Nora Camps is a Northumberland County, Ontario-based contemporary abstract artist and storyteller who describes herself as “a conduit for ideas and stories usually told through her paintings.” Her paintings radiate colour and light in organic, expressive works that invite the viewer to feel the piece and create their own story about what they see.

Working with acrylic on canvas and encaustic on board,* she asks the viewer to look at paintings in a different way: to set aside logic and feel the emotions the work evokes. Her paintings are inspired by her unique perspectives of both perception and the world – and challenge us to see with our feelings.

Nora Camps on her creative process

“I sit with a feeling. I give that feeling time and space in my mind and in my body. Perhaps I am thinking about something I’ve read, something I’ve heard, something I’ve experienced in the past, or yesterday… or even how I felt when I read the news. I feel it all the way through. I ruminate on it. I ask myself how it makes me feel, what colour is it and what shape and texture might it be? Also, I think about what this feeling/story/event means in the larger picture of my life or even for life on earth, on being human? Without being focused on what my painting is looking like, I focus instead on what it feels like.”

– Nora Camps

An artist who enjoys exhibiting her work, Nora Camps sees sharing her work as an opportunity to begin an unfolding conversation

“about time, space, opportunity, experience, want and need… Through her paintings, Nora aims to stir emotions and to open her mind, heart, world — to share what’s there.”

(Photo credits: Nora Camps)

What we like about this visual artist

We love how Nora Camps’ work draws the viewer in with bold colours and dynamic brush strokes, compelling us to experience the painting in a way that sets us off on our own storytelling journey. In sharing her inspiration and perspectives, opening her heart and mind on canvas, she shares herself with the viewer and offers an opportunity to see things in a new way. To see with our feelings – and start having conversations about what we’re feeling, what we need and what we desire.

Her work challenges us to delve deeper into our response to the art – and maybe even get to know ourselves a little better in the process. (Written by C.M.)

Accessibility information: Please refer to the exhibition venue where her work is shown.

Ideas for where you can go from here:

• See Nora Camps’ paintings. “Forest Talk 2” and “Small Study 6” are a couple of Cate’s favourites. Elena particularly likes “Forevermore”.
• Check out her upcoming exhibitions and plan on attending if you’re able to do so.
• The next time you’re looking at a painting, look beyond any academic, historical or technical aspects and consider how it makes you feel. You may be surprised at what you discover.
• Start having conversations within your social circle about how specific works of art make you feel.

We love visual artists because they inspire you to look at things in a different way. Looking at things in a different way allows you to open your mind to other possibilities. Opening your mind to other possibilities is part of the flourishing offline life Young W helps you discover: by exploring ART and the other 8 pillars of Arts & Letters, including those you may be hesitant to try.

* Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, is a form of painting that involves adding wax to coloured pigments. (source: Wikipedia)

Broken or out-of-date link? Let us know and we’ll fix it. Thanks for helping us keep the information on Young W up to date.