Aaron Norris is a brilliant painter who uses his incredible talent to celebrate his favorite football team: the Kansas City Chiefs.
if you are working with kansas city chiefsyou might recognize the name Aaron Norris Or at least his incredible artistic abilities. He is beloved for his paintings of popular Chiefs players or historic moments, and it’s inspiring to see how he translates his fans and his talent into something we can all appreciate.
Aaron isn’t the only one, as we love so many artists associated with the Chiefs. (see our Cynthia Burris’ profile is here.) However, we wanted to learn more about his fans, his art history, and his favorite Chiefs-related drawing moments.
Let’s start with your fans. Wondering what made you a Chiefs fan?
Well, I’m really born with it. The Chiefs have been my team since I was a kid. My mom and dad would go to game day parties and I have so many memories just watching the Chiefs play with all my friends and family, tons of food everywhere, screaming and yelling. We probably watch a game or two a year at Arrowhead and tailgate and feel the roar of the crowd. marvelous. I don’t know if there really is another very similar NFL experience.
What about your artistic side? Are you a very creative child? When did this become a serious pursuit?
Yes, art is really a natural thing for me. I have been drawing and sketching since a very young age. After graduating high school with an art degree, he became a landscape painter. As a landscape painter, I really gritted my teeth and slowly became quite famous in the Midwest. I only got into sports painting after the Royals won the World Series in 2015. I soon started to be inundated with more and more requests for sports art commissions. When Mahomes came along, I painted a few portraits of him. Then, when the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, the floodgates opened, and new clients have flowed since.
When you paint something new, is it sometimes difficult to get it to go to someone else?
I have been lucky in my artistic career so far as most of my paintings are now commissioned. So in that regard, no, there isn’t usually much emotional attachment to the piece. However, depending on the amount of work or subject I put into a painting, there are some that I have some emotional attachment to. I have some pieces that sat in my studio for a while and ended up selling and I’m sad.
Are you surprised by the support or response from fans when things start to look better in sports?
I absolutely underestimated how my paintings would resonate with Kansas City fans and sports fans. I have people from all over the world looking for paintings by Patrick Mahomes. He is indeed a global phenomenon. But I also have old-school Chiefs fans who want more veteran players like Len Dawson and Derrick Thomas.
How do you decide what to do next? Do you have a list of players you would like to draw?
I don’t necessarily have a list, but when I’m not doing commission work, I usually always have some historical greats I’m thinking of trying. Not always a sports figure in Kansas City. Sometimes just inspirational figures throughout American sports history. Muhammad Ali, Joe Montana, Stan Muchar and others.
Do you have a favorite painting so far? If yes, what makes it a favorite?
Yes, my all-time favorite is still my Super Bowl LIV masterpiece. It was big and complicated and took many late nights to complete, and this is the one I am most proud of.
Are there any stores where people can find/buy your work? What is the commission process? How do people follow you on social media?
Probably the easiest way to see my work is on my Instagram page: @aaronnorrisstudio
