About the Artist
Bio
Arthur Norcome is a California-based painter, who creates abstract watercolor paintings.
His work is an investigation of control vs chaos by using blocks of color and bold strokes to add structure and stability to the mediums' desire to run free. His work also explores watercolors' natural luminosity.
He earned his BFA in illustration from the California College of Arts and Crafts
and his years of illustrations and logo design are a prominent influence on how he uses shapes, colors, and lines within his work.
He has recurring yearly shows with the Art of the African Diaspora and the Invisible Atelier and is regularly shown in other venues within the San Francisco bay area.
Artist Statement
I work with watercolor because of its natural desire to do unpredictable things. My abstract paintings are attempts at capturing emotions that come from unexpected places.
Almost every day I create a sketch that is a snapshot of where my brain is that day -- a visual journal of my mindscape. Recently I began keeping notes about every sketch so I don’t forget the essential details. I regularly review my sketchbook for motifs that are both beautiful and have a com- pelling reason to exist.
Using the sketch as a road map, before painting I decide where to preserve the whites of the paper with liquid frisket. This is probably the most conse- quential part of my process because once I start painting I don’t add more white.
With the major landmarks laid in, I get to take a journey where I some- times put my captain's hat on and steer the ship towards the original sketch, and other times I’m just a passenger enjoying the ride as I let the painting tell me where it wants to go. At its core, the journey of my abstract paintings is a journey to understand how I fit within this world.
CV
Education:
California College Of Arts And Crafts B.F.A Illustration 2005
Group Exhibitions:
2025 - Art in the Park, Livermore, CA. USA. 2025 - Artworks Downtown Red, Blue, Yellow group show, San Rafael, CA. USA. 2025 - NIAD group show Oakland, CA. USA. 2025 - Studio Grand group show Oakland, CA. USA. 2025 - Livermore Library group show, Livermore, CA. USA. 2025 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of the African Diaspora” Richmond, CA. USA. 2024 - Artworks Downtown Members Group show, San Rafael, CA. USA. 2024 - Gray Loft Gallery group show, Oakland CA. USA. 2024 - North Berkeley Wealth Management, “Bearing Witness” Berkeley, CA. USA. 2024 - Livermore Library group show, Livermore, CA. USA. 2024 - 2 person show at El SOl restaurant, Point Richmond, CA. USA. 2024 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of the African Diaspora” Richmond, CA. USA. 2023 - Livermore Art Walk, Livermore, CA. USA. 2023 - Art in the Park, Livermore, CA. USA. 2023- Gray Loft Gallery group show, Oakland CA. USA. 2023 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of the African Diaspora” Richmond, CA. USA.
2022 - Frame Art Studio group show, San Francisco, CA. USA.
2022 - SOMArts Cultural Center. San Francisco Art Span Group show. San Francisco, CA. USA.
2022 - Slate Gallery group show, Oakland CA. USA.
2022 - Gray Loft Gallery group show, Oakland CA. USA.
2022 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of the African Diaspora” Richmond, CA. USA.
2020 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of the African Diaspora” Richmond, CA. USA.
2020 - Hangar Collective, “Aesthetic Processes” Oakland, CA. USA.
2019 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of Living Black” Richmond, CA. USA.
2019 - Warehouse 416, “Homage” Oakland, CA. USA.
2017 - Creative Framing & Gallery “Small Work Show” Oakland, CA. USA
2017 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of Living Black” Richmond, CA. USA.
2017 - Warehouse 416, “Invisible Atelier Contemporary Fine Art” Oakland, CA. USA.
2016 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of Living Black” Richmond, CA. USA.
2016 - Warehouse 416, “Invisible Men” Oakland, CA. USA.
2015 - Richmond Art Center, “The Art of Living Black” Richmond, CA. USA.
2015 - Jingletown Studio “Untitled” Oakland, CA. USA.
Public Collections:
“I Can’t Breathe” Brooklyn Library. Brooklyn, NY. USA. Donated 2020
Member of the Following Organizations:
Boar member Art of Point Richmond. 2024 Artworks Downtown San Rafael. 2024 Livermore Art Association. 2023 California Watercolor Association. 2021 San Francisco Artspan. 2016 Invisible Atelier, Founding Member 2014
Arthur Norcome
2547 8th street. studio 36. Berkeley California
