Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Olson.
Mary, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always identified with the art world. As a child the focus was performing arts. When introduced to painting in high school I became determined make it a big part of my life. I attended the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul and the University of Minnesota with a studio art focused BA.
Upon graduating in 2004, I painted on the sidelines and participated in occasional gallery shows while maintaining day jobs. One of my professors in college advised advertising & marketing work to stay within a creative environment. I worked in sales production traffic and layout for a local magazine, non-profit arts organization and later in broadcast TV commercial traffic for several years.
In 2014 I was ready for a change and started working for a local greenhouse, where I remained full-time for years. I gained much knowledge and experience on the retail floor and immediately had a passion for the physical work, nature and plant industry. I learned about the plants, visual merchandising and design (my favorite) and customer service. At the time of this interview (Fall 2023) I am a full-time artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It wasn’t smooth, but I never had expectations that it would be.
Earlier in my life it was especially challenging being a young woman and introvert. To be taken seriously. It’s a competitive world out there. I am proud of maintaining drive to succeed and push through challenges. An internal mental toughness can grow when things aren’t handed to you, so to speak. An advantage when it comes to maintaining a sense of integrity.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an abstract artist. Painting and drawing by hand are the foundation. From that core I create commission paintings for individuals and looking to paint originals for small businesses in the Metro area. From there my creative mind branches off into other directions. I hold a collective interest in illustration for books, design for print, product, and surface pattern design. My current curiosity lies with video editing and digital art. I want to master incorporating original art into 3D and movement, and share. There are so many powerful creative tools becoming more accessible with art. It’s an exciting time to be an artist.
My subject matter is also diverse although it’s consistent: North Shore of Minnesota inspired landscapes and photography, plants, cities and animals. I dance back and forth between palette-knife only applications with acrylic paint, to intricate etchings for scratchboard pet drawings or complicated messy cityscapes.
What do you think about happiness?
I hold on to gratitude. The following makes me happy.
Home. Family. My Fiancé. My cat & husky. Stories, movies and books. Gardens. Plant life. Daily Walks. Hiking up North. Rainy days. Candles. Cooking. Creative freedom. Peace of mind. Working hard. Positivity.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maryolsonart.com
- Instagram: @maryolsonart
- Facebook: maryolsonart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryolson/
