Meet Olivia Cole

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Cole.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved to Dallas for school in 2010. After graduating with a degree in painting, I started work as an art teacher and began my solo journey as a freelance painter. It’s been a colorful journey with ups and downs.

Some of the highlights include two trips to Sicily in 2017 and 2018 to paint my first murals (and become an honorary citizen of the small town of Prizzi), several exciting group shows in Dallas and Fort Worth, as well as a lively portrait painting and figure drawing practice that is growing and changing all the time.

Has it been a smooth road?
My greatest challenge has always been marketing and networking. I am a real introvert at heart, and prefer to be holed up in my studio pushing paint around rather than talking to anyone!

I’ve also learned a lot in my journey as a commission artist. I’ve been taken advantage of a few times, which is the quickest way to learn solid business practices. Overall, the challenges have and continue to be great opportunities for growth. I’m still learning a lot!

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
My business is a painting business. I specialize in figurative work and portraiture. I’m known for a deep, colorful style with lots of reds and darks.

I’m most proud of the versatile types of work I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to engage in: from commissions to city mural work, to teaching. My work has a very deep philosophic and emotional background, in that personally, I paint very intuitively.

In order to feel like my pieces have life, I find that I have to let my thinking process go, and simply make what comes naturally. Sometimes that’s scary, but I think it sets my work apart as more genuine and fluid. It seems to speak to people more directly.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Oh wow, that’s a scary question! I hope that the economy doesn’t dip too low since obviously, art is more of a luxury good than a lot of others out there.

With the current cultural climate, I would guess that if anything, there might be more of a shift toward figurative work, but unconventional – crazy colors, less photorealism. So, I guess I’m hopeful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oliviacoleart.com
• Email: oliviacoleart@gmail.com
• Instagram: @oliviacoleart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/oliviacoleart
• Twitter: @oliviacoleart

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