Debra Olsen was born in the Canadian Prairies, has wandered in the Rockies, played in the Pacific and roamed the Maritime Provinces. In her travels, Olsen has encountered breathtaking beauty which she has attempted to infuse into her clay forms and their surfaces. She wants her art to go home with you and share in the everyday joys and sorrows of life.
In the spring of 2015, Olsen earned, with honours, a Diploma in Fine Craft: Ceramics from NBCCD in Fredericton, NB. She received scholarships from both the BC Arts Council and the Chilliwack Arts Council. The NB Arts Board awarded her The Charlotte Glenncross Scholarship for Excellence in Design.
Presently, Olsen can be found at “the 108” in the spectacular CARIBOO Country working in ^6 oxidation and raku/saggars.
I love clay, paint, fibre,
inventing & making
I love trees, rocks, snow,
seeing & believing
education
2013-2015 – Diploma in Fine Craft: Ceramics (Honours) – New Brunswick College of Craft Design, Fredericton NB
1983 – Fine Arts – David Thompson University Centre, Nelson BC
1981-1982 – General Studies, Fine Arts Minor – Trinity Western College, Langley BC
Scholarships/awards
2014 – British Columbia Arts Council, Victoria, BC
2014 – Jenny Child Memorial Award, Chilliwack Arts Council, Chilliwack, BC
2014 – The Charlotte Glenncross Scholarship for Excellence in Design, Fredericton, NB
professional development
2019 – Surface design - Dawn Candy, KPU, Surrey BC
2018 – Teapots - Cathy Jefferson, The Clay Hub Collective, Duncan BC
2018 – Korean Ceramic Workshop “Master Hand”, Granville Island BC
2017 – NCECA, Portland OR, USA
2012 – Crystalline Glazes - Linda Doherty, Shadbolt Centre, Burnaby BC
2012 – Clay Symposium, Prince George BC
2011 – Decorating Pots - Don Hutchinson, Shadbolt Centre, Burnaby BC
2017, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2004, 2002 – Clay Symposium, Shadbolt Centre, Burnaby BC
2006 – Painting - Community Classes, Cultus Lake BC
1997 – Water Colours - Lynn Baker Van Nostrand, UCFV, Chilliwack BC
1996 – Drawing in Pencil - UCFV, Abbotsford BC
1990 – Water Colours - UCFV, Chilliwack BC
1989-1990 – Pottery I & II - Athabasca Potters Guild, Hinton AB
1985 – Interior Decorating - Community College, Stoney Plain AB
group exhibitions
2021 – Art of Making – Parkside Gallery, 100 Mile House, BC
2018 – Clay 201 – FVPG, Port Moody Arts Centre, BC
2017 – Clay 2017 – FVPG, ACT Art Gallery, Maple Ridge, BC
2016 – A Matter of Clay IV – Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery, London, ON
2016 – Atmospheric – Gallery of BC Ceramics, Vancouver, BC
2015 – In The Details – Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB
2015 – Tiles – NBCCD, Fredericton, NB
2014 – Clay 2014 – Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild Association, BC
2014 – Dirty – NBCCD, Fredericton, NB
2013 – Clay 2013 – FVPG, Coquitlam, BC
2012 – Clay 2012 – FVPG, Chilliwack, BC
2009 – Magical Mud Studio Tour – Chilliwack, BC
COMMISSIONS
Designed and produced promotional ceramics with corporate logos
2020 – Sardis Door Way - donated for fundraising auction, Chilliwack, BC
2020 – Krista – Peanut mugs, Chilliwack, BC
2019 – Vandrick Reunion - donated for fundraising auction, Nanoose Bay BC
2018 – Sardis Door Way - donated for fundraising auction, Chilliwack, BC
2016 – Vandrick Reunion - donated for fundraising auction, Lake, BC
2016 – Wedding, Bellingham, WA, USA
2015 – Sardis Door Way - donated for fundraising auction, Chilliwack, BC
2015 – CBC Radio, Fredericton, NB
2014 – SPCA - mugs donated for fundraising, Oromocto, NB
2013 – Vandrick Reunion - donated for fundraising auction, Vancouver Island
2012 – Wedding, Chilliwack, BC
2012 – Sardis Door Way - donated for fundraising auction, Chilliwack, BC
2011 – MCC, Abbotsford, BC
2010 – Vandrick Reunion - donated for fundraising auction, Williams Lake, BC
2007 – Vandrick Reunion - donated for fundraising auction, California, USA
2004 – Polywest, Winnipeg, MN