My earliest memories of engaging in art consists of drawing peacocks and opening the 64 Crayola Crayons to use as many colors as possible. I was in my mid-twenties by the time my formal training of art began. My work even as a student focused on the replication of seen color using oil paints, and the exploration of textures with drawing pencils on various paper surfaces. I completed a bachelors of art education (BAE) from the University of New Mexico and for the next 24 years I would work in the public schools teaching art and English as a Second Language.
In 1990, I took a five year break from teaching and found my first studio, away from the kitchen table, at the Guadalupe Annex, San Antonio, Tx. Issues of home and homelessness came to the forefront of my work due to the encounters with the homeless in route to the studio. During this time I continued her education by completing her Masters of Art Education (MAE) from Texas Tech at Junction.
I have received several awards for my work. These include: Gumbacher Incorporated Distinguished Recognition for Painting from UTSA, Art Matters Foundation, New York, New York and The Serie Print Project, Coronado Studio, Austin, Texas and Best of Painting: Southwest School of Art.
My art is in the collections of Mexic-Arte, Art Museum of South Texas, Institute for Latin Studies-Notre Dame, and Capital One.
I am currently a full time painter Norma and am working on two series: Love Songs for Earth and Life's Jackets.