{"id":86,"date":"2015-03-12T21:56:10","date_gmt":"2015-03-13T04:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/normamegraphsen.wordpress.com\/?page_id=86"},"modified":"2019-07-11T12:18:26","modified_gmt":"2019-07-11T19:18:26","slug":"artists-statement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=86","title":{"rendered":"Artist&#8217;s Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" data-attachment-id=\"1036\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?attachment_id=1036\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/norma_sue_oneil_author_illustrator_portrait_267_400.jpg?fit=267%2C400&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"267,400\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Norma Sue O\u2019Neil, Author &amp;#038; Illustrator\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Portrait of Norma Sue O\u2019Neil, Author &amp;#038; Illustrator&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Norma Sue O\u2019Neil, Author &amp;#038; Illustrator&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/norma_sue_oneil_author_illustrator_portrait_267_400.jpg?fit=267%2C400&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/norma_sue_oneil_author_illustrator_portrait_267_400.jpg?resize=267%2C400&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Portrait of Norma Sue O\u2019Neil in a turquoise shirt with books in the background\" class=\"wp-image-1036\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/norma_sue_oneil_author_illustrator_portrait_267_400.jpg?w=267&amp;ssl=1 267w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/norma_sue_oneil_author_illustrator_portrait_267_400.jpg?resize=100%2C150&amp;ssl=1 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><figcaption>Norma Sue O\u2019Neil, Author &amp; Illustrator<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Art is creation. The ability to create is one of humankind\u2019s God-given endowments. As His children, we alone among His creations, have the ability to transcend instinct to use imagination and create beautiful things. If cleanliness is next to godliness, then creativity is kin to divinity.<\/p>\n<p>Among all the varied forms of art, the one I am most passionate about is narrative art. Art that tells a story. This passion is perhaps why I also write. I love stories. And so, my art is also the telling of stories.<\/p>\n<p>Each of us has a story, and each story is deeply personal. When I create a work I am attempting to share a part of my imagination with the viewer. It is said that man sees things not as they are, but as he is. Because of these deeply personal views, art becomes highly subjective. This is true of viewing art as much as it is of making art. Often the viewer has their own interpretation of the work which may or may not differ from the creator. This perspective then becomes part of the narrative and the act of creation is shared by both artist and spectator.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creativity is a divine endowment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":102,"parent":5,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/grid-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","without-featured-image"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P6v7yg-1o","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2071,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=2071","url_meta":{"origin":86,"position":0},"title":"Explore Artwork","author":"normasue","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Step into worlds rendered in image. My narrative illustrations bring mythic stories and imaginative visions to life, offering art meant to be lived with, revisited, and reflected upon. Each piece carries a story, a fragment of a world you can enter, linger in, and carry back into your own life.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2068,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/","url_meta":{"origin":86,"position":1},"title":"Welcome!","author":"normasue","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a place for readers and collectors seeking stories that do more than entertain\u2014stories that shape how we see and live in the world. I write mythic fiction and create narrative illustrations, crafting worlds meant to be stepped into and carried back into daily life\u2014worlds shaped by moral imagination,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Website-banner.png?fit=1200%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Website-banner.png?fit=1200%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Website-banner.png?fit=1200%2C300&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Website-banner.png?fit=1200%2C300&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Website-banner.png?fit=1200%2C300&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1395,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1395","url_meta":{"origin":86,"position":2},"title":"Sons of Apollo- Series","author":"normasue","date":"July 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Explore Sons of Apollo, a mythic fiction series by Norma Sue O\u2019Neil, where Greek centaurs face prophecy, battles, and redemption. Heroic stories, epic conflicts, and subtle romance reveal myths from the centaurs\u2019 perspective. Begin with Mate for a Centaur, Book I in the series.","rel":"","context":"In \"centaur\"","block_context":{"text":"centaur","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?tag=centaur"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":245,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=245","url_meta":{"origin":86,"position":3},"title":"Sons of Apollo Series Publication Release","author":"normasue","date":"August 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Sons of Apollo Series is well under way! In 2018 I finished drafting the final novel in my mythological fantasy series, Sons of Apollo. I'm in the final revision stages of the manuscript for book one, Mate For A Centaur.\u00a0Be sure to read an excerpt of book one, Mate For\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Right-On-Target-tinypix.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1755,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1755","url_meta":{"origin":86,"position":4},"title":"Patreon","author":"normasue","date":"September 18, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Join now to receive exclusive mythology themed goodies sent to you directly. I have a range of digital and physical rewards available on Patreon, from coloring pages to art prints, stickers and more. 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