About the Artist

Isabelle Olivia is a visual artist with over a decade of dedicated study across diverse art and design fields. Her debut series “Abstract Daydreams” reflects on her multifaceted journey of self-discovery and continuous growth. Through a unique process that blends intentional techniques with experimental methods, her abstract compositions unfold with a captivating visual language that offer infinite translations. Ultimately, each "Abstract Daydream" serves as a heartfelt invitation for personal discovery, empowering viewers to connect with their journey and find their own meaningful interpretations.

Why Abstract Daydreams?

Why did you make Abstract Daydreams, Volume I?

Abstract Daydreams, Volume I, is a curated outlet for me to share some of the many, many abstract paintings that I’ve made so far. Volume I is simply the first eight paintings that I am sharing- Volume II and part of Volume III is being revealed at the 2025 Reno Tahoe International Art Show

When did you make Abstract Daydreams, Volume I?

The paintings in Abstract Daydreams, Volume I, were created between 2017 and 2024. Most of my early abstract paintings took me months, if not years, to fully finish because life would often get in the way. I will share more about my Abstract Daydream timeline in future blog posts and online content. But for now, all I can say is that Abstract Daydream prints were first made in 2025 and I could not be more excited!

How did you make Abstract Daydreams?

& What is your process when making Abstract Daydreams?

I have several different techniques that I use when making Abstract Daydreams, most of which fall somewhere on a spectrum between two major categories: intentional and experimental. Intentional techniques include things like choosing a specific color palette, coloring in blank spots, exaggerating shadows, etc. Some examples of experimental techniques include running the painting underwater to see what happens and/ or pouring paint directly onto the paper.

In all honesty, I never really know what each Abstract Daydream will look like until it is almost done. Each step, especially in the beginning, dictates what the next step in the painting will be. The challenge is to find a balance between “predicting the outcome” and “letting go” in order to let the painting surprise you.

What does each Abstract Daydream mean?

I try not to think about a specific “meaning” or “subject” when I am painting- so as to not control the outcome. Sure, my paintings inevitably reflect my own thoughts and emotions, but I do my best to wait until they are “done” before I interpret their meaning. 

Once a painting is “done,” I reflect upon what it means, which emotions it evokes, and how the composition might encourage curiosity. Then I spend several hours turning pages of notes into clean paragraphs like this one. My descriptions are merely suggestions, however, because I believe that abstract art is a visual language with infinite translations.