Robert M. Young
1936 - 2012

"All the brilliant visions,
all the multitude of colors,
expressed with so much
passion and power"

Greg Hopkins

What perfect words written to describe the work of Robert Young.  Young, an artist / painter extraordinaire who lived, loved, and worked in Laguna Beach, CA. for most of his life.  

It was his love for the sea that inspired much of his work as an artist.  Young connected with the ocean as a young boy while playing in the surf near his family's seaside trailer at El Moro.  He spent time there as a lifeguard at Scotchman's Cove and as luck would have it, he served his tour of duty as a marine in Hawaii where his interest with the ocean and its inhabitants continued to grow.  As a young man, he logged hundreds of hours under the water exploring countless coves along the coast, diving for dinner at day's end, or just observing the wonders that lived beneath the surface.  He enjoyed traveling and exploring the waters off California, Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean. 

Young attended U.C. Santa Barbara as an art major from 1956-1958, and then went on to finish at Los Angeles' Otis Art Institute, graduating with an M.F.A. in 1962.  As soon as he could, Young returned to Laguna.  He began exhibiting his expressive depictions of undersea life at the Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach, in 1959 and for more than four and a half decades never stopped painting.   As referred to by his friend and fellow artist Dion Wright, "he was the wonder of our time as far as stubbornly hewing to the act of painting as his ideal."  He was an enthusiastic and creative force who helped start Laguna's popular Sawdust Festival in 1968.  Later, Young sold numerous originals to the expanding Chart House Restaurant chain.   

Young was known to be one of the most creative individuals of the Laguna art scene, always displaying a need to experiment and challenge himself. He established a following among fans and collectors who appreciated his innovative techniques and bold use of color.  Young was always eager to share his knowledge and was highly regarded in the art community where he mentored and inspired many who knew him.