Jim Norton was born in Price, Utah in 1953 where he began a lasting affection with the American West of today. Not only was Jim born with a gift, he was also surrounded by talented relatives. The artists that he grew up with in his family include a grandfather, who Jim watched paint and mix colors beginning at a young age, and two cousins from whom Jim learned the basic art of oil painting.

Growing up around ranchers and ranching helps Jim capture the essence of his works. They are not simply paintings, they tell a story and capture a scene where the viewer actually feels what he/she sees. Jim paints emotions, senses of sight, smell and taste; he is a storyteller on canvas. Earlier this year we had a one man show introducing Jim to the gallery and to our collector's. The collection of works spoke tremendously of what can be expected of Jim Norton. Each work was painted with the story in mind. Strong, precise brushstrokes and pure colors combined with his desire to lead the viewer to a place in time, gives each oil painting a special quality. These are works that relay what the cowboy of today is about.