Jen Norton Art Studio Blog

I entered this life in the form of a painfully shy child. I don’t know if I was born with any talent for painting…only that in making art, this soul found a comfortable place for expression, safe from having to talk or interact with others. I grew up considering my shyness a curse, always trying to overcome it. I now know, as with any perceived weakness, it was actually a gift which allowed me to see and reflect on things imperceptible to those on a faster track. Now, 40 years later, with the fear of speaking far behind me, I discover that what I am called to express in my work is a celebration of the quieter side of the heart. My immediate reaction upon this revelation was, “Well…duh!” It was all there before me, hidden only by time needed to learn the necessary tools of the trade. A touch of a mother’s hand, a smile between friends, a good book…love is found in these small, most overlooked events of life. It is in these fleeting moments of calm that we can hear the whisper of a mighty God. My intention is that my art may cause you to pause and listen.