Nipomo artist Erik Olson reflects on light in ‘Eye Matters’

Since moving to Nipomo a few years ago, artist Erik Olson has had plenty of time to reflect.

Specifically, the former architect and art director has been reflecting on reflections — the subtle interplay of light and shadow on a concrete wall or an ocean wave. He explores that concept in the abstract paintings and photographs featured in his solo exhibition “Erik Olson — Eye Matters,” running through Feb. 28 at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.

“I spend a lot of time playing with (that idea),” Olson, 67, said.

Olson, who grew up in Covina, originally planned to become an industrial designer. But after earning a bachelor’s degree in design at UCLA’s College of Fine Arts, where he studied under weaver Jim Bassler and ceramics artist Adrian Saxe, the artist decided to attend graduate school to become an architect instead.

He also spent about a decade working as an assistant art director in film and television, designing set pieces for “The Last of the Mohicans,” “The Mask” and “Face/Off,” among other productions.

Olson has rediscovered two passions — photography and painting — since he retired as an architect in the summer of 2009 and moved to the Central Coast.

“I had to go through an adjustment of getting over having a career,” he explained with a chuckle. “In the process of that imposed change, it was really important to find something to do.”

His fascination with light, layering, reflection and refraction can be seen in “Erik Olson — Eye Matters,” which finds the geometry-minded artist exploring his environment through his lens.

“Light comes in (my house) and it bounces around. … It hits the chrome furniture and the ceiling and the walls,” Olson said, creating an effect he described as ethereal. “If I have a camera in my hand, that’s what I pay attention to.”

His photograph “Double Veil Forces of Nature” captures an ocean scene at low tide, the peaked shadow of a pier falling over two thin sheets of foam-dappled water. His shadow, glimpsed in that picture, reappears in “Boarding the Bus at Speed,” in which the dark outline of his body stands in stark contrast to the blur of a bus speeding down Highway 1.

In “Shadow Hand Gripping Shadow,” Olson’s blurred hand can be seen in the forefront, mirrored by a crisp echo in the background. “I really started playing with those relationships of distance” in that piece, he said.

“Erik Olson — Eye Matters” also features his “Cycles of Life” series of acrylic paintings on birch panels, which depict interconnected planes of pure color. (His photographs, in contrast, are primarily black and white.)

“I was just messing around circles one day and it was like, ‘This is really cool. I can have fun with this,’ ” Olson said, adding that the paintings, like the photos, explore the theme of interconnectivity. “I’m talking about how the spheres relate to each other, and how the forms relate to each other.”

Olson will speak about his artistic process at a free talk at 2 p.m. Saturday at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. He’ll also attend a reception at the museum from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Nipomo artist Erik Olson reflects on light in ‘Eye Matters’."