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Jan Olsen

Is It Fall Yet? Thank You Card # 5


Dear Professor Jennifer Lackey,  I heard you speak on the radio recently about your years of experience teaching philosophy to prisoners held in a maximum security prison near Chic...
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Mary Neighbour
. . . and your watercolors, Jan, are gifts to all of us. I am so inspired by this series of artwork--I hope there will be many mor... Read More
Saturday, 14 September 2019 08:46
Jan Olsen
Thank you Mary....I hope so too. I give you the official copyrights, here and now, to publish this series of letters. This is off... Read More
Saturday, 14 September 2019 10:15
Hannah Neighbour
Dear Jan, Thank you for touching my heart deeply with this one - by the written word, your brushstrokes, and your care. Absolutely... Read More
Saturday, 14 September 2019 10:56
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Jan Olsen

Please Mr. Postman Thank You Card #4


Dear United States Postal Service,  I believe that it it only right that before I continue sending letters all over the place, that I sincerely thank you for serving us so very well for...
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Hannah Neighbour
Beautiful, Jan! I know those mail boxes!! I continue to love this letter theme....and that you are also thanking the people who ge... Read More
Friday, 30 August 2019 10:02
Mary Neighbour
I am moved by your whole series of thank you letters, Jan. I deeply believe you could be on the crest of a wave that many would li... Read More
Friday, 30 August 2019 13:25
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Jan Olsen

You Look Pale. What Did You Eat? Thank You Card #2


Dear Patti Goldman,  I know that I am not alone in sending gratitude to you and the members of your law firm,  Earthjustice, for fighting to end the use of the nerve agen...
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Hannah Neighbour
I love these guys, Jan. Again, I am reminded of a children's book. And I love that you're including the thank you notes as well...... Read More
Sunday, 04 August 2019 09:23
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Jan Olsen

Any Water Down There? Thank You Card #1


Dear Scott,      I have followed your kind efforts to locate the remains of those who have died in the Ajo desert. I also know you and your friends leave&n...
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Hannah Neighbour
Beautiful Jan...I am so drawn to the grip of the feet on the rim. I see so much life there. And in your beautiful words.
Tuesday, 30 July 2019 15:27
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Jan Olsen

A Sweet Spot on The San Juan


I tore into this project one day at the Alzheimer's Cafe. I have painted this very sweet spot a couple of times and wanted to try it as a collage.
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Patricia Anne Corriz
I like the colors you chose, it’s inspired. I enjoy looking at it and can almost see the river rolling through. I love this piece... Read More
Sunday, 14 July 2019 08:43
Jan Olsen
Thank you Patricia, very much. I sense that you may have been to this same spot, very near Pagosa Springs, fronted with a large g... Read More
Sunday, 14 July 2019 09:10
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Jan Olsen

I can finally see the finish line


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Mary Neighbour
Oh, Jan, this is adorable! It feels like sweet, gentle advice.
Monday, 24 June 2019 13:23
Hannah Neighbour
I love this. This could be in a children's book. He/she has such character! Perfect title.
Monday, 24 June 2019 16:01
Jan Olsen
Aawh, thank you every one. I have been in a slump. You have picked me up!
Thursday, 27 June 2019 14:55
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Mary Neighbour

Vagina on my mind


The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it,  can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.  Galileo Galilei
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Jan Olsen
The Galileo quote is so good! The vagina in the center of the astrological chart is a natural. It is ripe for pondering ripeness a... Read More
Thursday, 21 February 2019 09:03
Mary Neighbour
Haha! But it our talk yesterday that provided me with inspiration. Telling you that I felt generally un-inspired suddenly freed up... Read More
Thursday, 21 February 2019 09:31
Hannah Neighbour
I love this...it is so creative and smart! The vagina as the brain and the sun...so powerful. And the quote reminds me of the powe... Read More
Friday, 22 February 2019 11:49
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Jan Olsen

Sin Nombre


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Hannah Neighbour
Jan, these are so gorgeous. Are they pomegranates? Whatever they are they look juicy and inviting and magical. I love the title to... Read More
Saturday, 16 February 2019 13:06
Jan Olsen
Yes, Pomegranates. Thank you for your appreciation and the Persephone story of her seed sins and trips to the underworld (on the ... Read More
Saturday, 16 February 2019 19:59
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Jan Olsen

