Twyla Olsen – Artist Biography

Twyla Olsen is inspired by the beauty of nature and seeks the

crossroads of color and artistic expression. Olsen paints

landscapes, abstracts, and still life from this source.

She believes her creativity and artistic expression is a gift and

travels to New Mexico, Arizona, Sierra Nevada Mountains

and beyond to source inspiration in nature.

She has shown in regional galleries in Healdsburg, Jamestown,

Modesto, and Merced. Twyla’s work has been shown at

Studio B and Ventana Gallery on Washington St. in downtown Sonora

and The Arts Emporium in Angels Camp.

Three pieces of her art were shown at Arizona State University Gallery

in Phoenix, Arizona and she was a member of artist co-op in Mesa, Arizona.

Attending classes at Scottsdale Art School in Arizona she was fortunate

to work with nationally known instructors. She has also studied with

local artists in the Mother Lode area and on occasion Twyla enjoys

working with collage and multiple media to create whimsical pieces

and a variation from only painting.

Today Twyla is an educator at Columbia College teaching

Speech- Communication and was involved with the jazz choir as singer

led by Dr. Rod Harris at Columbia College.

Twyla was the vocalist for the Twyla and The Torches band

playing regionally for 4 years,

Twyla says, “I follow the advice of the late Danny Kaye ~

“Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can on it!”