The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award presented by Waverley Council with support from Principal Sponsors Mark and Evette Moran, and community partners Gertrude & Alice Bookstore Cafe, celebrates excellence in research and writing in Australia.
Congratulation to Tim Olsen winner of the 2021 Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize and Nib People's Choice Prize for his memoir Son of the Brush.
The Nib People's Choice Prize ($2,500) is awarded by popular vote. Congratulations to Tim Olsen, one of Australia's most recognised and respected art identities, successful gallery owner and now, prize winning author. Tim Olsen is the son of arguably Australia's greatest living artist, John Olsen. Son of the Brush is his fascinating, candid memoir of what it was like to grow up in the shadow of artistic genius, with all its wonder, excitement and bitter disappointments.
Tim I’ve just downloaded “Son of the Brush”. Those Pearl Beach days and meeting the Olsens were important part of our lives. Fond memories. Congrats on being nominated for NIB literary award. Hope you win. We saw the terrific piece about you on our television recently. Great congrats on your courage and honesty. My book “Home Truths” has now been published and I hope I’ve been somewhere near as honest as you were in admitting to my problems and imperfections. Do hope Valerie’s exhibition gets the attention and respect it deserves. Warm regards to you and Louise.
— David and Kristin Williams
“Tim, I loved your book. I particularly like books about fathers by their sons, and daughters. Because I knew John Olsen in the fifties I suppose I have known him longer than most living persons, and your book gives valuable and moving insights into his life and art. It also charts your own development, your inner life, and your resurrection. You tell your story honestly and courageously, and I'm proud of you.”
— Barry Humphries, comedian, actor, satirist, artist, and author
“To write a book is one thing but to write a first rate book quite another. Many congratulations on your achievement! As a metaphor for a painting it has a very sure line, splendid structure and, of colour. Not because we know all the characters but because it is intrinsically a fine work which comes out of the depths with feeling.”
— Jill Hickson Wran, Literary Agent
“This haptic book, for it is large and weighs in the hand, carries an immense personal burden. A whole life is laid bare: a history of peripatetic childhood, neglect, alcoholism, abandonment, false starts, humiliations, failed marriages, addiction and neglect in turn, dependency, self-deception, relapse, renunciation. All the ingredients for the modern celebrity confessional.”
— Matthew White, Quadrant Magazine, December 2020
“Tim Olsen's book is simply one of the best memoirs I have ever had the pleasure of reading. It is erudite, beautifully written, evocative and moving. Olsen takes us into the world of his extraordinary childhood and his adult life surrounded by art, beauty, love, travel and fabulous conversation. I loved every page of this book. It could only be improved by adding the recipes for the delicious meals that pepper this wonderful memoir.”
— Professor Catharine Lumby, January 2021
Professor of Media at the University of Sydney and an art critic. Catharine is the author multiple catalogue essays and a book on Tim Storrier titled The Art of The Outsider
A frank and revealing memoir by the son of Australia's greatest living painter.
Tim Olsen is the son of arguably Australia's greatest living artist, Dr John Olsen. Son of the Brush is his fascinating, candid memoir of what it was like to grow up in the shadow of artistic genius, with all its wonder, excitement and bitter disappointments.
Tim's childhood was dominated by his father's work, which took the family to Europe and to communities around Australia as John sought inspiration and artistic fellowship. Wine, food, conversation and the emerging sexual freedom of the 1960s wove a pattern of life for the family. It was both the best and worst of childhoods, filled with vibrancy and stimulation, yet fraught with anxiety and eventual sadness as John separated from Tim's mother Valerie and moved away from the family.
The course of Tim's life has been set by the experiences of his childhood, and by the passion for art he inherited from both his parents (his mother was an acclaimed painter in her own right). Art has always been at the very centre of Tim's world, although he has followed a different path from his parents. Having overcome and recovered from addiction, Tim is today one of Australia's most respected art dealers, with a knowledge of art and artists forged from what is literally a lifetime immersed in the art world.
Son of the Brush is a memoir about a son and his father, and what it takes to forge your own identity and chart your own course in life, but it is also about the wider world of art, artists and the joy, inspiration and sacrifices of the creative life.
