Greg Olsen Shares the Incredible Stories Behind 3 of His Most Iconic Paintings
Recently, Greg Olsen revealed some of the touching and surprising stories behind his most iconic works of art in a live Facebook event with Deseret Book. Here are some highlights and unforgettable moments that went into the creation of
O Jerusalem, Worlds Without End, and The Nativity.
O Jerusalem came at one of the most difficult points in Greg Olsen's life.
"We were really struggling. Our house was in foreclosure," Olsen shares. In the midst of his "financial disaster," an art collector paid for Olsen and his wife to travel to Jerusalem for three weeks.
"It was while we were there, climbing the Mount of Olives, I watched the sun go down and I had the idea for the painting that evening," Olsen shares.
Amidst the chaos of his life, Olsen had this brief moment of respite, something that was a "huge blessing."
But at that time, Olsen wasn't known for his religious artwork. He created O Jerusalem as a personal piece, without any expectation that it would become such an iconic work of art.
"At the time, it was really just for me," he shares.
"For me, it's always been
For more information and for Limited Edition prints, please visit 'From an early age I have always been fascinated by paintings that create mood, emotion and atmosphere; especially those paintings that lift me and transport me to some far off place. These are the elements I strive to create in my paintings. My paintings in many ways record what is most important to me: my feelings and experiences with family and friends along with the spiritual aspects of my life. My hope is that in these images you will find something familiar, something which will resonate and remind youmore
Greg Olsen: Mormon Artist
Greg K. Olsen is a prolific and diverse artist, but is most famous for his depictions of Jesus Christ. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the Church gravitated to his work that appeared in the Ensign Magazine and was available for purchase through Deseret Book, catapulting him and his work into widespread demand. He has since published calendars, tabletop books, and other products in addition to his originals and prints.
Olsen was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, in , and raised in the nearby farming community of Iona. He recalls that his parents, Gordon and Janel Olsen, were supportive of his artistic interest and talent. “Greg remembers a time as a teenager when he had been hired to paint a large sign for a local grocery store. It was wintertime and too cold to paint in the garage so his parents let him set up a workshop in his bedroom. He promptly spilled two quarts of black and orange enamel paint all over his bedroom carpet. Amazingly, his parents still encouraged him in his artistic endeavors.”[1]
During his teen years at Bonneville High School, he studied under art teacher Bob Whitney, who “contribut
Just Asking: Greg Olsen
What's the most difficult part about portraying the divine in art?
I'm trying to portray something spiritual with materials that are only physical. How can an artist breathe life into mere pigment and canvas? I rely upon the viewers to bring their own spark of divinity to the viewing experience.
Which of your paintings of Christ is your favorite?
That's a bit like trying to choose which one of my children is my favorite. Some days I'm not sure about any of them! "O Jerusalem" brings back many fond memories of my first visit to the Holy Land. One evening, I climbed the Mount of Olives with my wife, Sydnie, and we watched the sunset. That evening I had the idea for that painting. Since then it has served as a constant reminder of that wonderful experience. "The Gentle Healer" would be another. I felt like I somehow captured something in his gaze that was reassuring to me. I felt like that image symbolized a being that knew me and still loved me—someone I could relate to.
Besides the figure of Christ, what other subjects do you most enjoy painting?
I enjoy variety! I've painted childhood scenes, the old west, fantasy, still lifes
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