For the first half of his artistic career, artist Aaron Norris primarily painted realistic landscapes capturing the essence of the Midwest with its grazing cattle, windmills, and the majestic drama of prairie storms. As local sports teams experienced national success, so did his artwork of sports—these paintings of local athletes built the foundation of his career as a sports artist specializing in realistic portraits of the most influential athletes across the globe.
After honing his skills in college, Norris embarked on a professional journey that initially veered into the realm of graphic design, a stepping stone to his true calling. Painting remained a constant in his life, but when Norris discovered his love for large-scale landscapes capturing western Kansas, he truly realized what would become his lifelong passion of becoming an artist full time.
“My journey was very slow and organic, probably like most artists,” says Norris. “After high school, I studied art at Central Missouri State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art. I then got my foot in the door of a large corporation as a graphic designer. I would paint a little here and there, but I went through a few years of not really taking it seriously. After a while, I got really into painting large-scale landscapes, western Kansas storms, and endless prairies with cattle, windmills, and oil pumps. My style is primarily realism. However, I'm always experimenting with blending different forms of impressionism and sometimes abstract backgrounds into my pieces.”
In 2009, gallery representation at The Rice Gallery of Fine Art in Leawood provided the catalyst Norris needed to propel his artistry into the spotlight. With each brushstroke, his style evolved, creating his signature aesthetic that resonates deeply with audiences.
“The gallery really helped me shape my client base as my style continued to evolve. In 2015, the Royals won the World Series and I started to get commissioned to paint sports figures for the first time and they were really well received. A few years down the road, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl and the floodgates opened with clients who wanted paintings of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. I would say that currently, sports art makes up the bulk of my commission work, with the occasional landscape piece. At the moment, due to the success of the Chiefs, my most popular pieces continue to be some of my latest abstract paintings of Patrick Mahomes, but my western storm paintings are also still in demand.”
Commissioned portraits of sporting icons became sought-after treasures, cementing his reputation. The crowning moment of Norris' journey came with an invitation to showcase his artistry at the Super Bowl, a surreal experience that surpassed even his wildest dreams. From the glittering lights of Las Vegas to the electric atmosphere of the game itself, it showed the power of saying yes to unexpected opportunities.
“The Four Seasons in Las Vegas invited me back in November to display a collection of my work in their beautiful hotel for the weeks leading up to the game. Being selected to showcase my work in Vegas for the Super Bowl was such a long-shot fairytale for me. My work was received so incredibly well by so many people. It was an extraordinary getaway for my family and I. It's funny, when they originally asked me if I would be interested, I told them no—I had so many things going on and I just didn't think I could make it work logistically. Remember, back in November, I didn't know who would be playing in the Super Bowl. When it was all said and done, my beloved Chiefs won another Lombardi Trophy and I will be forever grateful that I said yes. It was my little Cinderella story. It was something I’ll never forget.”
As he looks to the future, Norris remains steadfast in his commitment to his craft. His studio in Raymore serves as a sanctuary for creativity.
“Personally, my favorite painting is an oil painting of my two beautiful daughters when they were just little girls. It hangs in our living room at home and it always makes me smile. My future plans are going to stay the same as they've always been—I’m going to try and create art that I love to the best of my abilities and if it happens to sell, wonderful.”
Article by Allison Swan
Originally published in Johnson County City Lifestyle
