Norma Jones - Artist Statement and Biography

About Norma

Art has been with me since I was a small child. I have always been surrounded by creative individuals, starting with my family who supported any and all of my efforts - then as an adult as a part of several art groups, the members of which have kept me inspired and focused. I have also taught art in its many forms to children and adults for a number of years. The challenge of keeping ahead of them has pushed me to try new things, which in turn affects my work.

Of late, I have been experimenting with colour, mood, movement, abstraction and surface texture. This allows things to happen in an often random manner, bringing together the elements until they evolve into something which shows promise. I build on patterns, as well as emphasize colours and shapes until the final image takes form. At times I force myself to go beyond the initial image, cutting into it or covering parts with collage. Frequently this works, but other times I may destroy something with potential, forcing myself to find a new method of finalizing the painting. The whole purpose of the process is to stretch and grow, allowing my creativity the freedom to take new paths. My work ranges from the realistic to the abstract, often with elements of each. The urge to create is neverending, becoming a focus, a purpose, a goal.

My Artistic Influences

As a child I had many creative influences which strengthened my interest in the arts. I was introduced early on to the paintings of the Renaissance and to Greek Sculptures and was so impressed that from that day I became dedicated to becoming an artist and gaining as much knowledge as possible. As time passed I was introduced to works by other artists and eras and each renewed my love of art.

The French Impressionists have been a strong influence on my work as has Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, and Emily Carr, with her powerful images and bold use of color. More recently I have come to know of present day artists who further influenced my style and future goals.

Each of these artists are popular authors, and teachers whose work I find inspiring. Their books are well written, beautifully illustrated and a wealth of information.

Jan Kunz - known for her lively, colorful portraits and florals. She provides easily applied lessons to create successful paintings and encourages students to plan ahead so that the finished watercolor looks fresh and spontaneous.

Roberta Carter Clark - well known for her portraits of children as well as adults. She gives many helpful tips on how to make all your portraits successful.

Zoltan Szabo - known for his many books on watercolor painting. He should be a staple of every watercolor wanna-be's diet with his well written and easily understood instructions that range from paint mixing, composition and design, to palette knife instruction and special techniques.

Edgar Whitney - "a great watercolor teacher of incredible personality and conviction, which raised him above his contemporaries, who literally came to sit at his feet." Known for his "Whitneyisms" which many of his students still quote to this day!

Resumé of Norma Jones

1987 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Regional Juried Art Show in Estevan, Sask. (Paintings chosen to continue to Provincial Level)
1988 - Moose Mountain Regional Art Show People's Choice Awards, Estevan, Sask. (Honourable Mention - Painting joined group tour of Southern Saskatchewan)
1988 - Red Coat Challenge Art Exhibit, Kenosee Lake, Sask. (Paintings received "People's Choice Award" as well as the "Open" (Adjudicated) Award)
1990 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) Regional Juried Art Show, Estevan, Sask. (Paintings chosen to continue on to Provincial Level)
1990 - OSAC Provincial Juried Art Show (Chosen to join a three person show touring the Province for two years.) Show entitled "The Ways of Watercolour"
1991 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Regional Juried Art Show in Estevan, Sask. (Honourable Mention)
1994 - Moose Mountain Regional Recreation Association, Estevan, Sask. (People's Choice Award - Painting joined a group tour of Southern Saskatchewan

1989 - Estevan Comprehensive High School

1987 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Regional Juried Art Show, Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1988 - Moose Mountain Regional Art Show People's Choice Awards, Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1988 - Red Coat Challenge Art Exhibit, Kenosee Lake, Sask.
1988 - Heritage Frame House and Gallery, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) Regional Juried Art Show, Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1990 - "Energy Show" - Estevan Advanced Painting Group, Estevan, Sask.
1991 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Regional Juried Art Show, Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1991 - "Transformations", Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1993 - "A Family of Saskatchewan Artists", Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1994 - Moose Mountain Regional Recreation Association, Estevan, Sask.
1994 - Visions Art Guild's "Art in Bloom" Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1994 - MMRRA (Moose Mountain Regional Recreation Association) Annual Conference - Roche Percee, Sask.
1994-1995 - Pages and Pages Visions Art Guild Display, Estevan, Sask.
1995 - Visions Art Guild's "Fall Mall Show" - Estevan Shopper's Mall
1996 - Visions Art Guild's "Visions of the Prairie" Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1996 - Visions Art Guild Group Display, Estevan Shopper's Mall
1997 and 1998 - Visions Art Guild - "Mall Show", Estevan Shopper's Mall
1998 - Visions Art Guild's "Expressions of Light", Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1999 - Visions Art Guild's "Expressions of Light", Signal Hill Art Centre, Weyburn, Sask.
1999 - Visions Art Guild Show at the Estevan Home and Leisure Show, Estevan, Sask.
2000 - Estevan Arts Festival - Art Walk, Estevan, Sask.
2000 - Visions Art Guild's "Earth Elements", Estevan National Exhibition Centre, Estevan, Sask.
2004 - Estevan Art Gallery and Museum's Wine Tasting Gala and Visions Art Guild's Show and Sale Ongoing display and sale at the offices of Matchett, Potts and Seippe, Estevan, Sask. - Estevan Art Gallery and Museum's Wine Tasting Gala and Visions Art Guild's Show and Sale Ongoing display and sale at the offices of Matchett, Potts and Seippe, Estevan, Sask.

1987 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Provincial Juried Art Show, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Council's Provincial Juried Art Show, Weyburn, Sask.
1991 - Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation's Provincial Tour
1991 - 1993 - OSAC Provincial tour entitled "The Ways of Watercolor". Three person exhibit visiting 25 communities.

