Gallery of Collected Works

I am continually adding projects and works in process to this Web site for clients to review and for you to stimulate your creativity. Ideally, this is a collaborative process with all family members involved. Press the button above to see current works in process and see what my clients see as a composition takes shape.

A lot of my clients ask, "What kinds of things would be appropriate for a Memories piece?" I like to say, "Anything that will fit in a shoebox." That seems to be the appropriate size and scale of objects (small photos, badges, buttons, pins, any 2D or 3D object) that work best. One project I did, however, required a tractor, and another a pickup truck... but I had good photos of them, so it worked out. The image below is one of my most recent projects, and it exemplifies best what I'm after. Look at the photos, postcards, the ruler, apple, flag in the background and a few pins and badges. This is perfect. A family recently wanted me to include their family dog in a piece. They had a lovely photo which I carefully cropped and included. Look at the bottom selection on this page.

A large family combined their memories and collected stuff and I combined them into this combination portrait and assemblage. It took a good part of a month from start to finish by the time we collected images of all of the materials and inserted them into the composition. The bowling ball was a challenge, of course, but the little things are what make this great... like the jar of tomatoes, Cubs logo and the martini. There are pieces of candy sprinkeled throughout the piece, too.

My dear friend, Thom Determan, retired this year from Dubuque Schools, and I had the opportunity to celebrate his life in education in this portrait. Yes, that's his baseball glove in the corner. I've played golf, racketball, but not baseball or billiards with Thom. He beats me every time. When it comes to a sport involving a ball, he is a master. Click on it to see the enlargement.

Click here to see the detail of the portrait above. When it comes to educators... I have this theme going, I guess. The one above is for a retiring high school counselor. Last summer I took this boat trip up the river, and there was this gigantic American flag waving in a gentle breeze. I took several photos of it knowing they would come in handy.

The picture above was commissioned by the teachers and staff at Irving Elementary School for the principal who is retiring. I received a beautiful thank you letter and personal thank you from the principal. "You've captured my entire career in education." The piece contains student art, early "school photographer" portraits, and that American flag in the background was one I photographed last summer on a Mississippi River boat trip. Click on the portrait above to see enlarged detail.

This is a teacher who retired and her colleagues and teachers combined their creativity as well as their funds to finance the project. It was a grand retirement gift.

A good friend of mine, Mike Connolly, an Iowa State Senator, has retired from his school administration job to devote full time to being a state legislator. I prepared this for his "parting gift." Here's a shot of Mike after he unveilded it at his party.

Western Dubuque Bobcat Basketball

"I'm particularly proud of this composition. The original poster from the assemblage is approximately 6 feet in length. All of the items were contributed by the employees and retirees of this manufacturing company. There are tools, gears, old snapshots, a badge, all kinds of visuals that capture everyone's collective memories of a lifetime. The work was published on fine paper for distribution among employees and friends of the company."

"This is an orthopaedic surgeon, the image of whom was prepared for a celebratory advertisement his partners placed in a local newspaper on the occasion of his retirment. The images of joints and a spine were obtained from an antique book on anatomy I had in my collection."

Through a process combining technology with fine art, portrait artist, Gary Olsen, has perfected a technique by which clients can receive individualized and multiple impressions of a unique work of art. Called an "assemblage portrait," the work is highly customized and the result of collaboration with family members or business associates.

The piece can include precious photographs, drawings, even images of three- dimensional objects such as jewelry, buttons, coins, tools, etc. The idea is not only to portray the image of the person but the historical or personal artifacts that convey more of the person's life. Nothing is harmed in the process, and everything is returned intact. You can include objects that capture a person's personal achievements, interests and hobbies.

The resulting work of art can be replicated for several members of a family or friends. This also means friends and family can collaborate on the work during its design, contributing their own photos and memorabilia. The size of the work can accommodate as many objects as everyone thinks are necessary to make the appropriate artistic statement.

Each assemblage is printed on the highest quality museum grade heavy art paper. Pricing is based on the size and complexity of the original. Subsequent prints are less in price and subject to discounts based on quantities. A print edition can be limited or unlimited depending on the wishes of the commission sponsor.

This is an excellent artistic approach for a special family gift, to honor someone's special achievement or contribution, or celebrate a person's lifetime.

Since each commission is highly customized, prices are negotiated following a consultation with the artist to fully define the scope, size and number of prints of the work. First consultations are free.

Memories of Lifetime
by Gary Olsen
2745 Andrew Ct.
Dubuque, IA 52001

Call: 563-588-4578

E-mail: olsega@mchsi.com