Winter in Park City with Michael

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Mary Neighbour
Jan, this painting almost makes me shiver. I wonder what memories it brings for you? Interestingly, I viewed this in tandem with... Read More
Thursday, 07 February 2019 08:33
Jan Olsen
Hello Mary. Thank you for your comment and question. I finally put my thoughts out to Andrea about her recent writing, which I... Read More
Saturday, 16 February 2019 12:08
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Jan Olsen

CHOLLA


Cholla says, leaning slightly into the wind,   "  Is that snow on the mountains? "  This cold wind feels prickly. I  long for a sizzling summer day." 
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Hannah Neighbour
Gorgeous, Jan! I love the voice of Cholla. Well done on posting too!!!!... Read More
Friday, 25 January 2019 09:41
Mary Neighbour
This is delightful, Jan! I smiled reading "this cold wind feels prickly." You often make me smile--thanks!... Read More
Friday, 25 January 2019 13:52
Jan Olsen
Thank you Mary...Dontchaknow you inspired it by your heartfelt complaint about the added snow recently.
Friday, 25 January 2019 15:30
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Jan Olsen

Los Cerillos from Haozous Road


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Hannah Neighbour

Spend More Time


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Jan Olsen

Are those pears?


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Mary Neighbour
Yes, pears for the reindeer, to sustain them while searching for Rudy. Your paintings cheer me up, Jan!
Sunday, 09 December 2018 09:11
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Jan Olsen

Has anyone seen Rudy?


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Hannah Neighbour
I love this, Jan. As I mentioned to you, I feel very close to deer and consider them my spirit animal. These three feel very heali... Read More
Saturday, 08 December 2018 17:51
Jan Olsen
Such nice words...I was painting them for a Christmas card and skipped the red nose and red bows. I see from your view that seeing... Read More
Saturday, 08 December 2018 20:04
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Jan Olsen

Moab, Utah

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Mary Neighbour
You make the desert look lush!!
Saturday, 17 November 2018 14:14
Jan Olsen
These watercolors are painted near Moab, Utah, very near the Colorado River, which is pretty lush. Funny, I thought those water... Read More
Saturday, 17 November 2018 15:04
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Jan Olsen

Moving Art

​The glass used is this mobile was found on walks near home and beaches in Norway. And also from a broken soup bowl made from Italian glass!

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Mary Neighbour
I so admire your ability to see beauty in broken and discarded things, Jan, to bring your creativity to life.
Monday, 12 November 2018 09:17
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Jan Olsen

Rare Birds

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Mary Neighbour
Your birds are such a delight! Did painting them bring you delight, too?
Thursday, 08 November 2018 16:03
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Hannah Neighbour

It was in the dragon's mouth


It was in the dragon's mouth where I found out I was free Swooping down from sky, laying head on earth like thunder He snatched me from behind and I met the dark Sharp edges of teeth and hot breath I ...
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Mary Neighbour
Whoa! What a ride you took me on!!
Thursday, 08 November 2018 16:04
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Hannah Neighbour

Night Prayer


​Dear Owl, slick with moonlight, watch over me in darkness. Be my witness. Hold me in your steady gaze, hunt me. Screech and howl, Owl, howl – a sound to bring night terrors to their bare and bony kne...
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Andrea Martin

need...


​micro-collage
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Mary Neighbour
I usually think of "need" in negative terms--your collage makes me feel better about it.
Saturday, 01 September 2018 11:57
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Andrea Martin

forgive...


micro-collage
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Hannah Neighbour
I love this so much. The idea of circles and forgiveness is really hitting me right now. What was the process like for this? When ... Read More
Saturday, 14 July 2018 12:22
Andrea Martin
that's funny because the piece was always called forgive but it didn't feel finished until I added the circles.
Saturday, 14 July 2018 21:18
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Andrea Martin

with wings of birds


​this is a micro-collage. each cell is 1.5 in x 1.5 in.
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Hannah Neighbour

Woman with Cloth


​This was a 10 minute sketch done in an open figure drawing session. 
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Hannah Neighbour

Esmerelda


Tigress Queen of Beasts 
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