1990 to Present - Member of the Board of the Estevan Art Gallery & Museum (previously Estevan National Exhibition Centre)
1990 to 1991 - Visual Arts Coordinator for the Estevan Arts Council
1990 to 1992 - Member of the Advanced Painting Group, Estevan, Sask.
1993 to Present - CARFAC (Canadian Artists Representation / Le Front Des Artistes Canadiens) Member
1994 to Present - Member of the Visions Art Guild, Estevan, Sask.
- Co-Programming Coordinator from 1995 to 1998
- Vice President in 2000 and 2001
- President - 2001 to Present
2002 to 2004 - Member of the Estevan Pottery Club

1991 to 1992 - Taught workshops for Adults and Children in numerous crafts - Estevan Needle Crafts
1992 - Art appreciation tours given - Kipling, Sask.
1992 - Art appreciation tours given and watercolour workshops taught - Signal Hill Art Centre - Weyburn, Sask.
1992 - Watercolour classes and Art appreciation tours given at the Estevan National Exhibition Centre
1993 - Adult watercolour classes taught - Signal Hill Art Centre, Weyburn, Sask.
1992 to Present - Taught private and group Watercolour and Drawing classes from home studio
2002 to 2004 - Taught children's "Art Attack" and drawing classes & adult watercolor classes - (2002) for the Estevan Arts Council

1985 - Watercolour classes - instructor Shelly Page, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - Acrylic workshop - instructor Sylvia de Leyssac,, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" - instructor Rosemary Koster, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - Photographing Your Artwork - instructor Pat Close of Carfac, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - "The Artist as Teacher : the New Face in Gallery Education" instructors Angela Lucas - touring artist and Sherron Harmon of OSAC, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - Matting and Framing Workshop - instructor Ryan Arnott, BFA, Estevan, Sask.
1990 - Documentation and Shipment of Artwork - instructor Ron McLellan, MFA Estevan, Sask.
1990 - The Business of Art - instructor Karen Schoonover, BFA, Estevan, Sask.
1990 to 1991 - Advanced Painting Group - instructor Helen Berscheid, Estevan National Exhibition Centre, Estevan, Sask.
1991 - Printmaking (Monoprints) workshop - instructor Rosemary Koster, Estevan, Sask.
1992 - Summer School Watercolour Classes - International Music Camp The International Peace Gardens - instructor Donelda Johnson, BFA
1992 - Sculpture Workshops - instructor Scott Nicholson, Estevan, Sask.
1992 - North Light Art School Correspondence Course
1994 - Silkscreen Printing Workshop - instructor Eltje Degenhart, Estevan, Sask.
1994 - Workshop on Artist's Rights - instructor Sheila Archer of CARFAC
1994 - Workshop on Juried Art Shows - instructor Donna Kriekle, Estevan, Sask.
1995 - Watercolour Workshop - instructor David Butt, Estevan, Sask.
1996 - Cartooning Workshop - instructor Glenn Dumontel, Estevan, Sask.
1996 - " The Business of Art" - instructor Eileen Lampard, Estevan, Sask.
1996 - Airbrush Workshop - instructor Murray Crossman, Estevan, Sask.
1997 - "What are Your Rights as an Artist" - CARFAC, Estevan, Sask.
1998 - OSAC Workshop on "Composition" - instructor Leesa Striefler, Estevan, Sask.
1998 - "Paper Play & Wheat Paste Papers" - Weyburn, Sask., instructor Martha Cole
1999 - Artist's Semi Retreat, "The Painted Book", instrustor Martha Cole, Estevan, Sask
2000 - Artist's Semi Retreat, " Breaking New Ground", instructor Joan Saglione, Estevan, Sask.
2001 - Tile Workshop, instructor Judy McNaughton, Estevan, Sask.
2001 to 2002- Beginner's and Intermediate Pottery Classes, instructor Judy McNaughton, Estevan, Sask.
2002 - Ceramic workshop, instructor Charley Farrero, Estevan, Sask.
2002 - Inspirational Workshop on Being an Artist with Martha Cole at the Artist Retreat, Parish Hall, Beinfait, Sask.
2003 - Pottery workshop with Cara Gay Driscol & Jack Sures, Estevan, Sask.

1990 to 1999 - Participated in the Carlyle Chamber of Commerce Art Auction, Carlyle, Sask.
1995 - Designed a mural for Youth Employment and Skills to be displayed at the at the Estevan Legion
1996 - Provided a painting to be reproduced for the Visions Art Guild's Art Cards
1997 - Estevan Tourism Banner Project , produced a banner for display and helped supervise the painting of banners by school children
1997 - 2000 Humane Society Christmas Card Auction, donated a card of original design
1991 to Present - Participated in the St. Joseph's Art Auction, Estevan, Sask.
1999 to 2001 - Artist Retreat - Metochos Bible Camp, Estevan, Sask.
2000 - Estevan Banner Project - Banner created for the Estevan Tae Kwon Do Club, Estevan, Sask.
2004 - Quota Club Show and Sale

June 1988 issue of The Ligniter, Luscar Ltd., (Article and Pictures)
March 1992 issue of the Kippling Newspaper (Picture and Caption)
June 1997 issue of the "First Annual Banner Edition" of the Estevan Trader Express (Picture and Caption)
May 1987 to Present - Numerous articles and/or pictures in the Estevan Mercury and the Estevan Trader Express
October 2004 issue of Lifestyles, Estevan, Sask.

Sask. Power Building, Regina, Sask.
Luscar Coal, Ltd., Edmonton, Alta. - also purchased as gifts for management
Office of Dr. L. Burnard, Optometrist, Estevan, Sask.
Numerous paintings in private and corporate collections throughout Canada and the United States.