The self-taught artist has been drawing and painting since about 1975, working oil on board from photographs in his home studio and on location. (He and his wife travel across northern New England in all four seasons to photograph subjects for him to paint.) "I'm 71 years old," he said, "and hopefully I'll still be painting in 20 years."
The 251 Club of Vermont: exploring the 251 towns and cities of the state is a tradition among Vermonters and visitors. Mr. Olson is recording his visits with a painting from every town in Vermont. He has 245 on the walls.
"I always include buildings in my paintings. The towns I have left are gores and grants that don't have any buildings in them." He says he will have to "interesting" landscapes from those.
His paintings have a realistic-impressionist style and hang in Vermont galleries, in private collections throughout the United States, in the Canadian provinces, and around the world. He is an active member of several Vermont art associations, has exhibited throughout northern New England, and is represented by the Village Frame Shoppe in St. Albans.
Mr. Olson was born in Connecticut and moved to Vermont in 1967 after serving in the military. He lives in Colchester with his wife.
