Linda Olsen enjoys experimenting with various techniques and mediums. She loves the ocean and mostly paints seascapes, tropical scenes and mermaids. She has a bachelor’s degree in fine and applied arts from San Diego State University. You can see her paintings on display at Village Arts Framing & Gallery.
Tell us about your artwork. What inspires you?
The artwork I create comes from expressing my love of the ocean with paint. Whether it’s underwater, surface waves, beachscapes, fantasies with mermaids or sunrise seascapes, it all has to do with salt water. As far as style goes, my work is impressionistic and expressionistic with some realistic elements.
Tell us about your journey as an artist. What first sparked your interest?
My journey started very early on. Growing up with a large family and sailing along the coast to California, I spent a lot of idle time drawing as a kid. During grade school, I excelled in the arts so when I went off to university, I majored in fine art.
I worked as a high school teacher in Pebble Beach, California, before moving to Florida. I spent nearly 30 years as a graphic designer and art director before starting my professional photography business where I was fortunate to shoot weddings and portraits nationally and internationally.
Thirteen years ago, my husband became ill so I had to close the business down to take care of him. Working in my little art studio in the backyard and still being his caregiver for a decade before he passed was a blessing.
Tell us about your art on display in the gallery.
I have only been displaying my smalls at the gallery and have been very fortunate to have a following.
What is your artistic process like?
My process is all about expressing an idea, and I usually start with a tinted gesso on the canvas. Many times, I don’t even sketch on the canvas before just starting to paint in the lights and darks. I like to have several canvases at the same time with the similar idea, and I find that going a little farther on the second one helps me grow as an artist.
Two decades ago, my husband built me this small art studio in the backyard, and it became a sanctuary where I love to create and explore. I have four easels and can work on any of them as others are drying.
What do you like best about what you do?
What excites me about being a painter is the myriad possibilities in the process. There are so many questions that arise and I spend a lot of time analyzing and strategizing, designing and correcting. I like the challenge of trying to figure out answers to how to accomplish what is in my head. I do like to use references from photographs that I take.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My typical day is getting up quite early, and many days I am able to jump on my scooter to witness the sunrise at the beach before breakfast. I love working in my garden before either swimming with my girlfriends or walking on the beach. I paint a while before doing a late afternoon nap. I return to the studio in the evenings after dinner to paint. My friends are very important to me and I love organizing gatherings and enjoying company.
How do you like to spend your free time?
As I am in my mid-70s, retired and can make my days as productive or relaxing as I choose, I find that I choose all the things above in question number six. Also being able to enjoy grandchildren is a bonus.
What’s next for you and your art?
Currently, I’m working on a commission for the city of Neptune Beach for the annual holiday decorations of a painted surfboard as well as preparing for several pop-up shows/gallery events. Also preparing artwork for the Kiawah River Art Collective (that I am a member of) for a couple holiday shows in Kiawah, South Carolina.
