As to the inspiration for her work, the artist explains with her wry humor: “Pretending to be a tourist in my everyday surroundings makes everything seem fresh and new and inspires ideas for my designs. I love funny suburban rodents, garden creatures, farms and domestic animals, as well as a good mix of weeds and flowers.”
First creating her original artwork with mediums such as gouache, watercolor and pen, Betsy then translates the work into a reproduceable design. With a line of household products such as baby blankets, flour sack towels and printed hand towels that feature her art, Betsy also creates custom works for commercial and residential clients.
Betsy embraces her work’s marriage of art and function, saying, “I create things that belong in someone’s home. It’s not about making a social statement. I’m enjoying the process and having fun with it.”
Betsy Olmsted
FIG COVER ARTIST BETSY OLMSTED is a local Lancaster designer of textiles, wallpaper and other printable surfaces. While the field of textile design has traditionally entailed anonymity, this era’s emerging appreciation for the work of independent designers means that artists like Betsy are finally receiving their due.
Evidenced by the burgeoning demand for independent designs in stores and on-line resources like etsy.com, people are clearly hungry for the kinds of products that Betsy Olmsted creates. As the artist explains, “Localism is so important. I think it’s really a response to all of the mass production overseas. People want domestic, local inspiration.” READ MORE: figlancaster.com/betsyolmsted
“ I create things that belong in someone’s home.”
Betsy Olmste CRAFTY GARDEN, inkjet textile pigments on cotton
63 betsyolmsted.com