Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
She may be only 6 years old, but Joy Young already has shown enough talent to have her paintings displayed in a local art gallery.
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 11, 2000
BROOKSVILLE -- The age of the artist doesn't determine the value of the work.
At least that's the case at the Brooksville City Hall Student Art Gallery.
This month, the paintings of 6-year-old Joy Young grace the halls of the Brooksville building just down the way from the work of much older artists.
Until now, students who displayed their art at the gallery were at least in second grade, said Mary Alice Quieros, who has run the gallery for two years, but Joy is not set to enter first grade until fall.
"She's such a little peanut," Quieros said. "Some of those paintings are bigger than she is."
Joy's love for painting began three years ago when the 3-year-old discovered a collection of brushes and paints long abandoned by her mother, Pat Young.
"She just started painting on everything," said Mrs. Young, who took a painting class in college but quickly became bored when her own tastes ran toward Salvador Dali while her class was interested in Georgia O'Keefe. "After a while, I was giving her typing paper just so she wouldn't paint on the walls."
It was Joy's grandmother who first saw a glimmer of talent in those early paintings, Mrs. Young said.
"She looked at one painting and said, "This is really good. It looks like flowers,' " Mrs. Young said. "Her grandmother thought she might have some talent."
A few years later, art judges agreed.
Joy has earned honorable mention, best of class, best of division and blue ribbons at the Hernando County Fair Association and Youth Livestock Shows and at the Promising Picassos art exhibit at the Pasco Art Center in Holiday.
Some of her works, which include acrylics on paper and recycled art collages, are titled The River, Gold Fish, The Desert and The Lake.
This month, Joy will enter the first grade at Chocachatti Elementary School, a magnet school that emphasizes the arts. Mrs. Young said she looks forward to seeing her daughter's work progress in an art-friendly atmosphere.
"I'm looking forward to working with some creative people," Mrs. Young said. "I think it will be good for her."
Joy's artwork will be on display through August at the Brooksville City Hall Student Art Gallery. The gallery is at Brooksville City Hall, 201 Howell Ave., and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For information, call 544-5407.