Natural Elements Artist Spotlight

The Natural Elements Exhibition, going on right now at the Arts Alliance, features a variety of different types of artists and media, such as clay, glass, metal, stone, and wood. This post will feature two artists from the show that have been interviewed about their creative process.

Artist Spotlight - Gene Olson

Arts Alliance: Where do you gather most of the inspiration for your works?

Gene Olson: From conversations with people. My mind tends to free associate during and exchange and I often come up with ideas for things to do; not that I make them all; but many pieces have come about this way.

AA: What is the hardest step in creating your work?

GO: Getting started and then once going making the final strokes.

AA: What kind of creative patterns or routines do you have when working on a piece?

GO: Perhaps I should cultivate a routine...

AA:  What are you trying to communicate with your art?

GO: Art is about emotion and the unspoken portions of dialogue, even in theater or poetry, the unspoken sum is what comes across as art.

AA: How do you know when a work is finished?

GO: When somebody buys it.

AA: Do you have an online portfolio or website where we can view more of your work?

GO:  www.Mettleworks.com has some of my stuff up.  I put a few pieces in the gallery section.

I also have collaborated on pieces, and helped others as well as doing restoration work, that work is listed here… http://www.mettleworks.com/projects.html

 How They Make Trees 

 Bean Can Wind God & Hero

Artist Spotlight - Mary L. Olson

Arts Alliance: Where do you gather most of the inspiration for your works?

Mary L. Olson: It depends on the media I'm using. If I'm photographing nature, it's close observation. If it's stained glass, I have to change my thinking to developing shapes. Or if I'm painting from nature or life, I look for patterns of light.

AA: What is the hardest step in creating your work?

MLO: Getting started, then once I'm into it, it's hard to put it down.

AA: What kind of creative patterns or routines do you have when working on a piece?

MLO: Composition is the most important. Then I study the light patterns and try to create a flow through the piece. Next I concentrate on the values, and last the color.

AA: What is your most important artist tool?

MLO: My studio.

AA: Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?

MLO: Everything.

AA: What are you trying to communicate with your art?

MLO: Photography: capturing the world the way I see it. Stained Glass: add a focal point of color and sparkle to a space. In the case of restoring an antique window, I find bringing it back to life extremely rewarding. I'm in the process of studying painting; Oil in particular. I prefer painting from life, and hope to develop my skill as well as my style.

AA: How do you know when a work is finished?

MLO: I've learned early on to stop painting a subject before you think it's done. Keep it fresh, and leave the paint strokes alone. The hard part is doing it. The stained glass process is more of a craft, and a strict process must be followed to finish a piece.

AA: Do you have an online portfolio or website where we can view more of your work?

MLO: Not at this time. I hope to get something up soon. You can always email me at MLOanddustyhorse@aol.com.

AA: Is there anything else you would like to tell us?

MLO: I've been "creating" art all of my life, and it's an exciting time for all artist because of the advances made by technology, but with those advances, art has become easier. Digital photography has made photographers out of everyone. People are becoming more casual consumers of Art. Art made from countless hours in the studio has been replaced by factory copies, sold at discount stores. We as artist have to find our place in this revolving world. Anyone can use a pencil, but only an artist can make a masterpiece. We have to keep finding ways to educate ourselves and make our own masterpieces. We have to educate ourselves and the public of the difference.

Orange Poppy Lamp (left), Red & Green Dragon Fly (right)

 Orange, Blue & Gray Window  

- All works shown are for sale at the gallery.