Norman Paschall

Member Profile

Most all of the regular Open Arms volunteers know Norm Paschall.  One of our Open Arms members, Norm is present most every Sunday morning.  An artist, Norm openly shares his work with volunteers as he gets to know them.  It is Norm’s friendliness, as well as his talent, that inspired us to begin the Open Arms Member Profile Series.

 

Norm says he has always drawn, and that over the years it has provided stress relief as well as a way for him to pass the time.  Animals are usually his subject.  A regular at the downtown library, he is often inspired by pictures he finds in books there.

 

Many of Norm’s afternoons, weather permitting, are spent outside alongside Bayshore Blvd.  As he sits and sketches under the shade of an adjacent tree near the Davis Island overpass, nearby residents often take notice of his work while walking their dogs.  They stop to chat with him about his artwork, and he tells prospective clients they should bring him a photograph of their animals so that he can create a custom drawing for them.  His usual rate is $20 per picture, and his customers are usually able to collect their finished drawings from Norm within a day or two.

 

Norm finds additional outlets for selling his artwork through those he comes in regular contact with at the downtown parks and surrounding areas.  Jim White, a local photographer and occasional sidewalk vendor (www.OldBaldyPhoto.com), and Norm got to know each other when Norm would stop to visit and admire Jim’s work.  This past spring Jim invited Norm to display his work alongside Jim’s photos in his Tampa Downtown Market vendor’s tent.  Norm has also sold quite a few drawings through Amazing Love, the Monday night ministry that serves dinner on Monday nights in HPUMC’s parking lot.

 

Norm’s goal is to one day see his drawings published in the same sorts of books he uses for inspiration, and he has submitted his artwork to a number of publishers for consideration.

Those interested in finding out more about Norm’s artwork or in commissioning him to create a custom drawing can reach Norm at NormanPaschall@yahoo.com.