Olsen's New Look

I guess we are going to need a updated photo of Greg for this blog, he is going without glasses now.  In the past few weeks he has had Lasik eye surgery and has shed the spectacles.  I hear his sight is better than ever.  The eye center that did his surgery has put it up on You Tube.  Here is a link to the video.  VIDEO

The Use of Models

The use of live character models pops up very often for Greg, this is what he had to say about it.  “The use of actual models, for me, is extremely important.  In doing landscapes you’ve got a lot of freedom.  You can make up a tree, but to make up a human figure, that’s a lot more difficult, at least for me.  You don’t have a lot of lee-way with the limbs of a human body, as you do with the limbs of a tree.  So, costuming actual character models, finding the right character, that’s half the battle for me. 

Portraying the models character is one of the most elusive things I know of and what I usually do is try and get out of the way of the model.  Not direct them, just let their personality show through.  If they are little kids and they are modeling, sometimes I’m in the next room with a zoom lens just letting them be themselves.  To me that is the best way to get a character to come through. 

In doing a portrait, I like to try to say something about the person I’m painting.  When doing a piece with children in it, I kind of stand back and don’t do too much art directing at all.  I let the child try to do what is natural.”

Behind the Brush

Greg says that “true art is a journey somewhere you’ve never been.  As an artist, it maybe someplace that I have been, but I would like to take you as a viewer, to a place that you have never seen, or seen in the same way that I see it.  Hopefully, when people look at my work it does take them to a place they have never been.  Or maybe, it brings back some familiar memories but shows them in a different light.  That an exciting thing about art, is that for the viewer it is a totally new way of looking at things.”

Journal of Ideas

Where Does the his inspiration come from?  I have heard folks ask Greg where he gets his inspiration from and he tells them, “I keep a little journal when ideas come to me.  I write them down, a little one-liner or I do a little thumbnail sketch, because I find they don’t stay with me, it is usually a flash and then its gone.  I don’t know where my vision or inspiration comes from, but when they come I feel like it is a gift, so I take advantage of it.  At times I like to paint places that I have been, almost like keeping personal journal.  When I travel it often results in a painting."

Come Let Us Adore him

Good Day Y'all - and good questions.  After Greg finished his painting for his wife he did work on one for the 2010 calendar that his publishing company will be putting out this fall.  Deadlines come real early for calendars.  Apparently Greg Olsen Art Publishing was waiting for an image to use for the month of December to this upcoming calendar so Greg worked on it during the special event and signing road show.

This is by far the best Santa I have ever seen in my life.  The theme is one that Greg wants to expound on in the future.  The working title is "Come Let Us Adore Him".  Santa, in his busy schedule, takes time to reverence the Christ Child from a candle lit nativity.  It is awesome.  I have seen the finished product and it is wonderful.  I am told that it will be published around fall time.  Enjoy this working sample until later. - Brushstroke

Happy Valentines Day

You can learn a lot about a person by what he does with his time.  I guess painting at these special events and signing came about around the first part of February when Greg wanted to surprise his wife for Valentines Day.  He brought his home work to work...so to speak.  I guess there is a tree somewhere, where he carved their names, many years ago.  With a photo of that tree he painted a gift for his wife.  Cool huh.  Everyone enjoyed the experience of watching Greg paint so hopefully it will become a norm.

Hi,  Thanks for joining in.  The last info I could get is that Greg Olsen Art would probably publish this latest piece around summertime.  We'll try to get a preview of it here before anywhere else.

The Man and his Work

Here is another look at Greg working on his new painting a couple of days later.  I'm sure he didn't get as much work done as if he had been in his studio but what a treat to visit with Mr. Olsen.  He was also available at this road show to sign and personalize art.  I think he plans to keep doing this same thing at other signings and road shows.  I'll try to keep you informed of his busy schedule and get some personal comments and perspective from Greg.

The man in person

Last week, I and many others got to see this fabulous artist practicing his craft in the Bountiful,  UT Costco store, at what they call a "Road Show".  As you walked in, here was this sales display of Greg Olsen prints and canvases along with Greg himself, paint brush in hand, working on his next inspirational painting.  It was fantastic!  Not only did we get to see the man in action, but got to hear his in depth description and meaning of the piece.  He hasn't titled the piece yet but it has to do with hope, peace, and looking to the future.