“I love the entire process of essentially creating something out of nothing. From the process of fabricating a frame, to perfectly stretching the canvas, to putting brush to canvas and obsessing over every little detail,” Aaron Norris says. “I don't know why, but this process is very fulfilling for me.”
His art is primarily based on realism. He works from a single photograph, or combinations of photographs, and enjoys trying to capture the tiniest details in each. His inspiration for deciding what to paint is vast and spontaneous. He draws from his clients because much of his work is commissioned. His process is organic, beginning with a few boards fabricated into a frame that he stretches canvas around. Working with oils allows him to come back to the piece later and pick up where he left off because they are slow to dry.
“I will sometimes work in small-scale, but I prefer creating large-scale pieces,” he says.
In his Raymore studio, most of his work is specifically commissioned by his clients with a wide range of subject matter. He describes himself as primarily a large-scale landscape painter much of the time but does enjoy a good challenge as he never knows what the next client is going to want. If he ever needs a break, he sometimes paints sports figures, including Patrick Mahomes, and wildlife scenes. He and his wife, Jamie, have been married for nearly 15 years and have two beautiful daughters, Allison, 12, and Madison, 10. They are in fifth and sixth grade and are competitive cheerleaders.
Norris can't point to a specific artist in which he draws inspiration. It seems to emerge from within his own vivid imagination.
“I love going down to my parents’ farm and walking and hiking around while taking pictures. I also travel to the mountains every year and soak in the beautiful scenery of the vast peaks and valleys. These days, I don't have too many opportunities to work on paintings for myself, so most of my inspiration comes from the idea that I'm creating something for someone that is going to make them happy. Or the idea that maybe my artwork might possibly inspire someone else,” he says. “I don't know if that happens or not, but it's something to strive for I guess.”
Visit aaronnorrisstudio.com to see more of Aaron Norris’s unique art. A lot of his work can be seen at The Rice Gallery of Fine Art in Leawood, KS.
