Artist's Biography
Christy Olsen is a fine artist and educator who works in the pastel medium. Several prominent magazines, including Southwest Art, Edible Baja Arizona, and Zócalo Magazine, have published her work.
Olsen's work has been exhibited and collected throughout the United States and featured in institutions such as the Tucson Botanical Garden's Porter Hall Gallery, the Amerind Museum and Gallery, and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum's Ironwood Gallery, where she received an honorable mention.
Since 2010, she has been a visual art instructor for adults and has taught multiple international art workshops abroad. Her skills developed over years of self-directed practice, experimentation, formal education, and tutelage under several contemporary masters.
Education
Formal
1989 - 1992, B. A. Art History, University of Tennessee (UT in Knoxville)
1992 - 1995, B. A. Anthropology, University of Tennessee (UT in Knoxville)
2000 - 2004, A. S. Computer Science, Pima Community College (PCC)
2019 - 2022, B. S. Computer Science/IT, University of Arizona (ASU)
Certifications
2010 - 2011, Studio Art Teacher's Certification, The Drawing Studio (TDS)
1998, Apr 18, Passed CBEST & Received Teaching Credentials in California
1996 - 1998, Design/Drafting Certification, San Diego City College
Scholarships
2013 Harley Brown Scholarship, Scottsdale Artist's School (SAS)
Other
2013 Diploma of Excellence, Drawing Academy
Mentorship or Private Study
2018 private study & critiques, Dawn Emerson, private studio in Redmond, Oregon
2016 personal critiques, Dawn Emerson, private studio in Tucson, Arizona
2015 private study, Suchitra Bhosle, private studio in Sacramento, California
2014 personal critiques, Dawn Emerson, private studio in Tucson, Arizona
2014 personal critiques, Rebecca Olson, open studio in Tucson, Arizona
2012 personal critiques, Lisa Larrabee, private studio in Tucson, Arizona
2012 private study, Sandra Perlow, Artist-in-Residence, Assisi, Italy province of Umbria
2011 private study, Stephanie Birdsall, private studio in Tucson, Arizona
Professional Workshops Attended
2023 Mar. 7-9, Desmond O'Hagen, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2023 Jan 8-12, Dawn Emerson, Tubac School of Fine Arts LLC, Tubac, Arizona
2018 Jan. 27-29 Aline Ordman Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2018 Feb 14-16, Dawn Emerson, Tubac School of Fine Arts LLC, Tubac, Arizona
2018 Jan 8-12, Dawn Emerson, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2017 Mar 2 - 4, Christine Debrosky, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2016 May 20-22, Suchitra Bhosle, Bide-A-While Artist Retreat & Studio, Houston, Texas
2016 Mar 24-26, Dawn Emerson, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2015 Dec 12-17, Derek Penix, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2015 Jun 4, Luana Luconi Winner, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2015 Jun 3, William Schneider, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2015 Feb 6-8, Suchitra Bhosle, Anderson Mill Garden Club, Austin, Texas
2014 Dec 15-17, David Riedel, Scottsdale Artist's School Scottsdale, Arizona
2014 Apr 21-25, Elizabeth Robbins, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2014 Mar 28-30, Dawn Emerson, The Drawing Studio, Tucson, Arizona
2014 Mar 10-14, Richard Mckinley, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2013 Oct 8-100, Joni Falk, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2013 Jun 8, Desmond O'Hagen, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2013 Jun 6, Margaret Dyer, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2013 May 7-9, Joni Falk, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2012 Mar 9-11, Doug Dawson, The Art Institute, Tucson, Arizona
2012 May 2-6, Gregg Kreutz, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2011 Aug 16-18, Liz Kenyon, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2011 May 31-Jun 2, Desmond O'Hagen, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2011 Apr 18-22, Jeff Legg, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
Professional Demonstrations Attended
2015 Sep 12, Tim Rees, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2015 Jun 5, Dawn Emerson, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2015 Apr 21, Jeffrey Watts, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2014 Nov 15, Carolyn Robles, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2014 Feb 19, Lee McVey, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2014 Jan 15, Mano Sotelo, Tucson Pastel Society, Tucson, Arizona
2014 Jan 5, Casey Baugh, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2013 Oct 27, Daniel Keys, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2013 Oct 9, Linda Dobkin, Scottsdale Artist's School, Scottsdale, Arizona
2013 Sep 21, Lisa Larrabee, Pima Community College, Tucson, Arizona
2013 Jun 9, William Schneider, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2013 Jun 7, Carole Katchen, IAPS, Albuquerque, New Mexico
2012 Nov 4, Judy Crowe, American Women Artists (AWA), Tucson, Arizona
