Artist Statement
I am an interdisciplinary artist exploring the relationship between my point of view and the world. My eyes have been trained to notice the small, interesting parts of life like reflections, the negative space between two objects and the relationship between shadows. I enjoy highlighting these subtleties in my work. I have become influenced by the world around me and use my unique perspective to bring new ideas and concepts into my art and design. Using both traditional and physical media to express my voice, I explore through multiple different methods how each carry my message differently.
I am a graphic designer who also studies illustration, printmaking, and photography. When I am designing, I thoroughly consider how each design will be seen and use typography, color, or graphic elements to clearly communicate the intended message. Whereas when I work with traditional media, I have the opportunity to create something meaningful. I like to embed meaning within the work that I create drawing upon my emotions and thoughts to inspire each piece. In design, I create dynamic compositions to bring life and energy to a page by using diagonal lines and geometric shapes. I create analogous palettes paired with their complement to create focal points and drive eye movement within the composition. My design work is tailored to the individual project and designed with the viewer in mind.
On the contrary, when I work in traditional media, I focus on showing my unique way of experiencing this world. I am inspired by the things around me and heavily rely on experiences to influence my work. My traditional work is done in greyscale with charcoal and inks. I work with in a hyper realistic technique when I draw and a more stylized approach when I am printmaking. My work in digital illustration and photography can fall between realistic and stylized depending on what I am communicating.
My goal as an artist and designer is to make work unique to me and show how you can communicate different ideas within the same work. I have always been intrigued by how information and communication can be interpreted based on experience and I strive to explore this relationship through my work in every discipline. I enjoy merging my digital and traditional ways of working to use my broad range of skills to make something truly unique. I have had a drive within my heart since I was young to make work and be creative and this desire has continued to grow.
Artist Biography
Olivia Martin is an interdisciplinary artist whose main method of creating is graphic design, but she explores her emotions and experiences through photography, illustration, and printmaking. Olivia Martin was born in March 2002 and lives in Vincent, Ohio. She grew up loving art and she owned her own make-believe company when she was ten years old called Creations by Olivia. There, she would make catalogs for friends and family to showcase the crafts she made as Christmas gifts. Olivia loves to learn new methods of working leading to enjoy a broad method of creating.
Olivia graduated from Marietta College summa cum laude in December 2023 with a B.A. in Graphic Design and a minor in Studio Art. Olivia’s work was shown in the Marietta College Art Show in 2022 & 2023. Her work "Small World" was named Best in Show in Photography in 2023. In 2022 her work in drawing was named Runner-up Student’s Choice and her design work was named second best in the graphic design category. She was also welcomed into the Circle of Excellence which is awarded to students showing the most potential in the arts in 2022. She is a member of Alpha Lamba Delta honor society for her academic excellence as a freshman in 2021. She was inducted into the Kappa Pi artistic honor society for her cumulative artistic excellence in 2022. She has been named to the Dean’s High Honors List for six semesters while attending Marietta College.
Olivia has a variety of methods she loves to work with in addition to graphic design she utilizes photography, digital illustration, drawing, and printmaking to express her voice. Her work in design will have an analogous color pallete with the addition of a complementary color used to create visual interest and a focal point. When she works with design, she is very focused on communicating a clear and concise message outlined in the scope of the project.
Working with her more traditional pieces, Olivia has much more freedom to communicate something that she feels or experiences. Her work with photography, illustration, and printmaking all expresses her voice differently, but her message focuses on how she experiences the world. She strives to show her perspective and cause others to see things differently.
Olivia is currently illustrating a children’s book written by her mother, Angie Martin. This work follows the adventures of their dog, Jack. The project is a part of a larger study diving into the depths of children’s book illustration and publishing. Olivia wants to use her skills to show how the world can change, based on how you perceive your surroundings. Her work is created as an expression of herself as she strives to say something the world can connect with.
