Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Norris.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I apprenticed with my mentor Ken Roth starting when I was just out of highschool. Another artist friend of mine Nathaniel Praska was also an apprentice to Ken. The three of us would go out to the countryside and edges of town and paint together. I began with Plein air painting, using Oil paint as my main medium. I have always enjoyed nature, I spent a couple of years living on ten acres in Northern Idaho where I would go out all day long exploring when I was about 10’years old. At that time I was homeschooled and I chose to focus my studies on birds. I grew a passion for watching and getting to know the birds, which informed and inspired the bird paintings I am known for in my work.
When I was 21 Ken hosted a show for Nathaniel and I at his studio. He suggested that I paint some birds in case the landscape paintings didn’t sell, and that was the beginning of my bird paintings. About a year later I had my first son and was feeling the responsibility of being a father, so I took a body of work to The Sparrow Bakery that had just opened, and had my first solo show. It was well received. I was invited to have my work show at High Desert Gallery at the Oxford Hotel in Downtown Bend, and not long after the recession happened and I had another son. With the recession and art sales slower than I hoped, I taught myself how to Bake and got a job baking Artisan Bread at Soarrow Bakery and then went on to help start the Jackson’s Corner bakery, but I continued to paint and sell work as well as have shows. Once my boys were a bit older (I had an another boy in the middle of all of this), I let go of the baking and went full time into my art again, working on Pleine air, some abstract nature art, birds, beetles, and nature inspired art.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Finding the space and time to create has been a challenge. Being a father of three dynamic boys and always wanting to keep my relationship with my sweetheart close takes work and focus, so it was a deep discipline to do the family work and then show up to my art.
Another challenge was keeping up with the demand when I had a lot of commissions, but then having to ride out the slower times.
Staying inspired and learning to fill my cup has been a growing edge for me, after shows I find myself having to be patient when my well of creativity is low. I have to find ways to rest, let the hyper focused part of my creativity be quiet so that I can come back to it all full.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an oil painter mainly (although I’ve recently been dabbling in watercolor). I specialize in birds! Landscape paintings are another favorite of mine. I do appreciate large still life’s or slightly abstracted flowers as well.
I’m most proud of when I complete a commission with one of the frames that my dad makes and the people are really excited. I love how magical it is to collaborate with my dad.
At first glance it’s a combination of texture and marks, but I find that people are moved emotionally by my work and they don’t know why.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I am a big fan of Ursula K. leguin’s work. She speaks to the real experiences of life that happen behind the scenes of an artist. She touches the parts of humanness that are undeniable and I feel supported as an artist by this.
Artists that inspire me are Forest Moses, Tom Thompson, SC Yuan,
Contact Info:
- Website: JacobJNorris.gallery
- Instagram: Jacobjosephnorris
- Facebook: Jacob Norris
