Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Oliver.
Doug, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Since a young boy I have loved the raw nature of the West, including soaring monsoon skies and Arizona sunsets. It is always a challenge to put the visual drama in my work without overstating the images with excessive detail. Working with light and the light source, creating compositions that put the viewer in the image is always a goal. Absence of the human element is also characteristic of my work as well. I have been blessed to have had a long career and so grateful for the support my collectors have given me over the years.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
To put on canvas images of the western landscape has always been a challenge as it is always evolving and changing with each season and location. I am particularly excited when a summer monsoon storms its way over my studio as the soaring skies are nature’s drama at its finest. Working with classical music in the background, inspiration is there to put something on canvas that will hopefully inspire others in seeing my work and saying “I have been there and understand that image well!”
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
My advise to other artists is to always create and do not wait for “Inspiration to hit you”. Be disciplined and set a time to work in your studio on a regular basis. Be organized and set a schedule to do a reasonable amount of work in a certain period of time. Do what you do best and constantly refine your skills to please yourself, not others.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Someone recently asked how many galleries I have been represented in after more than 5 decades of production. Since I keep good records and locations of art ventures, the answer was 62! That is, I really know the gallery and art dealer business and for that experience I am so grateful. Whether showing in Aspen, CO. or Palm Desert, CA. each affords a different opportunity to create work for the regional market. My website lists the current gallery locations that display my work. www.dougoliver.com
Contact Info:
- Address: 765 Vista Del Sol
Prescott, AZ. 86303 - Website: www.dougoliver.com
- Phone: 928-713-9863
- Email: ahloveraz@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Oliver Fine Art – Barbara Oliver Photographer
Janet Czajkowski- Parel
June 14, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Great advice and beautiful paintings as usual!
Sharon Smock
November 27, 2023 at 6:52 pm
Always loved his paintings since seeing his visionary work with the massive skies and clouds and Joshua trees representative of the west at the Performing Arts Theatre in Lancaster, CA. An instant passion overwhelmed me and in the 90’s I bought ‘Blooming Joshuas at Sundown’ to remind me of the wide open spaces and beautiful landscapes and skies of the untouched antelope valley that he captured so well. So sorry he has passed.