During a year on the coast, Jacob Norris spent much of his time studying A Field Guide to Western Birds by Roger Paterson. The painted images lead Jacob toward the goal of one day completing his own book of bird illustrations. High Desert Gallery, at our downtown Bend Oregon gallery location, 10 NW Minnesota Avenue at The Oxford, is pleased to present Four new oil on board paintings by Jacob Norris as he paints the birds of Central Oregon.
“The Wood Duck inspires me. How can I pass up a chance to paint a bird that is already a painted masterpiece of nature? If I had the chance to use the tools God used in creating the quilted design of the wood duck I would take it.
Drake Park...full of Mallards, a forest of green bobbing heads, a community of familiar floaters racing to the water's edge. They meet their benefactors and dance like jesters in the midst of the common folk, a wood duck and his lover, a patchwork of many places. One may wonder if he is a vulnerable feathered friend, so bright and lacking in the brown and green camouflage. But alas, he knows nothing of differences. He is a duck, he swims, he flies, he eats bread, and in these ordinary actions the onlookers smile at his beauty.”
“Blue Bird and Chickadee – on walks in the urban Juniper forests on the east side of Bend, a flock of blue birds scuffle ruffle the branches eating seeds, insects, and drinking water from melted snow on lava rocks. Their companion chickadee sprinkles cheerful bits of notes...chick-chick a dee-a-dee – hence the name. These birds flow with a truth that mirrors a feeling in my soul, a timeless resonance, fearless, nameless – carefree; whim here, whim there. When I hear them and see them my heart bursts with horns and strings symphonic. Their images are iconic, etched in my mind, bringing back memories of walks in magical, haunted damp forests. Emotion, coming of age newness, freshness, the Nature Moment, survival Grace...to be continued...”
“Quail - early in the morning – eight or nine o'clock, a covey of quail shuffle into the soft sunlight of our winter gypsy home. They peck away like chickens, but with the slightest motion...a scurry, and they have joined the quiet family of deer hidden in the bushes. One hundred eyes staring out behind the twigs of winter, ears perked, a feather ready. Like sweet damsels, a feather pinned to their hat, they scurry around the town learning the news and gossip of the day, taking tea, nibbling on bits of ground and disappearing for their afternoon nap.”
Jacob Norris, Bend Oregon, February 2010
About Jacob Norris: As a young boy, Jacob Norris was inspired by his grandfather, Walter Joseph Norris II, an oil painter and artist. Jacob's first art experience was also influenced by his grandfather, when he copied a painting of Mt. Jefferson in pencil, before moving on to charcoal, which Jacob describes as "an extension of my fingers." During a year on the coast, Jacob spent much of his time studying A Field Guide to Western Birds by Roger Paterson. The illustrations of birds, painted by the author, lead Jacob toward painting his own images of birds, in oil on panel, and toward the goal of one day printing his own book of painted birds of the area. In high school, Jacob met Ken Roth, a respected art teacher and successful artist in his own right. Jacob says, “Meeting Ken was a turning point in my art career – he gave me a voice in my artwork – he let me sing.” While Ken Roth was Jacob's mentor in high school, he now sees his former student as a contemporary, and often paints with Jacob and Portland based artist Nathaniel Praska en plein air. Jacob has exhibited regionally and is represented in Central Oregon by High Desert Gallery. He touches the soul of those he meets and continues to paint, dream, and live the romance of the artist.
About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon, Redmond and Sisters Oregon and High Desert Frameworks! located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition.
For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. Want to be in the know? Then follow us on via RSS, Facebook, Twitter or subscribe to our blog. To download your free iTunes app visit: High Desert Gallery iPhone App at the App Store.The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.
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