Blast From The Past-What A Treasure

Hi,
Look what popped up in the archives of coolness. I was supplied a snapshot of some of Greg's early work. Talk about great parents who didn't get upset when he drew on his bedroom wall. This mural dates back to Greg's High School days. All of those super heros were my favorites also. I understand that the painting still exists on the wall of his childhood home.

Camera and Studio

Hi Folks,
I thought that I would give you a little more insight behind some of the paintings from Greg Olsen. This past signing event in Idaho Falls showed this concept very well. Greg says, “In a modeling session I often resort to photography to capture the images that I want. With children I use a camera. I may do some quick sketches but a child moves so quickly that in order to capture all of the details. When I’m working with children or average people who have jobs and have a difficult time sitting around here in my studio for weeks or months at a time. This helps me capture action, expression and the details that are required to do the kinds of paintings that I do. I’ll take sometimes, several hundred photographs for a single painting.”

Well, he couldn't have brought his models and studio set-up to IF could he? We like Greg's work because of the detail, and it is amazing to watch it appear on the canvas. With a photograph he can zoom in and get every fold, or wrinkle or expression that was captured. I hope to show you the actual photo shoot of the apprentice, or passing it on, or what ever Greg ends up titling the painting he started in IF. There is also behind the scenes info that explain just why he chose the subject matter. I'll have to think about exposing the secret.

Next Signing Event

Hi Y'all,
I want to let you know about the next Greg Olsen road show and signing event. It is going to be at the Murray, UT Sam's Club July 9-19, 2009. They will probably have some new ideas and new prints. Greg will bring a piece to be working on while he is there. The exact signing schedule has not been released yet, but I'll get it too you as soon as possible. The store is located at 6525 S. State St., Murray, Utah. In Idaho Falls, the new piece "Cast Your Net On The Right Side" was welcomed with great enthusiasm. It still boggles my mind to see a painted fire so real that you think it could burn you.

Adjustments

Hi Y'all,
Just to let you know that I have gone in and adjusted the last few photos so that they are easier to see and visualize. We had a good final, weekend with Greg in Idaho Falls. Everyone was extremely nice. Once again, with a few days work on a new painting everyone thought that it looked good enough to sign and be finished. To us novices, Greg's "rough ins" look pretty good.

Greg will be signing in Utah next month. I get some additional information and let you know.

Finally a Picture

Hi folks,
I finally got the hotel computer to look at the photo disc. The color is off - but the painting is not done so it won't be too bad. When I get back to a computer with photoshop I'll get a better one for you.

More of the Apprentice

Hi,
I wanted to give you a look at how I saw the apprentice ship builder last, before Greg took it home for as few days. It is amazing that with a few more brush strokes and a little more color that a painting can look almost finished, at least to us novices. Greg is now back and it looked like a lot was done, at least to me. Knowing the detail that Greg puts in it will be a while. I should have some more photos for you tomorrow.

Inspiring

Hi Y'all,

Just a little more on the new painting Greg has been working on and inspiring the young. With proud parents and excited fans looking on Greg gets a little help from an aspiring artist - Jodie. This young gal was quite good and was not distracted by the crowds. Greg was impressed on how meticulous she was about the part she was painting. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy this.

Tid Bits

Hi Y'all,

It is really cool to watch Greg in action and I don't just mean his painting. When he meets people at a signing he always makes sure he introduces himself and that they do also. Typically folks just start in on what wonderful work he does - and he thanks them - but after introducing himself, if the don't introduce themselves he asks. He makes each person feel special by repeating their names. And, like most of us we forget to introduce our kids, but Greg doesn't let us get away with it, he make sure he talks or addresses each child. He is never hurrried. I'm impressed.

The Apprentice? Generations?

Hi Y'all,
I thought that I would give you a continued look at one of the paintings that Greg is working on. It is very interesting to watch the techniques that he use in his painting. On this one with the old man teaching his great grandson the art of ship building (the gentleman is the great grandfather to the apprentice in real life) Greg paints what he calls an under painting - getting the shadowed areas in place first. It looks like he paints it twice.

Greg usually doesn't title his paintings untill he is finished so we'll see what he calls this one.

New Painting at Event

Hi Y'all,
I finally got time to work on a couple of pictures from the road. I am with Greg in Idaho Falls at the Sam's Club. Greg brought a new painting to work on while he was signing and visiting folks. This new one is about a great grandfather, a master craftsman, passing some skill and adice down to his apprentice great grandson. I actually have some video that I'll post later about the photo shoot for this painting. It would be great for Greg to have the live models but a little hard to pack them up for Sam's Club.

Good stuff to come

Hi Y'all,
I'm on the road but I have got some great info and photos to share. I'll figure out this hotel computer tonight and get some great stuffr posted. Great brought a brand new piece to work on while he is in Idaho Falls. It is going to be fun. More later.

New Things on the Horizon

Hi Y'all,
Wow, a lot is going on. There is the new road show schedule, the new paintings to get to press for the fall & winter, and now I hear about a new series of images that will be coming out (old but new). Wow is the word. What I have seen looks really good. I'll get you a sneak peak in a little while.

You'll notice in the music video that there are a number of images that are shown but not available on the website. There are some images that are just used for product licensing and others that may have been sold only as limited editions and are sold out. There are some that enough interest has been raised that they are now being looked at as candidates for producing them, at least in a limited edition format.

Greg Olsen Music Video

Hi Y'all, Some of you may have seen the Greg Olsen music video that is displayed at the road show and signing events, well now we can all view it on YouTube and here on this blog. I hope you like it, I can watch it daily.

Cast Your Net

Hi Y'all,

Things are moving right along in preperation for the road shows with Sam's Club. The first being in Idaho Falls, ID. Greg's newest published print, "Cast Your Net On The Right Side", looks absolutely fantastic. The giclee' canvas of it is exceptional. I'll post a photo of it shortly. Idaho Falls will get the first public viewing of it.

Spitt'n Image

Hey y'all, It is interesting to meet folks from all over the country and world. I have been told that I look like this person or that person and there folks that make me look twice thinking that I know or have met them before because they look like somebody else. Well, the same goes with Greg's paintings, I've met a lot of folks that show me photos of someone who looks like some image in Greg's paintings. This one was so close that it was uncanny. The Hammond family (of Hammond Toys - hammondtoys.com) couldn't resist buying one of Greg's framed prints and having Greg personalize it because the likeness was so very close to their young son. What do you think??