Olive Dodd
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Aiming to inspire love for nature, uplift spirits, and foster gratitude. Explore the beauty of our world, find moments of escape & connect with Earth's energy.
Message
Olive Dodd is a Canadian pastel and watercolor artist whose work is inspired by a lifelong love of the outdoors, a deep reverence for nature, and decades of lived adventure. Based in British Columbia, her paintings reflect the quiet strength and beauty of the wilderness — often focusing on wildlife and landscapes that evoke calm, connection, and a sense of place.
Before pursuing art more seriously in retirement, Olive worked as one of Canada’s first female National Park Wardens, living and working in some of the country’s most iconic natural spaces. Her career later evolved into GIS (Geographic Information Systems), where she brought landscapes to life through digital mapping and spatial design. That blend of hands-on wilderness experience and technical structure now informs the way she composes her artwork — from designing a scene in Photoshop to blending soft edges in pastel.
Largely self-taught, Olive’s artistic growth has been shaped by self-directed study, online mentorships, and years of observing the world around her. She draws inspiration from her global travels — including time spent living in Australia, cycling through New Zealand and the UK, and hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro — as well as her everyday walks with her beloved Schnoodle, Mocha.
Olive’s work has been shown in community galleries and local artisan shows in the Shuswap region. A member of the Salmon Arm Artist Mastermind group, she continues to refine her craft while sharing her art and story with others. Her paintings are known for their luminous light, gentle realism, and quiet presence. Each piece evokes the feeling of being in nature — the stillness, the textures, the sense of space.
Through her art, Olive invites the viewer to pause, breathe, and reconnect to the beauty of nature. Each piece she creates is signed with a playful martini olive on a toothpick — a nod to her name and a unique signature that reflects the joy and individuality she brings to her work.
To explore Olive's captivating pastel artworks, visit www.olivedoddart.com.
Statement
As an artist, I find my inspiration in the quiet whispers of nature that surround my rural home. The landscapes of Western Canada, with their rugged beauty and untamed spirit, speak to my soul and guide my hand. My journey with pastels began after exploring various mediums, and it was like finding a piece of myself I didn't know was missing.
When I create, I immerse myself completely in the process. I begin by spending time in nature, absorbing the energy of a place - the way light dances across a field, how shadows deepen in a forest, or the subtle shifts of color in an animal's fur. These observations become the foundation of my work. In my studio, surrounded by the tranquility of my rural setting, I let these impressions flow through me onto the paper.
My process is one of layering and blending, much like the layers of the natural world itself. I start with broad strokes to capture the essence of a scene, then build up detail and depth, allowing the vibrant pigments of the pastels to interact and create rich, nuanced colors. I often lose track of time as I work, fully absorbed in bringing the spirit of my subject to life.
While my style leans towards realism, I strive to infuse each piece with the emotion and energy I felt in the moment of inspiration. It's not just about recreating a visual scene; it's about capturing a feeling, a memory, a connection to the earth. I want viewers to not just see a landscape or an animal, but to feel the wind, hear the rustle of leaves, or sense the quiet presence of wildlife.
My art is an invitation to pause, to reconnect with nature, and to find moments of peace in our busy world. Each pastel painting is a window into the beauty that surrounds us, often overlooked in our daily lives. Through my work, I hope to inspire a renewed appreciation for our natural world, to evoke memories of personal encounters with nature, and to spark a desire to protect these precious landscapes and creatures.
In essence, my art is my way of sharing the joy and wonder I find in nature. It's a celebration of life, of color, of the intricate details that make our world so breathtakingly beautiful. When someone views my work and feels a sense of calm, or a spark of joy, or a renewed connection to the earth - that's when I know I've succeeded as an artist.