April 20th, 2024

Happy Saturday! Hopefully ya’ll are enjoying the objkt4objkt event going on right now, either minting pieces for the event or collecting. Events like this are the very best that the Tezos artist community offers, in my opinion. I don’t think the energy is the same as it was in 2021-2022 but all things considered, there’s plenty of buzz. If you were around back then you know what I mean. The excitement for art was at an unbelievable level.

I actually owe objkt4objkt for getting me into the NFT scene. Back in September ‘21, the owner of my small gym would come in every morning and tell me about the new pieces he was collecting on this blockchain called Tezos. I wasn’t exactly a stranger to NFT’s or crypto, but the art he was showing me was brilliant and I’d never seen anything like it before. Tezzardz this and zancan that, it was all new to me. After hearing about it for days, one Saturday I went home and installed Temple wallet. I loaded up about $20, hopped on hic et nunc and before I knew it I was an art collector.

In case you missed it, I actually have a special open edition live right now for the event. You can check it out here at a mint price of 0.55 XTZ: Symbiosis

Back to the present, we’re going to head down under for a deep dive on an influential Australian artist.

Artist Spotlight - John Olson (1928- 2023)

Career

John Olsen was born on January 21, 1928, in Newcastle, New South Wales, but he grew up in the Sydney suburb of Bondi. Exposed to the natural beauty of the Australian landscape from a young age, he developed a deep appreciation that would later permeate his artworks. His formal art education began at the Datillo Rubbo Art School in Sydney, followed by studies at the Julian Ashton Art School. These foundational years were crucial in developing his technical skills and artistic vision.

Early in his career, Olsen was influenced by European art, particularly after his travels to Europe in the 1950s. His exposure to the works of painters like Picasso and Braque and his time spent in Majorca, Spain, where he absorbed the Mediterranean light and color, significantly impacted his approach to painting the Australian landscape.

After his time in Europe, Olsen returned to Australia in the early 1960s with a renewed vision for capturing the Australian landscape. This period marked a significant evolution in his style, moving towards a more fluid and abstract expression that captured the essence of the natural environment. During this time, he created some of his most iconic works, including the "Lake Eyre" series, which emerged from his fascination with the vast, empty salt lake in South Australia. These paintings are celebrated for their dynamic, organic forms and an aerial perspective that was innovative in Australian landscape painting.

Olsen's role as an educator began to take prominence during the middle stages of his career. He taught at various institutions, including the Bakery Art School in Sydney, where he influenced a generation of young Australian artists.

Into the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Olsen continued to evolve his style and explore new themes. Despite his advancing age, his work retained its vitality and curiosity about the natural world. He received several significant commissions, including murals for public and private collections, showcasing his status as a leading figure in Australian art. His contributions were officially recognized when he was awarded the Order of Australia.

Contributions to the Art World

Olsen redefined the Australian landscape painting scene by his signature approach, noted for its dynamic and unique perspective. Unlike traditional landscape artists who might capture the scenery from a ground-level viewpoint, Olsen often depicted his landscapes from an aerial perspective. This approach not only provided a fresh visual experience but also highlighted the vastness and diversity of the Australian environment.

He developed a distinctive style characterized by loose, fluid brushwork and an expressive use of color. His paintings often appear as if they are in motion, with swirling lines and organic shapes that evoke the life forces within nature. This style has become a hallmark of his work and has influenced contemporary approaches to painting.

Olsen often incorporated elements of poetry into his paintings, blurring the lines between visual and literary arts. His texts sometimes appear scribbled directly onto the canvas, creating a dialogue between the words and the images. This synthesis of poetry and painting invites viewers to engage with his works on multiple sensory and intellectual levels.

His artworks have played a significant role in promoting Australian art both domestically and internationally. His depictions of iconic landscapes, like Lake Eyre and the Outback, have helped to shape the visual identity of Australia in the global arts community.

Beyond painting, Olsen’s interests and influence extend into writing, philosophy, and even culinary arts, demonstrating how the arts can interconnect and enrich each other. His cookbook and writings reflect his belief that art is a comprehensive life philosophy, not confined to traditional boundaries.

Style

Olsen's style is notable for its fluidity and loose, expressive brushwork. His paintings often resemble organic forms with swirling lines and free-form shapes that mimic natural processes such as the flow of water or the movement of animals. This dynamic quality gives his works a sense of energy and life.

