When Scott Young began his own business, he was excited about all of the possibilities that would now be open to him.

What he didn't fully expect was that it would be so difficult to find time to do what he started out to do in the first place: paint.

“Sometimes I bump into myself trying to get everything done,” said Young, a 55-year-old Auburn native. “When I paint, I feel like I'm doing something naughty because it's fun and I'm not doing paperwork or making phone calls.”

Fortunately for Young, he's been able to squeeze in the hours -

and has enough work from his past - to put on his own show at the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce.

Nearly 30 of Young's paintings and drawings will be on display during March. The show is sponsored by the Cayuga County Arts Council.

Many of these paintings are of landscapes and rural scenes. Barns, like the painting that hangs above Young's mantle of a now-fallen barn that was just north of Auburn, are a favorite subject for Young, who grew up on a farm.

Art has played an important role in his life ever since he was able to hold a pencil and he attempted to draw cowboys.

“It was my way of zoning out or entering into another world,” he recalled.

After majoring in art and design at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Young studied drawing, painting and design at the Montserrat School of Visual Arts in Beverly, Mass. He followed that with more than 20 years in the graphic arts industry.

In February 2005, Young received news that would change his life: he was getting laid off. But he decided to turn the negative into a positive - after years of painting as a hobby, he would pursue art full-time and start his own business.

“I thought, well this is a good opportunity to do what I've got to do,” he said. “If I'm going to do it, I should give it my best shot.”

He formed Young@Art shortly thereafter and now spends as

much time as he can sketching or painting landscapes of the Finger Lakes region or portraits of local residents.

Much of his work is done from photographs he has taken - he tries to carry a camera with him at all times - and he uses a variety of materials, including pen and ink, pastels, watercolors and oils.

Young, who has a meticulous, cautious nature, said that painting is hard work, particularly mastering the ability to juggle color.

“Every painting is a learning experience,” he said. “I could say that I've been doing this my whole life, but I can also say that I'm just starting out.”

Young said that he is lucky to have a good support system behind him, including his wife Wendy, who is the resident director at Matthew House. His brother Randy owns Lincoln Gallery in Auburn (where some of Young's work is currently displayed), and an uncle that ran a gallery is a good source of information.

The chamber show, which will be Young's second one-man show since he started his business, will include old and new drawings and paintings of everything from area landscapes to portraits. Most of the works will be for sale.

Young isn't nervous about the exhibition; rather, he is excited about this chance for people to see his work and the opportunity for him to paint more in the future.

“It's becoming more fun the more I do it,” he said.

If you go

What: Scott Young exhibition

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during March; artist's reception 3 to 5 p.m. Friday

Where: Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, 36 South St., Auburn

For more details: Call 253-8836

Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or linda.ober@lee.net