Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heidi Olson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Heidi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
I taught school for 15 years, and then I transitioned to being an administrative assistant for a couple of years, however, I knew I wanted to do something else, but was still wading through the initial grief of losing our son. Everything I did felt futile, bringing me no enjoyment or fulfillment.
A friend, Bobbidee, asked me to come to her home for a paint night. I went with a picture I had taken in Hawaii of a hibiscus as my subject. There I entered the state of flow as I lay down paint and escaped everything that was weighing down my soul.
As a teenager I had painted, drawn, sculpted and enjoyed art. I had given it away for gifts, but never had I experienced someone enjoying my art enough to want to pay for it. Upon completing the hibiscus painting one of Bobbidee’s friends wanted a print. She bought the scan that I made and that was the first time I was paid for something I had created. A few other people purchased the hibiscus prints as well, and the dream of being an artist emerged.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have always loved art, but as a fulltime educator I would set aside my passion for painting. While teaching
elementary education, I met my wonderful husband, Peter. We tried to grow our family by adopting but endured two last minute rejections. As we thought our ability to have children seemed to have passed, I was able to
get pregnant.
Artwork is filled with chaos that brings beauty; and that was my experience with having my son. After eight months of an emotional pregnancy, I was flown from Utah to Stanford Children’s Hospital to have an emergency C-Section for Archer Calvin Olson.
Our son was a very sick boy and had to spend the next eight months in the NICU. During these chaotic months, I experienced and saw many miraculous events and many devastating events. Ultimately, Archer would find peace and pass away.
Life is fraught with great turbulence which can bring hope and peace. During my darkest moments after my son had passed, one of my good friends invited me to participate in a paint-night. Amongst the turmoil of mourning, I found peace and hope while painting the Red Hibiscus. From this life changing moment, I want to share what I felt
with others through my artwork.
I have taken my renewed love of painting and am pursuing it full time. I am currently taking the renowned Milan Art Institute’s Mastery Program. My style is mixed media. I like to intertwine my love of the mountains, animals, loved ones and my travels into my paintings. Like the chaos from my life, I want to share the hope, peace, joy and beauty I have found doing multimedia painting.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal as an artist is to create art that resonates with other people and their journey. I want to create art that adds beauty, peace and hope to their lives.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
That artists can’t thrive. There’s a lovely book called: Real Artists Don’t Starve by Jeff Goins. It’s all about the mindset that society has created in regards to art and artists. It was a book that really helped change my mindset and reinforced that I just need to go for it. There’s no shame in not being a full-time artist, yet. It offers a very positive outlook and growth mindset for all creatives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heidiolsonart.com
- Instagram: @heidiolsonart
- Facebook: Heidi Olson Art
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeidiOlsonArt/
