By Don Urquhart, Times Chronicle
Olivia Zeller describes herself as “an emerging artist”, but given she was an avid painter as a kid with life injecting a 40-year hiatus to her painting, she might better be described as a “re-emerging artist”.
While the pandemic isolation days saw many people pick up old hobbies and in some cases boldly embark on new forms of self-improvement or perhaps just self-fulfillment, studies have shown that most of these laudable efforts quickly fell by the wayside once life returned to “normal”.
Luckily for art lovers, Zeller’s foray to reconnect with her artistic side not only stuck but flourished. And the fruits of that artistic endeavour have fallen “at” the wayside, in this case, the small gallery wall at Wayside Select Books & Select Art.
“I’m just really, really happy I stuck with it!” she says. And while the native Montrealer lived and raised a family in rural Alberta where her husband is from, retirement afforded not only the time to dive deep into her painting but also move to the more agreeable environs of Osoyoos.
Certainly, the rural Alberta landscape was stunning and inspirational but the South Okanagan simply takes it up a level or two. The key driver was, of course, the climate, like it is for most retirees settling in this corner of the province. And there is that other familiar refrain of “We used to come here when our kids were little!”
In her artist’s statement, Zeller is succinct on the inspiration of this unique landscape. “The stunning backdrop of Osoyoos, with its unique quality of a lake surrounded by desert . . . The contrast of desert and vineyards, mountains and valleys, and the explosion of wildflowers and plants in the sun drenched environment, create a multitude of subjects to paint.”
Zeller’s pieces are stunning and immediately lock you into the scene, no doubt aided by a combination of vivid colour and immediacy from a tight perspective. Painting in acrylics Zeller has a preference for bright colours which she feels best reflects the “vitality and wonder of Osoyoos”.
She’s flirting with the idea of trying out oil paints, but for now, she’s happy to remain in the acrylic universe.
Looking at her artwork it’s surprising when she says “I’m not your most confident person,” and as a result, the encouragement she received from not only family and friends but also newfound friends in the local art community, was key to expressing herself on canvas.
“But now I think I could manage to do it without anybody saying they’re good,” she says, clearly having found her feet in the artistic space.
Olivia Zeller’s show is on at Wayside Select Books & Art, 8317 Main St, Osoyoos until June 26, 2024.
