Design and Composition: Notan (Spring 2019)

Whether you are drawing or painting, a strong composition will attract attention, engage the viewer or provide clarity in your message. This class covers some of the basic principles of art, simplification, and the Japanese concept of Nōtan (濃淡), a concept that evolved during the evolution of woodblock prints using a limited set of dark and light shapes. By the end of this class, you will have a solid understanding of how to simplify your shapes and arrange your values into a pleasing design.

Notan by Christy Olsen

Meets: (2) Saturday Afternoons 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (3-hour duration)
Dates: Feb. 9, 16 in 2019
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N. Los Altos, Tucson, Arizona 85705)

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Demonstration, lecture, & one-on-one instruction provided during hands-on practice
Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Medium: Not media-specific, demonstrations will be performed in graphite or pen & ink
Technique: Design & Composition
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list prior to the first day of class.

Register or enroll at the Art Verve Academy!

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Open Studio Tucson Artists in Gallery at the J (Group Exhibition & Art Sale 2019)

Will be in this show!

This year, Gallery at the J will present selected artworks from multiple artists participating in the Heart of Tucson Art and Art Trails local artist-run Open Studio Tour. The exhibit and art sale kicks off the 2018 Open Studio Spring Tour!

San Xavier del Blanc. 12x16. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

Group Exhibition & Art Sale

This event is open to the general public. Admission is frees at no charge.

Dates

January 26 - February 10, 2019

Artist's Reception

February 10, 2019 (6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Refreshments served.

About the Host

Artists & artisans located deep within the heart of Tucson, Arizona band together through the Heart of Tucson Art (HoTA) to celebrate the rich artistic culture of the Tucson Arts District. For more information, visit heartoftucsonart.org. For more information on Art Trails, visit arttrails.org.

About the Gallery

The Gallery at the J is located in the main hall of the Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC). It hosts various art exhibitions throughout the year, each with a unique genre in the gallery.

The Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC), sometimes called the "Tucson J," is a 110,000-square-foot center built in 1989 and recently renovated in 2015. With more than 2000 families and 5000 members, the Tucson J is open to the Tucson community for all people, all faiths, all identities, all abilities, and all walks of life.

Location

Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC)
3800 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85718

Directions

Driving east or west on River, turn south onto Dodge and enter our north parking lot. Driving north on Dodge, stay straight to enter our parking lot. Traveling east or west on Alvernon (where it turns into River), turn north on Dodge to enter our parking lot. You can also enter the northeast lot by turning in from River Road between the Tucson Hebrew Academy Day School and the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona.

Hours

Monday - Thursday (9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.)
Friday & Saturday (9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Closed Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Sales

Artwork may be purchased during the show but must stay hung throughout the exhibition.

For Purchasing Information:
Phone +1 (520) 299-3000

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Frank Sinatra and the Egg Connection

The Egg Connection owners and servers have asked permission to use one of my wee urban sketcher gouache paintings on their menu for their Christmas wishes!

Frank Sinatra for Christmas. 8x8. Gouache on paper by Christy Olsen.

This is one of their Christmas decorations that I painted from life when I was at the restaurant. It is fun to look at. It moves and sings like Frank Sinatra!

Below is the modification.

For more information on this fabulous restaurant, visit theeggconnection.com.

Just wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

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Southwest Art, Ones to Collect (Oct. 2018)

"For art lovers, collecting paintings and sculptures is about much more than a financial investment. It's a means of self-expression. As the late Belgian artist Jean Willy Mestach once said. 'Tell me what you collect, tell me how you collect, and I will tell you who you are.' The pieces we choose to acquire may convey a meaningful story, capture a fond memory, or represent a period in art history we admire. In the end, it's always a personal choice. In the following pages, we've rounded up a diverse sampling of fine artworks to help you navigate the wide and wonderful world of collecting" (Southwest Art, October 2018, pg. 102).

Southwest Art
October 2018. Vol. 48, Issue No. 5.

Summer's Wedding Day
Southwest Magazine,
published October 2018.

"Fine art capturing mood, light & atmosphere in oil or pastel. Regardless of the subject matter, whether it is figures, animals, nature, or still life, Christy Olsen's work includes loose impressionistic marks or visible brushwork. Christy is currently teaching drawing & painting at the Art Verve Academy in Tucson, Arizona" (Southwest Art, October 2018, pg. 105).

Image of Summer's Wedding day. Pastel on sanded paper. 9x12. was featured.

Reference
Ones to Collect. Southwest Art Magazine.
Published October 2018. Volume 48 (Issue No. 5).

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Richeson 75 Figure & Portrait (Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2018)

Cowgirl received a Meritorious Award in the Richeson 75 international art competition.

The "Richeson75 Figure & Portrait" annual exhibition will show at the Richeson School of Art gallery. This event is open to the general public. Admission is at no charge.

Cowgirl. 9x12. Pastel on board by Christy Olsen.

Juried Exhibition & Art Sale

Richeson 75 International are art competitions that offer a venue where established and emerging artists can show their latest, best work to a broader and more appreciative audience. The Richeson School of Art facilitates each competition with a unique genre. Artists from all over the world submit their pieces annually, where only 75 pieces are chosen, which is why it is called the "Richeson 75 International.

Jack Richeson & Co., Inc. underwrites large cash prizes for Best-In-Show and generous prizes of Richeson art studio furniture and materials for each contest cycle genre. The 75 finalists for each regular contest genre exhibit their work in the beautiful Richeson Gallery, which appears in a hardcover book for that annual competition genre.

