Emerging Artist Profile: Meghan Olson

The Three Rivers Arts Festival’s Emerging Artist Scholarship Program helps local artists new to outdoor festivals show their work for the first time, providing them with a tent and booth space free of charge. The scholarship helps these artists launch their art careers and also hooks them up with established artist mentors who can give them advice and direction on how to succeed in the festival setting. Through a series of posts, we’re introducing you to this year’s Emerging Artist Scholarship recipients.

Meghan Olson’s screen-prints are natural and intangible, much like her subject matter. The artist is influenced by botanical drawings and translates these natural shapes and textures into her work. Over 200 layers of ink and pigment build up on the surface of her prints, mixed with many other ephemeral materials. Olson utilizes the standard ink of screen-printing, as well as unconventional materials. Pigment mingles with dirt and marmalade, natural organic substances that create a unique texture and quality to the print.

Olson formerly worked in etching, but switched over to screen-printing when she had children. Working from home, her basement studio doubles as a playroom for her two young children. The kids like to try to their hand at screen-printing, and the less toxic materials make it easy to allow their creativity to run free. Olson also teaches art to other people’s children at the Carnegie Museum.

An artist with business savvy, Olson also runs a letterpress business out of her studio where she makes wedding invitations and screen printed cards. Her abstract work is her personal artwork, with diligently crafted layers of ink forming a delicately traced image. Olson’s work is minimalist and beautiful, and must be seen to truly be appreciated.