Crow Chief
What is it like for you when involved in a work? How does the
creative process feel when you are ���in the zone?���
I am always excited to start a new project. I have to feel
enthusiastic about the subject I���m going to paint. There has
to be something that draws me to that subject. I paint from
photographs, mainly because my paintings are such a long
process that no one would sit that long. Most have been
photographed at pow wows. Once I���m into the piece, I am
working to achieve the look I am striving for. I don���t know
if I would call it ���in the zone���, but it���s in the process of the
work itself. Enthusiasm for what I am doing is the key.
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Who or what has been the greatest influence on your artistic
expression?
My mother, Merle Olson, was a great influence, since she
was an artist of great merit. She is the one who introduced
me to India ink, since she had used the medium as well.
Her technique was much different from mine. She mainly
painted landscapes and was also a sculptor. However, she
was very versatile and painted portraits of people and did
animals and wildlife as well. She started me on the right
path with my career. She opened doors for me when I was
young ��� with exhibits and such shows as the C. M. Russell
Show in Great Falls. She was my mentor and my best critic.
D I ST I N CT LY M ONTANA ��� SP RI NG 2013
