John Olvaney, a self taught artist, grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan. This is where his love of the natural world began. He was, and still is, an avid outdoorsman, bird watcher, and nature enthusiast.
After serving his country , which included a tour of duty in Vietnam, John fulfilled a lifelong dream and made the trek to British Columbia, Canada. He explored several remote places, but it was the magical Queen Charlotte Islands that won him over. It was on the Queen Charlottes that he experienced the raw beauty of nature. After a month long visit, John decided to legally immigrate, He wanted to spend more time on these beautiful islands.
During the waiting period of the immigration process, he met his future wife. After a brief courtship, the couple decided to move to the Queen Charlotte Islands. It was in his spare time John could be found tinkering away on an art project. By repurposing various found objects, pieces of old weathered wood, rusty thing-a-ma-jigs, John'n pieces literally come to life. His most recognizable work are his unique, one of a kind, colorful fish sculptures. His work has been on display in various galleries in the San Diego area and can currently be seen at the North Coastal Art Gallery in Carlsbad, California.
StatementInspired by the natural world, the birds, the bees, trees, and a gentle breeze. My use of worn, discarded, lost objects are key factors in determining what I can bring back to life. I have always loved working with my hands, utilizing a variety of mediums. Weathered wood, rusted metal, broken hinges, tools, and barbed wire barbed wire make my pieces unique and fun to make. Quite often, when I finish a piece, it brings a smile to my face, knowing I've rescued the past , to show the present.
CvStateCA
CountryUSA
