Earle Olsen
artist
My current project is a family history of art and life called Daddy-O. In it, I delve into my father’s career as a painter in 1950s New York City and my grandfather’s career as a commercial designer in early 20th-century Chicago. You’ll find more about Earle’s work on this website. You can find more of my writing about his work in the archive of my Substack, From Life. Or subscribe here.
Journey to River’s Edge
My artist father had a wonderful eye—great taste and an effortless sense of color and composition. Was it learned or instinctive, from his experiences or his body? I don’t know. But he had a literal eye, too. Two of them, bluish-gray. That’s what I miss since he died ten years ago: his eyes and his face. In other words, his presence.