by Jen Norton | Nov 3, 2013 | Art Instruction
I recently had the privilege of creating a special home portrait for a patron in my hometown. I thought I’d share my progress on how to paint a house here. We began with some sketches of her ranch-style home, which were then transferred to the canvas. I start...
by Jen Norton | Sep 29, 2013 | Current Shows
Last year I was privileged to paint one my city’s electrical boxes as part of the Art Box Project San Jose. Recently, I was contacted to paint a second box to reflect the original cherry orchards that used to grace the corner of Hamilton/Pine and Hicks Roads in Willow...
by Jen Norton | Aug 22, 2013 | Philosophy
There was a point mid-way through my university art education when my mom kindly suggested, “Why don’t you study business instead so you can get a job?” Ahhh… the lament of so many well-meaning parents. So I added in a business minor. I suffered through every...
by Jen Norton | Aug 8, 2013 | Painting Stories
“Hail Mary,” 22 x 30″, Acrylic on Canvas Growing up Catholic, we were taught to honor Mary as the Mother of God through reciting the prayers of the Rosary. Like prayer-bead traditions from other religious practices, the Rosary is designed to slow you down and...
by Jen Norton | Jun 14, 2013 | Painting Stories, Philosophy
Making art can be a lot of fun, but it’s not always easy. At times it can be down-right torturous. My perfectionist mindset kicks in, saying, “You should be able to command divine inspiration at will… You have to make a great piece of art now… Maybe you’re not as...
by Jen Norton | Mar 7, 2013 | Painting Stories, Philosophy
Oh, woe is me, woe is me…no one can possibly understand my pain and suffering! Well, yes, actually they can, and they probably have. In a spiritual realm, we are all connected. Pain or joy in any one of us has an effect in the paint or joy of all of us. If you’ve ever...
by Jen Norton | Jan 7, 2013 | Art Instruction, Painting Stories
Happy New Year! For my first post of 2013, I’d like to share some work completed at the end of 2012. This is an art commission for a family to commemorate their annual vacation on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands in Washington State (USA). It features friends and...
by Jen Norton | Sep 27, 2012 | Awards & Honors, Current Shows, Painting Stories
If you ever find yourself traveling down Curtner Avenue in the Willow Glen area of San Jose, CA, be sure to look North as you cross Booksin Ave and you will see my lastest public artwork. I am one of over 30 artists (so far) who are painting the city’s electrical...
by Jen Norton | Sep 6, 2012 | Art Business, Licensing and Design, Painting Stories
I wanted to share with you a recent design and art project I completed for the Berkeley Unified School District in Northern California. In an age of school budget cuts, Berkeley Unified has remained committed to providing its students with nutritious, fresh foods, and...
by Jen Norton | Aug 8, 2012 | Current Shows
Summer break is two weeks shorter for us this year since our daughter will enter a school that begins earlier. I’ve been taking care of school supplies, uniforms and, on top of it all, cleaning out my home for a block rummage sale. I bet I’m not the only one out there...
