Featured Artist: Trish Ollie

Interviewer: Sam Stearns

Interviewee: Trish Ollie

We are excited to introduce everyone to our featured artist for August, Trish Ollie. After getting to know Trish I have learned she is an amazing and resilient woman who puts her story into every work of art.The opening reception for her solo art show is this Saturday, August 14th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Come meet Trisha and see what her art is all about!

Click here to RSVP for her Opening Reception 

Trish is a Southern-IIllinois native, who grew up in Murphysboro. Trish considers herself to be self-taught and began her career as an artist when she was six years old. When she was a little girl she used to paint all over her grandmother's eggshell white walls. Trish also holds a B.A. in Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University. 

 Sam Stearns: What do you hope people walk away with after seeing your work and hearing your story?

Trisha Ollie: My goal is for people to feel like they are right there with my paintings. When I first began painting, I created things that related to my life. I try to tell my story through my work. If you look at my paintings you will see that there is always a story being told. Everything that I produce is the product of my experience and I capture that essence and put it all into my art.

Sam Stearns: What keeps you motivated to create? 

Trisha Ollie: My grandma has always been my largest source of inspiration in everything I do. She lived to be 102 years old and she was encouraging me to create until the day she died. When I was a young girl, she would always hang my paintings up on the wall and tell me I did such a good job. When she passed she told me not to be sad and that she would always be with me. These paintings are my tribute to her and the memories we shared.

Sam Stearns: How do you find the time to create so much art?

Trisha Ollie: Painting is something that I want to do. So I make time to do it. Just like saying your prayers and eating breakfast. Take a shower and start painting. Especially if something comes to mind. Because you have to capture that moment. Because when I feel inspired, I stop what I am doing and I make sure to bring it to life. I call it a gift because I can look at it and I can draw it most of the time. I believe that paintings are a gift from god. It neer fails to amaze me how a blank canvas turns into what it does.

Sam Stearns: Do you have any advice for young upcoming artists?

Trisha Ollie: If painting is what you truly like to do, then keep doing that. In life, you have to please yourself. One does what one likes. It's not doing what one likes but liking what one does, and in my case, it's art, the beauty that surrounds me, the thoughts of creation that comes to me.

 Trish is a beautiful soul and her artwork is representative of what a truly wonderful person she is. Come by the studio any day this August to see Trish’s artwork and hear her story.