Interview
Eva Olsson
Eva Olsson is an abstract painter, living in the beautiful village of Järvsö in Sweden. Her career spans various forms of expression such as oil painting, watercolor and acrylic painting. For many years, she also embroidered her motifs. Her first exhibition was a group exhibition in Stockholm in 1989; since then, she has participated in a large number of exhibitions, both solo and group exhibitions in Sweden and internationally. After a break of several years, she has now opened her studio again, and in the autumn of 2023 she had the exhibition "Shifing Tones" in Stockholm with many visitors and good sales.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Since my childhood, I was told that I was very good with drawing but that I needed a "proper job." I struggled with "proper jobs" and was never really happy. So, I went to art school at night after work and slowly started to find my way around my own artistic expression. I have been painting in both oil and watercolors, and for quite some time, I did embroideries of my own drawings which was very time consuming. After that, I started pouring high glossy paint on the canvas as a sort of "drip technique" which resulted in a graphic figurative expression. During all these different types of expressions, I have developed both as a person and an artist.”
What inspires you?
“Life! My own experiences from meeting people, situations that comes form family or friends that somehow affect me, happy moments, sad moments, difficult moments. But also nature - a walk in the forest, a visit by the sea, or to stand on a mountain with a view for miles and have free space for the thoughts to run freely.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My themes differ from time to time - but I notice that I'm coming back to relationships. I guess it's a way to process a moment that has in some way affected me - happy or sad. With my abstract art, I seldom have an underlying message. I paint what I feel and I put that emotion into the painting, and the person viewing it is hopefully have his or her own experience. The viewers perception can sometime collide with my intention but as long as the painting is communicating to the person then I am happy!”
“During all these different types of expressions, I have developed both as a person and an artist.”
How would you describe your work?
“Colorful! I almost always start with the idea that I am gonna do a "soft and smooth" painting - but they almost always end up in strong colors. I don't know why that is happening but I don't mind - I guess what is needed to be expressed is what is getting on the canvas.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I gather a lot of inspiration from other abstract artist that I follow on, for example, Instagram. I love Hilma af Klint, but also artist who paints very portrait-like. I guess you can get inspiration from all sorts of art, even if you like it or not.”
What is your creative process like?
“The process is almost always the same - it's just the length of the time for the production that varies. I go to my studio, put some nice music on and start with playing around with different colors on the canvas. This first step of playing around is not only for playing, it also takes away the feeling of having to perform something fantastic on all that white canvas. After that first step, the painting usually starts to take shape and I get the feeling for it together with the colors. Sometimes, it takes just a few hours to make a painting and sometimes it takes weeks and weeks. But I just love when I get into that wonderful feeling of concentration and lose track of time while at the easel.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe that an artist has a quite huge responsibility with what to communicate with their audience. For me, I believe there are to many destructive actions going on around our one and only planet, so for me, it would be wrong to make art that upsets. I understand that that is also needed but it's not for me to do. I want to give the viewer a peaceful place to be, to have a moment of rest, or inspiration, or happiness while having my art in their vicinity.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have had many exhibitions, most of them in Sweden, but there is one that took place in the US that also tells that I have grown as a person. This was during my embroider-my-drawings period. I got in contact with a gallery in New York, it was called World Fine Art Gallery, I don't know if it's still around. Anyway, I got 5 of my embroideries to be exhibit in a group exhibition. I got super happy and sent the artworks to the big apple - and didn't dare to go there myself for the opening. Instead; I went there a week later and when finally getting there my friend who I was staying with had to push me into the gallery because I was so shy. Since then, I have grown as a person and I would never miss an opening night in New York where my artwork is showing!”
Website: evaoart.se
Instagram: @evao_art
