Many students look back on their college years as fond memories, but few find themselves coming back to find harmony in their lives. Originally a student at the University of Oregon, Norma Driscoll was an anthropology student turned art enthusiast.
Years ago, Driscoll painted the campus with her husband before he passed away late last year. Urged by her son to go back and revisit the same spots, Driscoll has been spending her days this summer painting locations like the Pioneer Statue and Friendly Hall.
“My son thinks I’m pretty good at painting, so he leaves me out here and sets me up. We used to paint here some years back, my husband and I,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll found that most people shy away from dedication to art forms like painting due to the lack of steady funds. However, she reflects back on her life choices positively, appreciating what pursuing the arts has given her.
“The payoff is just a gradual process. So that the years that come at you in my part in life, you’re very glad you did it,” Driscoll said.
She attributes much of her early inspiration as a student to one of her teachers, Jack Wilkinson, who helped her find that art can be more than just a hobby.
As her life progressed after college, she found that many things in life are not eternal, which strengthened her bond to her painting.
Driscoll believes that while the current college generations are intelligent and on their way to achieving their goals, their lives are somewhat watered down by the desire for our society to upgrade when something we own becomes obsolete.
To Driscoll, painting is something that is eternal and can bring harmony to her life.
“People get to middle age now and there’s already a perspective they have, they begin to realize some of the investments they made earlier on aren’t paying off,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll recommends that when we make it past the necessary youthful illusions on life that it’s important to contend with reality, rather than continuing to dream.
“If you really get into art, it doesn’t just disappear and become obsolete. It’s something that’ll carry you through your whole life, and I think that’s a good investment,” Driscoll said.
Many of Driscoll’s paintings can be found here.