Unveiling spotlights a recently completed portrait commission or figurative work from some of the best and most active members of the Portrait Society of America. This month Amanda Hollis, guest writer for the Portrait Society, interviewed Nick Alm about his recently completed portrait commission of Anders Olsson.

Unveiling

Portrait of Anders Olsson by Nick Alm

by Amanda Hollis

Anders Olsson, Member of the Swedish Academy, Chairman of the Nobel Prize Literature Committee,
oil on canvas, 28¾ x 25"The Swedish Academy, founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is best known as the body that selects the laureates for the annual Nobel Prize in Literature. The 18 members of the Swedish Academy serve for life and its primary purpose is to further the Swedish language. Artist Nick Alm was recently commissioned to paint the official portrait of Anders Olsson, a Swedish author, poet and professor who is also a member of the Swedish Academy. In addition, Olsson currently serves as the chairman of the Nobel Prize in Literature committee. An accomplished artist, Alm approached the painting of Olsson with the same focus as his figurative work, selecting the best composition and style with which to share his sitter’s intrinsic nature.

At the time of Olsson’s nomination to serve as the permanent secretary in 2018, the Swedish Academy was enduring a very turbulent time and there were competing demands on his time. Alm was inspired to capture the active nature of Olsson’s initial tenure and thought a dynamic pose would be suitable. It took several sessions for him to select the exact pose and hand position that would convey confidence and a sense of moving forward. As Alm states, “How we move our hands is very personal and
I wanted that hand to be more than just well designed. In the end, I found this gesture really captured him.”

Alm started out as an illustrator but changed the direction of his art when he was accepted by the Florence Academy of Art, studying the figure from life in the classical manner. After graduating, he received a scholarship to join the Hudson River Fellowship painting landscapes. It was during this time he explored the great art museums of New York City, building on his exposure to a wide range of style and subject manner. Before moving back to Sweden, he spent a year studying with Odd Nerdrum in Norway and France. Nerdrum is a Norwegian figurative artist whose work draws heavily from the traditions of Rembrandt and Caravaggio. He remains one of Alm’s biggest inspirations, along with historical greats including Zorn, Sargent and Wyeth, to name a few.

Alm is highly accomplished in both oil and watercolor. For this painting, his second official portrait, he selected oil as the medium. Alm says, “I find that oil lends itself better to painterly brushstrokes, while watercolor has certain advantages regarding atmosphere and texture.” He explains, “The bigger the painting will be, the more likely it is that I will do it in oil. And if I don’t have the composition clearly figured out, I will also tend to go with oil, since it’s a more forgiving medium.”

Alm adds, “What I aim for as a painter is to make my artwork vibrant with life. The human figure has always been at the center of my work which I try to capture with a great sense of light, atmosphere and texture.” —