| Sonja Olson Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sonja Olson grew up surrounded by the wide-open spaces and big skies of the Canadian prairies. Artistic expression has always been key to Sonja's experience of the world. She discovered the potter's wheel early on, and after graduation from high school began to study pottery seriously. At the University of Manitoba Sonja majored in ceramics and photography, and went on to work as a professional photographer and potter. She has studied glaze development at Pearson College with renowned potter Robin Hopper, and painting with Victoria artist Brian Simons. After achieving a Bachelor of Art Education in 1983, Sonja became an Art Teacher and has taught art in both Winnipeg, Manitoba and Victoria, BC. She enjoys working with students, both children and adults, to develop their unique skills in a wide range of mediums. A passion for travel has lead Sonja to explore Canada, the United States, New Zealand, Mexico and Europe. She and her husband, Robert, have participated in house exchanges throughout Europe and North America, allowing them to immerse themselves in the local culture. While on these trips, their focus is art and architecture, and they spend a great deal of time visiting galleries, museums, and photographing regional architecture. Sonja always welcomes artistic challenges and plans to explore new styles and media, including abstract, collage, and mixed media. So far, her journeys into artistic creation, in acrylic on canvas, have progressed from exquisite earth-toned adventures in architectural landscapes, through to brighter, bolder paintings and series work. |