There is also a companion online exhibit that reaches a broad audience. Medium categories include 1) oil, oil pastels, & acrylics, 2) Other media (soft pastels, drawing /dry media, watercolor, gouache, casein, printmaking, etc.).

Dates

October 25 - December 2, 2018

Artist's Reception

October 26, 2018 (5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.)
Refreshments served.

About the Host

Richeson School of Art is located in Kimberly, Wisconsin. They are proud to utilize locally and nationally known artists that teach a variety of art mediums at their on-site location. Their studio functions as an educational classroom, life drawing session studio, and local meeting space for artists to work during our open studio times.

Jack Richeson & Co. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality art materials. In 2005, company founder and CEO Jack Richeson realized his lifelong dream of creating a resource for artists to exhibit artwork, gain inspiration and further their artistic education.

About the Gallery

Richeson Gallery features over 700 original works of art composed by the Richeson Permanent Collection and regional and local artists. As part of its mission to support the visual arts community, the Richeson School of Art operates and sponsors an art gallery on-site.

Richeson Gallery in Kimberly, WI

There are two rotating exhibit spaces where world-renowned artists hang alongside up-and-coming artists' work, creating a beautiful harmony for visitors to experience. The permanent collection holds over 500 works by artists, including Stephen Quiller, Zoltan Szabo, Ramon Kelly, Richard Schmidt, Urania Christy Tarbet, Erica Norelius, and many more.

Richeson Gallery in Kimberly, WI

Location

Richeson Gallery
557 Marcella Street, Kimberly, WI, 54136

Hours

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Wednesdays (10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
Saturdays (10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Sundays & Mondays (Closed)
Or call for an appointment.

Sales

Artwork may be purchased during the show at the gallery but must stay hung throughout the exhibition. For Purchasing Information:
- Visit Richesongallery.com
- Phone +1 (800) 233-2404 or +1 (920) 560-3777
- Or email: artschool@richesonart.com

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Publications

Cowgirl was published in the limited edition Richeson 75 International exhibition book.

All Richeson 75 International competitions are capped off with the publication of a collectible, limited-edition, full-color, hardcover exhibit book. These books include the finalists' work and feature meritorious awards from the competition.

Richeson 75 International
Figure & Portrait 2018

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Check Out Christy Olsen's Artwork (Interview Jun. 2018)

Check Out Christy Olsen's Artwork.
Retrieved from voyagephoenix.com on June 6, 2018.

Article by Robert Williamson

Published by VoyagePhoenix Magazine on June 5, 2018.

Transcript

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Olsen.

Christy, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was inspired to create at an early age. I was born in Memphis, Tennessee as a third-generation painter. Growing up in a family of artists, I played under my mother’s easel where I acquired a colossal passion for drawing. My own artistic skills in drawing and painting were developed from a unique combination of formal education, self-directed practice, experimentation, and tutelage under several contemporary masters.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
At a time when representational art was not offered in the fine arts curriculum at most universities, I chose to earn a Bachelor’s of Art (B.A.) degree in Art History instead by studying the Old Masters via the classroom. I am heavily influenced by the Impressionists of the late 19th and early 20th century, especially the ones who studied in Florence, including Mary Cassatt, Dennis Bunker-Miller, Edmund Tarbell and Giovanni Boldini.

I paint in oil or use the pastel medium to capture mood, light & atmosphere. I work in the studio from life drawings, color studies, sketchbooks, my own observations or perceptions. I paint in any genre, whether it’s figure, animals, landscape or still life. My work is often referred to as ‘soft, soothing & serene.’

What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
The secret to outstanding artistic achievement is not talent, it’s perseverance. Just don’t quit. You have to enjoy the process not the end result. Once you realize it’s the process not the final piece, you’ve made it no matter what level you’re at.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I am currently showing my work in juried exhibitions with the Tucson Pastel Society. I also do a bi-annual open studio tour with the Heart of Tucson Art.

Reference
Williamson, R. (2018, June 5). Check Out Christy Olsen's Artwork. VoyagePhoenix Magazine. Retrieved from voyagephoenix.com on June 10, 2018.

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Animal Safari Sketch (Summer 2018)

Go on a super fun safari, to sketch or draw the animals on location at the fabulous International Wildlife Museum. Get a close-up look at taxidermy mammals and birds from the collection in the upstairs classroom. Through a series of simple exercises with a focus on gesture, structure & anatomy, you will learn how to draw animals.

Gouache by Christy Olsen

You will also explore how to render texture such as fur or reptilian skin. We will set up animals within the classroom in the proper studio lighting to create dynamic compositions and practice smaller studies. Each session also includes time for practice in the downstairs natural history museum on animals within their own diorama.

Meets: (4) Saturday Afternoons 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM (3-hour duration)
Dates: Jul. 14, 21, 28 Aug. 4 in 2018
Location: Upstairs Board Room of the International Wildlife Museum (4800 West Gates Pass Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona 85745)
Directions: From the West: On West Gates Pass Boulevard, turn left after W. McElroy Dr.
From the East: On West Gates Pass Boulevard, turn right after N. Camino De Oeste.

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Lecture & demonstration, individual feedback, or one-on-one instruction will be provided, during in-class exercises or studio practice.
Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Medium: Not media-specific, demonstrations will be performed in charcoal, graphite, or pastel pencil
Technique: Drawing from life, Drawing textures such as fur or animal skin
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list prior to the first day of class.

Register or enroll at the Art Verve Academy!

Read More