Olivia Weber's Gallery
My name is Olivia Weber, and I am a 20-year-old college student from McKinney, Texas. I study Spanish, economics and history at Austin College in Sherman, Texas, but my passion for oil painting began in my art classes at McKinney High School with the beloved Amy Hughes. I was always drawn to figure and portrait drawing, especially those depicting females, and during my freshman year of high school, Mrs. Hughes suggested that I try my hand with oils. I fell in love with the medium immediately. The amount of freedom I can express in photorealistic pieces was what initially captivated me. I am committed to proportionally-accurate work, but I am able to grow and explore my unique style through expressive, imaginative color schemes. I love analyzing photographs and doing my best to capture the mood and essence of the subject with oil. Oil painting is a very forgiving medium compared to others in that the paint takes weeks, if not months to fully dry. This is another element of freedom I enjoy with oils. No mark must be permanent nor unfixable. For me, the process of oil painting is an intricate, emotive and revealing journey. My pursuit will always remain to find and accentuate the beauty in my friends, loved ones and other subjects, whoever they may be.
We Can Do It! (oil on paper) $150
We Can Do It! is one of many oil paintings I have done over the years of my dear friend, Madelyn Martinez. One could say she is my artistic muse. Madelyn is the kind of light-hearted, energetic soul that lights up any room she walks into. She is also one of the strongest and most thoughtful people I have the pleasure of knowing. I wanted to focus on these two, equally-evident sides of her in this piece. The iconic We Can Do It! wartime poster from WWII was the inspiration behind the pose, but I wanted the facial expression to serve as a window through which Madelyn’s vibrant personality may shine through. When looking at this painting, I can hear Madelyn’s contagious laugh and simultaneously appreciate her unwavering fortitude with which she walks through life.
Madelyn (oil on paper) $150
Madelyn is another special portrait of my friend Madelyn Martinez. In this more contemplative piece, I wanted to speak to the psyche of all young women. During the time in which I started this piece, the way body image and insecurity plagues my generation of young women was at the forefront of my mind. I was experiencing said feelings, like many others do every single day, and I wanted to create a piece that celebrates the beauty in our imperfections. I placed Madelyn in this pose to intentionally accentuate common insecurities, but in a way that discredits their importance and validity. The calm, content expression on Madelyn’s face does not depict the frustration and anguish many of us often feel towards our physical insecurities. I wanted her to find peace in the way God made her, which is perfectly imperfect. Her hands are occupied with the fabric of her clothing, rather than her flesh, because her flesh is not something that needs to be changed, nor paid attention to in a negative light. She is gazing down her body, but not in the way young women are pressured to do so in today’s age. I hope Madelyn may serve as a lesson and source of comfort for the young women in this world struggling with their self-esteem. We all deserve to feel beautiful.
Charles and the Eternal Canine (oil on paper) $200
Charles and the Eternal Canine is a painting of my older brother, Charles, and the silhouette of our dog, Rubin. In our family, our dogs are treated as our siblings, and I wanted to celebrate the blessedness of this relationship. Man’s best friend has evolved alongside us for centuries with a loyalty unmatched by any of our other fellow creatures. The immense- love found between a dog and their owner is a phenomenon unique from love between two humans, but just as strong and meaningful. Rubin is depicted in silhouette form to embody the dogs that came before him, as well as those that will come after him. The love shared between Charles and the beautiful canines he will encounter throughout his life will not waver; this love is eternal.