One of his signature approaches was his use of aerial perspectives. This bird's-eye view allowed him to capture expansive landscapes in a way that emphasizes their vast scale and interconnected ecosystems. It’s a perspective that offers viewers a sense of immersion into the natural world, as if they are part of the landscape itself.

Color was a crucial element in Olsen's work. He often used a vibrant and diverse palette to depict the natural hues of the Australian landscape. Bright blues, deep greens, and earthy tones not only reflect the physical appearance of these settings but also evoke their emotional and spiritual resonance.

Olsen primarily worked with oil paints and watercolors. He chose his medium based on the specific qualities he wishes to bring out in each piece. Oils allow for rich, deep color saturation and layering, while watercolors lend themselves to the fluidity and transparency that are so characteristic of his style.

His process typically began with extensive observation and engagement with the natural environment. His deep understanding of and connection to his subjects are evident in the way he captured the essence of each landscape or scene. Before applying paint to canvas, Olsen often created detailed sketches and drawings. These preliminary works played a crucial role in his process, allowing him to explore composition and color schemes and to plan out the dynamic flows that characterize his finished pieces.

Despite his careful planning, Olsen valued spontaneity. His actual painting process was characterized by an improvisational approach, where intuitive responses to the medium and the subject matter guided his hand. This balance between planning and spontaneity is crucial to the lively, organic quality of his art.

Influences and Lessons

During his travels in Europe in the 1950s, Olsen was deeply influenced by the works of modernist painters such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and the members of the CoBrA group. These artists' bold use of color and emphasis on expressing emotional and psychological experiences resonated with Olsen and shaped his approach to landscape painting.

Perhaps the most significant influence on Olsen's work was the Australian landscape itself. His extensive travels through Australia, particularly to places like Lake Eyre and the Outback, provided endless inspiration. His deep connection to the environment is evident in his portrayals of its diverse ecosystems, capturing not just the visual spectacle but also the spirit of the places he depicts.

He has expressed admiration for the art and culture of Indigenous Australians, whose works often embody a spiritual and integrative view of nature and humanity. The abstract and symbolic qualities of Indigenous art, along with its profound connection to the land, influenced Olsen's own approach to depicting landscapes.

One of the most powerful lessons from Olsen's career is the value of deeply connecting with one's environment. Artists can find inspiration in the natural or urban landscapes around them, exploring not just the visual aspects but also the emotional and cultural significance of these spaces.

His career was characterized by continual growth and exploration, driven by his insatiable curiosity about the world. This lifelong learning approach is something artists can emulate to keep their work fresh and relevant.

Style Representation

Collectors Corner - RedruM, OMT, cypheristikal

Final Thoughts

I’ve had the feeling that X/Twitter has been slowly dying over the past year. Engagement and views has been trending steeply down for everyone I know and the algo changes have been frustrating to say the least. For artists who rely on social media to share their art and generate interest from their followers and hopefully reach new fans, the changes have been very demoralizing.

Since I joined Warpcast almost a month ago, things have been different. You can feel the excitement on the timeline as users are engaging genuinely with each other, having conversations in the comments and tipping each other with the app currency, $degen. It’s the most fun I’ve had on social media in at least two years.

When I first started on X, I only shared art. Being an introvert, sharing anything personal with strangers was a hurdle I couldn’t get over. As time went on I became more comfortable with sharing a little more, but by then everything had changed and it seemed like speaking in a crowd where no one was paying attention. So, I’m approaching Warpcast like I should have from the beginning on X. Sharing more, engaging more and being as active as I can be. It’s like a fresh start, even though I’m surrounded by a lot of the same folks on X. But it feels very different than X ever did; more friendly, more intimate.

Maybe that’s just in my head, maybe others are feeling the same. All I know is if you’re an artist getting burnt out and feeling the futility of tweeting, give Warpcast a shot. Hopefully I see you on the timeline 😊 

As always, if you enjoyed this edition I would really appreciate if you shared it. Just hit the share button below. And if you’re not following me on X yet, I’d love to follow you back. I’m also on Warpcast!

On that note, I’ll leave you with a quote and the hope that we can create something special together:

Enjoy your weekend, friend!

P.S. If you have feedback I’d love to hear it! A reply to this email goes directly to me.

Disclaimer: links may include referral codes that provide a small commission to me at no cost to the collector; commissions are paid from mint fees that the platform charge for each transaction.