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Rye Art Study Group Hosts

Creatively Awakening the Senses

with Norma Torti

JOIN THE RYE ART STUDY GROUP ON MONDAY, MAY 20TH FROM 9:30 TO 11 A.M. FOR A SPECIAL PRESENTATION, “CREATIVELY AWAKENING THE SENSES,” BY OUR MAY FEATURED ARTIST, NORMA TORTI. SPECIALIZING IN CLASSICAL REPRESENTATIONAL OIL PAINTING, NORMA GREATLY ENJOYS REVEALING AND SHARING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BEAUTY AND GOODNESS THAT SURROUNDS US.

COMMITTED TO PERPETUATING THE HISTORICAL PAINTING AND DRAWING PRACTICES OF ARTISTS FROM THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURY WITH CONTEMPORARY SUBJECTS, NORMA LOVES TRANSFORMING AN EMPTY CANVAS INTO A FULL, DETAILED STORY OF HER SUBJECTS IN LIVING COLOR. BEGINNING WITH A DETAILED DRAWING, SHE ADDS COLOR, METICULOUSLY BUILDING THE PAINT LAYER OVER LAYER UNTIL THE PIECE IS FINISHED. THE SUBJECTS SHE CHOOSES, AND THE REALISTIC STYLE OF HER WORK INVITES PEOPLE INTO EACH PIECE WHERE THEY MAY CONNECT TO THEIR OWN TRUTH.

NORMA’S INTEREST IN ART HISTORY AND WHERE SHE GREW UP INFLUENCE HER CHOICE OF SUBJECTS AND STYLE OF PAINTING. SHE HAS OVER FORTY YEARS OF PAINTING AND DRAWING EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUMS FROM OIL TO PASTEL TO WOODBLOCK PRINTING AND CLAY AND STEEL SCULPTURE. NORMA’S YEARS OF BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD AND B.S. IN MARKETING FROM SOUTHERN NH UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF HER ART BUSINESS SUCCESS.

SOME OF NORMA’S FIRST CLASSICAL TRAINING WAS THROUGH RESIDENT WORKSHOPS WITH JACK CALLAHAN AND PLEIN AIR TEACHERS IN ROCKPORT, MA. SHE CONTINUED STUDYING CLASSICAL PAINTING AND DRAWING WITH SEAN BEAVERS AND JOSHUA LANGSTAFF WHO WERE TRAINED AT THE SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS NYC AND ARISTIDES ATELIER, WA, RESPECTIVELY. IN 1992 SHE FURTHERED HER CLASSICAL OIL AND PASTEL PAINTING SKILLS WITH DANIEL GREENE, MASTER ARTIST, N. SALEM, NY. NORMA STUDIED CLASSICAL PAINTING, DRAWING AND SCULPTURE AT THE NH INSTITUTE OF ART FROM 1991-2003.

SHARING HER TALENTS WITH THE COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT TO NORMA. SHE REGULARLY VOLUNTEERS AT THE ADULT DAY CARE PROGRAM AT EASTER SEALS BY TEACHING “CREATIVE PAINTING.” SHE ART DIRECTED SET PAINTING FOR NUMEROUS THEATER PRODUCTIONS AND LIBRARY MURALS. SHE ALSO DONATES HER TALENT TO ANNIE’S ANGELS MEMORIAL FUND, SEACOAST FAMILY PROMISE, AND VETERANS COUNT. NORMA PROVIDES PRIVATE INSTRUCTION AND HOLDS WORKSHOPS AT HER STUDIO IN NORTH HAMPTON. HER AWARD WINNING WORK HAS BEEN SHOWN IN GALLERIES THROUGHOUT MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE, TENNESSEE, AND MISSOURI, AND PUBLISHED IN A BOSTON PUBLICATION, STUDIO VISIT. SHE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE OIL PAINTERS OF AMERICA AND NATIONAL OIL & ACRYLIC PAINTERS SOCIETY (NOAPS).