Art Scene: Chris Olsen's Five Seasons
Landscape and interior designer Chris Olsen has put his fun, unique ideas on décor into print with the release of his debut book. It features inspiring ideas on how to decorate your home and garden for the five seasons of the year.
photography by Janet Warlick courtesy of Olsen
Chris Olsen has been a creative authority on landscape in Arkansas for more than 25 years. He is a sought-after landscape designer and owner of Botanica Gardens, a boutique home and garden store in Little Rock. Olsen has been in the public eye for years through his garden segments on local news, and is now entering a new frontier as an author with the release of his first book, published through Leisure Arts, Chris H. Olsen’s Five Seasons: Unique and Stylish Ideas for Your Home and Garden.
Olsen spent the last two years working diligently on the designs featured in the book, which include easy and affordable ideas for decorating your home, indoors and outdoors, for the “five seasons” of the year. He names the “five seasons” as spring, summer, autumn, winter and holidays, which can include Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas and more.
“The thing about these designs is that they can appeal to any size home or apartment. My philosophy has always been that I would never create something that has more than five steps and takes more than an hour. I like projects that are simple, easy and look like I spent a million bucks on them,” Olsen said. All of the projects laid out in his book offer clear, concise instructions and contain elements that are easily accessible and inexpensive. Olsen gives advice on ways to spruce up your living quarters for any occasion with a great mix of traditional and contemporary styles.
Silver Candleholders
To make these candle holders you will need: glass containers, silver spray paint, spray bottle of water, scissors, tape and gloves.
First, wrap the outside of each container with paper and tape in place. Put your gloves on and spray the inside of the first container with water. While its wet, spray the inside with silver paint. The paint will run and not stick where it’s wet — this is what we want. Repeat with each of the containers. Let them dry. Tear away the paper, and you are ready to add candles and watch them glow!
Packages
To make these packages you will need: 5 sheets of foam core, 20” x 30” x ½”; craft knife; ruler; metal plumbers tape (available at hardware store); wire; spray paint (we used red and green); acrylic paints in cream and brown; wide chip brush; ½” masking tape (we used painters tape so you could easily see where we taped, however, masking, tape will be easier to cover when painting.)
First, cut four sheets of foam core to 20” x 20”. Then cut the remaining sheet to 20” x 19 ½.” Connect three of the 20” x 20” sheets together, using masking tape, to form three sides of box. Place 20” x 19 ½” foam core sheet over top, to serve as the top. Then tape to ends of existing three sides. You will now have a four-sided box. Tape last 20” x 20” sheet in place.
Second, spray paint box with light sweeping strokes to avoid runs in paint; let it dry. Pour a puddle of each acrylic paint on plate. Lightly dip brush into cream paint and wipe brush onto paper towel to get paint evenly distributed on bristles. Then lightly brush back and forth on box in one direction, creating a striate effect. Repeat with brown paint.
Next, for the bow and ribbon around the package, cut two 60” strips and two 50” strips from plumbers tape. Spray strips green and let them dry. Wrap the 60” strips around the package. Then to create that perfect bow, connect ends together to create each loop. Place loops on top of each other to create bow wiring together in center. Wire to top of box.
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Look for Olsen’s book, priced at $25, at Botanica Gardens and Barnes and Noble stores, and online at botanicagardens.com; chrisholsen.com; and leisurearts.com. Here are two of Olsen’s easy, affordable and eye-catching Christmas creations from “Five Seasons,” for more information log onto chrisholsen.com.
