Student Stories: Martin Young

"I am a Canadian software engineer in the pension industry, thinking about life after the office as I hit 50. I'm studying painting with the OCA."

Read about Martin's learning journey below.

What is your previous educational experiences and what drew you to OCA?

Spent a career in finance, and software engineering, but got bit by the creative bug a decade ago. Teaching myself drawing and painting became increasingly large parts of my off-time, until Covid struck and motivated me to seek something a bit more formal and I found the OCA.

Can you describe your OCA journey?

As a very technical person, learning to think as an artist has been an ongoing challenge. Learning how to express myself, and to understand the language of art, continues to present walls worth scaling. I have had to unlearn a lifetime of approaches, but I am beginning to see how those same skills can be carried into this new endeavour, creating something blended between the two.

Can you describe the tutor/ peer support at the OCA?

My first tutor, Michele Whiting, gave me the generosity of permission as I began my journey of unlearning. With her support, I learned to tell myself: "Yes, I can do this. Yes, I can try that. Perhaps if I pushed in this direction, I'd see something more." Many of the works from that first course still hang on my wall, a reminder of where I've been and where I'm going.

What does studying with OCA mean to you?

Studying has given structure to a process of change I had been circling for years. The act of moving between professional life and the studio has sharpened how I see and think. What I take from the course is not just a qualification, but the confidence that I have genuinely shifted how I understand myself and engage with the world.

What's Next?

Advienne que pourra - what comes, comes. That said, my studies with the OCA have pushed me further than I would have gone on my own. I’ve met gallerists, worked with models, and sold work, all built on the confidence and clarity the programme has given me. My plans are to continue developing this momentum: deepening my practice, seeking exhibition opportunities, and remaining open to where the work leads.

Any advice?

Distance education and self-directed study are demanding. They require building an internal structure that allows you to manage time, balance commitments, and still reach outward for feedback and support. For me, persistence has been key (though my husband might say 'stubbornness'). My advice to others is to identify what genuinely drives you forward whether that is a goal, a question, or a body of work. When you do that, you’re not just ticking exercises off a checklist; you’re steadily closing the distance between where you are and where you want to be.

Where can we find you?

Instagram at @m.you.ng