This month dot-art speaks to artist Olga Snell.
Olga Snell was a freelance commercial photographer for 25 years based in Toronto Canada working for major Advertising Agencies, Designers and Blue-chip clients such as Apple Computer, in Canada and the U.S. She says of her distinctive, often surreal work:
“I love photography and have always had a fascination with collage, so when I started working in Photoshop it was love at first pixel. Then I discovered wonderful sites on the internet where you can download vintage public domain images. I mix these lovely vintage images with my own photographs and scanned in found objects or drawings I have made, to create my unique digital collages.”
Can you describe your style?
Digital collage, with a nod to the surreal.
Which medium do you work with and what do you like about it specifically?
Mainly Digital Collage but I also like to make analogue collage. It’s very versatile, endless possibilities, great for self expression. I like the idea it challenges the boundaries between art and reality. I love manipulating, combining, deconstructing and reconstructing images. It’s often a re-interpretation of the familiar or mundane and I like that idea, it stretches the imagination.
Can you talk us through your process? Do you begin with a sketch, or do you just go straight in? How long do you spend on one piece? How do you know when it is finished?
It varies, sometimes I have a specific idea, other times I’ll see an image that acts as a prompt to create an artwork around. I often have ideas bubbling away and I’ll layout the bare bones of an artwork and then come back to it. I usually have 2-3 works on the go and I move from one to another. It can take anything from 3 days to 3 months or longer to complete a piece, some go faster than others. When I’m working I’ll mess around trying different things out and then something clicks and I get excited because I can see a direction to go in and things fall into place. I generally just ‘know’ when to stop. Sometimes though I’ll work on a piece and it goes nowhere, I often go back with fresh eyes and re-work it, or just leave it for future inspiration.
When did you begin your career in art?
A long time ago! I was a commercial and editorial photographer for almost 30 years based in Toronto, I worked for advertising agencies and magazines in Canada and the U.S., I also directed TV commercials. When I moved back to U.K. I started experimenting in Photoshop and loved it – so I’ve gone in a different direction but I’m still using my photography skills.
Who or what inspires your art?
Everything! Nature, the strangeness of life, the space time continuum, other collagists, existence, what is reality. The usual musings.
Why is art and creativity important to you?
Not to be too dramatic, if I wasn’t able to create I’d wither away, ha ha ha! I’m always so grateful that I’ve been able to have a successful career doing something I love and express myself creatively. When I’m working on a piece I’m in the zone, completely immersed and happy as a clam, how lucky to have that.
What do you gain from being a member with dot-art?
dot-art has been great for me. It gets my name out there. I’ve had commissions and delivered workshops, sold my work at exhibitions, met lots of other very talented artists. It’s good to be part of something that celebrates local art and artists.
What does it mean to be an artist in the Liverpool City Region?
Same as anywhere really. There are opportunities, you have to find them.
Discover more of Olga Snell work on our online shop!