VIVIAN C OLSEN

Vivian is inspired by nature and aided by imagination - two ingredients she uses to create dramatic wildlife paintings. Observing animals in the outdoors has always been her passion and enables her to paint expressive portraits of wild animals such as deer, bison, cranes, quail and herons. She photographs her subjects to use as references for her studio paintings which she paints mainly with watercolors, but also with other media.  She says, "My portraits of wildlife are designed to show each animal’s beauty, and their natural habitat. I try to express their individual personalities and postures so no two ever look alike—even quail!”

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"In 2020, I realized my dream of publishing a children’s book about our native animals with stories reminiscent of Aesop’s Fables. I spent 3 years illustrating and writing the stories which are now in my book called ‘The Good, The Bad, and the Goofy’-- published by Amazon."

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While growing up in the California hills Vivian always knew she would be an artist and set her goal to become a wildlife artist. She long ago attained that goal and eventually earned an Art Degree and Master’s Degree in Biology while a student at New Mexico Tech University.  She then taught for nearly 20 years as an Art Teacher at Socorro High School in New Mexico. During those years, and up to the present, she continues to paint as a professional artist exhibiting her artwork in galleries, juried exhibits, and in solo and group shows throughout the Northwest.

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Vivian’s Professional Memberships include:  Member and past president of the High Desert Art League, a member and exhibitor with the Oil Painters of America,                  a member