Son of the Brush: A Memoir by Tim Olsen, behind-the-scenes of the art world - Tim Olsen has written a book with a greater ambition, an extended meditation on identity, addiction and creativity in a world saturated in art - The Australian, 5 December 2020 by Ashleigh Wilson
GREAT HOLIDAY READS: Olsen’s memoir about the joys and challenges of growing up in the shadow of his famous artist father, John, is a fascinating read. In addition to all the juicy art world anecdotes, it’s a candid look at his journey from “free range” child to respected art dealer - The Sydney Morning Herald, December 2020
Tim Olsen: My mother's wise words taught me why we love art - The Sydney Morning Herald, December 2020 by Robyn Doreain
Tim Olsen on growing up with a famous father, artist John Olsen
Radio National By Hilary Harper on Life Matters
Duration: 13min 8sec
Broadcast: Tue 24 Nov 2020, 9:26am
son of the brush a memoir BY TIM OLSEN
“John Olsen is the subject of an explosive memoir penned by his son, who accuses the artist of multiple infidelities and building his creative career at the expense of the family he left behind. Tim Olsen's book Son of the Brush, published this week by Allen & Unwin, and launched Wednesday evening at the Art Gallery of NSW, also paints a picture of an art world corrupted by fraudsters, sycophants and unconvicted sexual predators.”
— Helen O’Neill, The Age
12 November 2020
“What books will you be reading over summer?”
”Son of the Brush by my brother, Tim Olsen.”
— Louise Olsen, Australian House and Garden
November 2020
“The author demonstrates superior skill as a raconteur. Much of the material he presents with so much charm originated with his father….Tim convinces readers that at base he is a decent human being and does not hide that he has significant human weaknesses.
His memoir shows that he has overcome his challenges as he continues to play a leading part in giving back to his community. As an aid to gaining knowledge about John Olsen and as a vehicle that bares what weaknesses can beset a good man, this memoir makes fine reading.”
— Ian Lipke Queensland Reviewers Collective,
5 November 2020
“Tim Olsen's memoir of life with his famous dad is a fascinating insight into the Sydney art world…This is a personal memoir - lively, chatty and quite readable…Possibly the main value of the book is to see it as an account of the Sydney art scene from the perspective of an insider, one who is acutely aware of his father's opinions on everyone and everything.”
— Sasha Grishin
The Canberra Times, 21 November 2020
“In Son of the Brush (a play on the laconic expression ‘son of a gun’), Tim Olsen brilliantly encapsulates the contours of what now seems to be his ultimately fortunate life – its triumphs, its failures, its tragedies and its joys – including the pleasures and pitfalls of having a hugely famous father.He recounts his early life with fondness and honesty..”
— Ross Fitzgerald
The Spectator, 19 October 2020
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What People Are Saying
A great read. Controversial and very dark at times. Couldn’t put it down. Genius.
— Austen Tayshus, comedian, actor and director
“Tim Olsen’s moving memoir paints a vivid insight into the Australian art scene as well being a poignant and honest reflection on the highs and lows of an extraordinary family life .Witty and insightful without ever being salacious or self aggrandising, a joy to read from the first page to the last.”
— Noah Taylor, Actor and Artist
“While I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Tim personally through his championing of my older brother George’s work. This book filled in the blanks on a rich and fascinating life - all while offering a glimpse into the inner workings of one of Australia’s preeminent creative families. Congratulations Tim - fantastic read.”
— Rose Byrne, Actor
“Few can understand both the divine generosity and the absolute selfishness of the artists life . Tim writes with love hilarity and ruefullness from a vantage point of a child in the moment that Australian art bloomed and his journey to find his own place in the world as a leading gallerist”
— Rachel Griffiths, Actor and Director
“Fabulous book Tim. Such a life! Rawly honest. And well done with the tone, like my mum used to say: if you can’t think of anything nice to say about someone then don’t say anything! Wish I’d met your mum - I attended art classes at Hornsby Tech in 1970-71 so it must’ve been a close thing x”
— Nicholas Harding, Artist
“Tim Olsen’s memoir SON OF A BRUSH is absolutely riveting. His story is courageous, honest and moving. It includes an illuminating account of his recovery from addiction; a journey I am pleased to be sharing with him.”
— Professor Ross Fitzgerald AM, Columnist for The Australian and The Spectator Australia.