Olga Saenz, Painter, and Writer

Painter and Writer

retratoOlga 5.6 (397) copy

My most recent artworks

I am a bridge for all the colors to be on the canvas. They just flow through me, and they surprise me as much as they will surprise you.

My Story as a painter

It is impossible to live in Costa Rica and not to be a nature fan. We are surrounded by it, even in the cities! Everything is fertile, everything growns intensely… Pure Life! Yes!

I became a naturalist tour guide in 1988, and from the very beginning I was immersed in the tropical rainforests and their…

My Story as a painter

It is impossible to live in Costa Rica and not to be a nature fan. We are surrounded by it, even in the cities! Everything is fertile, everything growns intensely… Pure Life! Yes!

I became a naturalist tour guide in 1988, and from the very beginning I was immersed in the tropical rainforests and their chaotic beauty.

I remember, in the early 2000’s seeing a bright pink flower up on a tree in the Tortuguero National Park. I remember thinking that I wish I was a painter to catch that brilliant glimpse of Mattel pink in the midst of the green ocean of the jungle. A few weeks later I bought my first camera.

And I fell in love with the idea of photography. Catching those subtle and almost secretive images that lay invisible before our eyes became an obsession.

Yes, the beautiful bird, but I was more interested in the tiny space between the feathers.

Yes, the amazing flower, but I was in love with the velvety texture of its polen.

I learned to discover life through a 70-300.

In this same period I bought an easel and some canvas and paintings and started trying to paint. Trying is a great word for it. Whatever I did was swallowed by the generous amnesia of time and quickly I was saying that “Photography is the brush for those who don’t have talent to paint”.

Many things happened and maybe I’ll write about them in the non-existant future, but for now, I would simply like to say that my camera was lost, and so my love for tour guiding.

Changes… you know…

In 2014, a re-birth happened in my life. I was getting ready to fly away as my children were already growing independent and I was looking at freedom from responsibilities, and a solitude that could have become a deep loneliness.

We were living in an art-deco apartment building downtown San Jose and I had painted it all white. The cats that lived with us kept on pushing doors and gojumping iut the windows and I was going crazy cleaning their footprints. So, I decided to go to a nearby children supplies store and bought some paintings and did sort of a scribble over the dark paw footprints. And then I did another, and one more. I enjoyed so much I painted all the doors and window frames in the apartment and it looked great!

So I painted a mural in my bedroom… and well! That was it, No more walls, or windows… I bought a canvas then! And an easel a few weeks later. I haven’t been able to stop since then. Painting became like breathing.

Now, I have never taken a single painting lesson in my life. Actually I don’t know how to paint, in terms of techniques or even small tips.

However I’ve found a small secret I can share… The less my mind is involved in the piece I am painting, the better!

So, here I am! Painting for nine years non-stop and extremely thankful for this surprise Life had for me and that turned me into yes… A late bloomer!

Read it all here

What’s going on?

For 2023, I will be:

Restaurante El Bosque

This unique and exciting art experience exhibit features stunning pieces of original art that are deeply inspired by the indigenous culture and the extraordinary biodiversity of Costa Rica. The artwork is surreal, with a psychedelic quality that makes it seem as though it’s constantly in motion.

El Bosque Restaurant is the perfect setting for this exhibition, located next to a beautiful cloud forest that offers an incredible backdrop for the artwork. Despite its stunning location, El Bosque is an affordable restaurant that provides great service and delicious food. So, not only can you enjoy a fantastic meal, but you can also immerse yourself in the incredible artwork on display.

Overall, this exhibition at El Bosque is a must-see for art enthusiasts and foodies alike. Don’t miss your chance to experience the unique combination of fantastic art and delicious cuisine in a beautiful setting.

Acrylic Painting – Canvas

Don Pancracio from the outer galaxies | Olga Saenz, painter
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$300.00
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Acrylic Painting – Canvas

Walking by the garden | Olga Saenz, painter
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$1,500.00
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Acrylic Painting – Canvas

Ocean Dreaming by Costa Rican painter Olga Saenz
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$750.00
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To discover magic in the ordinary and the natural is a gift, a practice of the soul that we can all learn when we set out armed with only our senses, to listen with our hearts and open up our minds.
In these visions and memories of a wonderer and a wanderer, a taste of that magic drips onto the canvas, inviting us all to search for the glory and beauty in each moment of our own lives.

Colin Sharpe

Writer

My Gallery

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Art Workshops

Escape into nature’s splendor through painting with these immersive workshops. Learn to capture tropical creatures like iridescent green iguanas and wide-eyed monkeys with fluid brushstrokes.

Study the intricate patterns of rainforest trees, distilling their aged wisdom into profoundly simple art.

Contemplate the soul of lush landscapes, using color and texture to portray their emotional imprint. Or discover nature’s hidden neon dimension, simulating how animals perceive the world. Under master artist Olga Saenz’s guidance, reconnect with nature by releasing your inner creativity onto the canvas.