Artist Spotlight: Ebony Young
Ebony Young can usually be found these days in the ceramics studio pressing clay into shapes, throwing bowls, or glazing bisque ware. Before finding her way to Imagine Art, she was a successful artist at Conley High School in Pflugerville ISD. Ebony, who was diagnosed with autism at the age 3, is gifted in realism and can depict whatever she sees with amazing accuracy, most recently in the medium of clay.
Imitating to a Tee
Spirit Vessels
She has built two spirit vessels from her vivid imagination, as well as other imaginative pieces. Another of her gifts is that she can choose a picture or image then make an identical ceramic replica of the subject. The same goes for drawing and painting.
Mario and Luigi
She sculpted two exact replicas of Mario and Luigi, the two brothers from the popular Nintendo video game. Mario Brothers seems to be a popular theme with her.
Cup cake and Polka-Dot Vase
Justine Nolt, AmeriCorps’ artist-in-residence, recently commented about Ebony: “One of my favorite things about watching her work is when she sees someone else making something & then she decides to make one of her own. For example, Jonathan and I made a set of four cupcakes as a collaborative effort. We were making these cupcakes one day, and I look over and Ebony has made a cupcake of her own.
“Most of the time Ebony has a fully flushed out idea; adjusts when things aren't going the way she wants, and she always has an incredible eye for detail.
Bisque fired Russian Nesting Dolls. Ready for glaze.
“That she has the ability to duplicate just about anything is very impressive. She recently made a two-part Nintendo DS, stylus included. The Russian Nesting Dolls she made was a result of watching Russian artist Anastasia Seremetis build hers. Making a set of dolls so they would fit one inside another was Ebony’s biggest challenge, due to the precision involved.”
Three vases with humorous effects
A few weeks ago she selected a print-out that Justine had given her and preceded to replicate the three vases she saw with great success.
Creative Impulses
Justine says Ebony exhibits good craftsmanship, such as smoothing out joints in the clay until they become seamless. As a testament to her industrious nature, she produces many ceramic pieces. Her talent is shown through her versatility and in the variety of subjects she selects.
It’s hard to guess what Ebony will create next. She doesn't speak much, and but has a very distinct voice when she does. Now and then she adds written words into her clay. But unless Ebony has been shown photos or asked to do a certain something, there’s no telling where her next creative impulse is coming from.
