape paintings of nationally acclaimed Colorado artist, Dan Young. Meet the artist at his opening reception on Saturday, July 9th from 5 to 7PM at Ann Korologos Gallery in historic downtown Basalt. The exhibition is on view July 9 to 19, 2022. 

Dan Young, a plein air impressionist painter and native of the Roaring Fork Valley, has mastered the challenges posed by painting on location regardless of the season, earning a reputation as one of Colorado’s premier landscape artists. 

“I collected Young’s work before I was involved with the gallery, and introduced Europe to Colorado landscapes and to Dan Young through a 20-work exhibition at the U.S. Embassy in Belgium through the Art in Embassy program,” reflects Ann Korologos, gallery owner, who purchased the gallery shortly after returning from Belgium. “We joke that Dan came with the gallery, as he was on the roster before I was. Watching his work evolve over the last many years, first as a collector, and then as a curator, and now as a friend, has been a pleasure.” 

With his creative arsenal in tow – sketchbook, easel, oil paint, brushes, canvas, and palette – Dan Young journeys across familiar terrain, often walking the same path to challenge the depth of his observation, until it calls him to stop. He continually delights in discovering new subject matter in familiar surroundings, finding inventive ways to paint it. “Painting from life is going to the source, and capturing the color values from life are one of the most important elements in my work,” reflects Young. “It’s all about gathering more knowledge and understanding of your subject from that first-hand observation. No filters. Just you and Mother Nature.” 

Quick sketches allow the artist to organize the landscape, translating the design from his mind’s eye to two dimensions, with plenty of artistic license taken along the way. With the composition sketched out as a loose guide, Young then paints en plein air, study after study, sunrise after sunrise, working through themes and ideas to develop onto a larger canvas back in his studio. 

“What has inspired me as an artist has changed over time,” shares Young. “Growing up in Colorado, how can you not be inspired by the mountains, the rivers? Nowadays, I’ll go out and look for an idea, a shape, an emotion. I used to go out and look for a pretty picture, but now I go out and look for what interests me — a shadow dancing across snow, light reflecting off a landscape, an unexpected shape that changes the composition — that's what challenges me to create in my own style.” 

“Dan Young: Mountain Majesty” is on view July 9th through July 19th at Ann Korologos Gallery with an opening reception to welcome the artist on July 9th from 5 to 7PM. View the exhibition at 211 Midland Avenue in Basalt, and virtually at korologosgallery.com.