about me
Molly Ottersen
I became interested in art at an early age. One of my brothers had an old school tape-recorder, the kind popular in the 1970s, and he asked all of us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I promptly answered in my 6-year-old voice, “a Princess.” When he said that was not an option, I gave him my second choice: “an artist.”
Growing up on a small island in the Pacific Northwest, that was only reachable by ferry boat, I was the only girl of four children. Despite wanting to be a princess, I also wanted to keep up with my older brothers. A bit of a tomboy, I climbed many trees, rode my bike through mud puddles, and helped take care of the various animals on our little five-acre farm. I learned to snow ski at 7, and was game for any water sport.
Give me a fresh tin of Marvy markers, some finger paints, or the latest fantasy book, and I could entertain myself for hours. My dad´s mother had been an artist, so I was always encouraged to explore my creativity.
My dad said that the first time they took me to the ocean, just after I had first learned to walk, I laid down in the sand and started rolling around. I have always been drawn to the sea. My parents got a sailboat when I was nine, and we spent our summers sailing the San Juan Islands. I learned to sail my friend´s family´s small Laser sailboat, and also learned the magical sport of slalom waterskiing.
I attended the Art Institute of Seattle, and took a two-year course in visual communications. My first job was in the advertising department of a department store. I was fresh out of school, but they saw that I had a good eye for color. And before long, I was the liaison with the printer for the print catalogs. Turns out my ability to discriminate color is in the top 5% (who knew that was a thing). I continued on in a career as a Print Production Manager at various advertising agencies.
Living in Southern California, I started painting again with a wine-and-paint group. After we moved to Puerto Vallarta, I started taking lessons from some very talented instructors. When the covid pandemic hit, first I cleaned our entire condo from top to bottom. When I was through with that, I started to paint.
A few friends were interested in my work, and I received a couple of commissions from them, which really kept me at my canvas, and a bit outside my comfort zone. I watched many Youtube painting tutorials to broaden my skills and technique. I have painted with water colors, oils and acrylics, but I have found I really like the flexibility that you have with oils. At this point, that is my preferred medium.
I had a showing of some of my work at the Bonito Kitchen and Bar in Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta. And I also have a couple of pieces in The Living Room Bookstore in Marina Vallarta.
I recently attended the Insituto de Allende for oil painting classes, in San Miguel de Allende.
That took me a bit out of my comfort zone, but it ended up being a great experience.
If you are interested in one of my paintings, or would like to commission a piece, please send me a message, and I will get back to you promptly.
Previously displayed at Bonito Kitchen & Bar
