When it comes to the process of creating one of her illustrations, Olivia doesn’t need anything fancy. Instead, she uses found materials such as odd-numbered pieces of colored cards and just about anything she can get her hands on. Black markers are the most visited tool, chosen for its permanence and boldness. “I love how the pen bleeds and how when the pen runs out you can use it for shading,” she says. “The different ink levels help me make the black colorful in my work.” It also takes time for Olivia to create her pieces, as she often works on a sketch, walks away from it for a few moments, and comes back to complete the final elements such as texture and personal details for her characters. “I love doing detail on the cheekbones, lips and hair, of course. You almost feel like a hairstylist, making sure the fade goes smoothly.
Turning to a few of his recent (and favorite) pieces, there is first cooking for mom, an illustration made just before confinement. Awash in a vibrant tone of mustard yellow, the image details her brother – kitted out in athletic training gear – baking a cake for Mother’s Day. It was a time full of uncertainty, when society turned to simple pleasures like kneading bread and cooking sweet treats. meanwhile The party doesn’t stop is a room designed in response to a “shoddy” landlord, she says, who left Olivia and her roommates with unwanted furniture piled high in the living room for the duration of their tenancy. “We hated it, but then we got used to having a box spring in the living room. I did this to talk about the difficulties of renting in London – living in a community is rewarding but also difficult.
This image, like the rest of her portfolio, highlights the illustrator’s desire to address important issues prevalent in society, including uprisings, protests and the housing crisis. “The housing market is really tough for millennials,” she says, “we yearn to buy but the process of renting and saving is long. But might as well have fun while you’re at it.