Hi! I’m Olivia- a freelance illustrator living in the Snoqualmie Valley, WA. I was born and raised in a small mountain town called North Bend in Washington, and I am inspired by seasons, nature, and rich, meaningful storytelling. With my artwork, I create surreal images that reflect my connection to home, the landscapes of my upbringing, and my family.

My process is messy! Cut paper scraps litter the floor, and paintbrushes pile up in my water cup, my desk is filled with colorful paper to mosaic my images. I use an Exacto knife to precisely cut out shapes and glue them onto paper and I use acrylic paint with a variety of tools (including a toothbrush and a brayer roller) to texturize my artwork. I also sometimes use crayons and pastels for details and to add richer color.

I often reach inward to create my art, which sometimes brings up themes of race and culture. My parents met in the U.S. while salsa dancing, my father is from Cartagena, Colombia, and my mother is from Durban, South Africa. Growing up my family lived in a yellow Spanish-style house with a red roof and casita tipicas adorning the walls. My family and culture are precious to me, so I love to see them represented in the media and depict them myself. 

Currently, I would like to illustrate books (children’s, adult, gift), draw up editorial illustrations for magazines and newspapers, design collections of patterns, make home goods, paint stationery and cards, and have gallery shows.

I am represented by Taylor Martindale-Kean at Full Circle Literary! Please contact her with any publishing and illustration inquiries at taylor@fullcircleliterary.com