Lil Olive’s Art Reflects Her Backyard

North Springfield–based artist Lil Olive finds inspiration for her paintings in her backyard. Living in the country with a flower garden, ponds and a lake helps her focus on the shapes and movement she finds in water, leading her to her series of paintings on reflections. “I like to use photos I have taken of my flowers in the water for reference,” she says. This series includes the painting Roses to Remember, and Olive chose roses because they are a symbolic reminder of sentimentality. She feels sentimental toward nature and uses this series as a love letter to it. Olive also wants to portray nature's elegance and gentleness, and motivate her viewers to take action to protect the environment. “I hope to reveal a particular beauty and fragility [in nature]," she says. 

See more of Lil Olive's work on her website and catch her show at Obelisk Home opening April 5, 2019.