Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Olsen

Hi Robin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I grew up loving to draw and make things. Stacks of boxes, piles of fabric, magazines, or buttons, anything became an art project. When it came time for college, I wanted to combine my love of art with an ability to make a living, so I enrolled in a Commercial Art program. I was in heaven for the first two years with classes in drawing, design and color theory, but when the program turned to pre-computer graphic design and advertising, it became far too tedious for me.

I ended up switching areas and getting a PhD in Literature and taught at UC Davis for years. I was continually pulled back to art though. While in graduate school, I saw my first art quilt and that sparked an obsession that could serve as a nice distraction from my dissertation.

Over the years I experimented with most any media that caught my eye. I pieced together an art education from books, art centers, college classes, workshops and mentors. To this day, learning is still one of the greatest joys of painting for me.

About 15 years ago, I started studying abstract painting and have been focused on that ever since. My work has won awards and is included in private and public collections. I am represented by Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Bainbridge Island, WA.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Let’s just say if I was trying to make a living off of art, I would have quit long ago. That’s a very hard path. Thankfully I’ve had other income so art has remained my passion. My driving force is to become the best artist I can be, and there are certainly struggles along the way.

As an abstract painter, there is no clear destination. Everything on the canvas comes from within in a call and response fashion. I put a mark down then respond to that with another mark. It’s a very alive practice that teaches me to be fully present. But there are plenty of times in the process when I can feel lost and uncertain whether I’ll ever be able to resolve the piece. Plenty of times I wonder why I put myself through this. Some pieces may take months to resolve. Then there’s a great satisfaction when a piece finally conveys the feeling I was after.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am very interested in the contrast between letting go and having control. Growing up shy and repressed, I always had an inner urge to let loose. Painting is my way of getting to do that. I love making wild, energetic marks and brushstrokes, but I also like finding calm, controlled areas for them to play against. Sometimes my work leans more toward the wild and energetic, other times toward the calm and quiet. My early interest in quilting still shows up in my work. Often my work is based on grids or contains patches of collage of my drawn, printed, or painted papers.

One of my proudest moments was having a painting commissioned by the Mayo Clinic. When I spent some time in a hospital, I found great solace in roaming the halls and enjoying the artwork. It thrills me to think that maybe my piece in the Mayo Clinic can offer that to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.robinolsenart.com
• Instagram: @robinolsenart