Norma Jean Rollet was born in Gardner, Massachusetts the third of seven children. She discovered her love of art in the eighth grade and continued with drawing and painting through high school. Norma met two individuals during that time who had a profound influence on her. Kenneth Lovejoy taught oil painting to a small group of mixed-age students one night a week. He taught her to see within a color the combination of hues that define the color. From that understanding came an ability to mix any color desired and opened the world of representational painting to her. Mary Dunn was her high school art teacher and encouraged her to experiment with different mediums. She accepted no less than Norma's best and pushed her to excel.

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          Working as a waitress after school and stitching custom cushions at a local manufacturing company during the summer days, Norma was able to pay her way to attend New England School of Art and Design in Boston Massachusetts majoring in graphic design. Though her dream was to be a fine artist, a steady income in the graphic design profession was more realistic. In 1983 she moved to Vermont to head up the publication’s office of Middlebury College, and in 1985 she married Tim Rollet. Two grown children later and an expanding family, she cherishes visits from her son and daughter, and her grandchildren. Norma has spent over 35 years working in newspaper, manufacturing, and academic venues. She has designed corporate identity programs, numerous publications, and various print and promotional materials. She has also illustrated in pen & ink and watercolors for national publications and corporations. Fine art continued to be her passion.

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         Norma has specialized in oil and soft pastel painting. She studied pastel painting under Robert K. Carsten, master pastelist in the Pastel Society of America, and Sean Dye, award-winning pastel artist, and instructor. Norma is also an avid watercolor artist and has taken classes under Tom Lynch, one of the nation's premier watercolorists. Currently, she is focusing on her writing and illustrating of children's books and is aiming for publication within the fore-see-able future.

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Memberships:

     Pastel Society of America, Signature Member

     International Association of Pastel Societies

     Appalachian Pastel Society

     Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

     Tennessee Art Association

 

Juried Exhibitions:

     2021 Tennessee Art Association Spring Juried Art Show

     2019 The North Carolina Statewide Pastel Juried Exhibition is an annual collaboration of three pastel                      societies: The Appalachian Pastel Society (APS), the Pastel Society of North Carolina 

              (PSNC), and the Piedmont Pastel Society (PPS)

     2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014 Vermont Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibit

     2017, 2015 Pastel Society of New Hampshire National Juried Exhibition

     2016 Adirondack Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibit

     2015 Pastel Society of American "Enduring Brilliance"

     2015 Degas Pastel Society Member's Exhibition

     2015 Pastel Painter Society of Cape Cod "For Pastels Only"

     

Awards:

     2021 Tennesse Art Association Spring Juried Show, Second Place

     2019 The North Carolina Tri-State Pastel Juried Exhibition, Honorable Mention

     2017 Pastel Society of New Hampshire National Juried Exhibition,

              Piscataqua Savings Bank Award

     2016 Vermont Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibit, Honorable Mention

     2015 Pastel Society of New Hampshire National Juried Exhibition, Fuller Foundation Award

     2015 Vermont Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibit, Second Place

     2014 Vermont Pastel Society Annual Juried Exhibit, Third Place