NORMA DEBAKER
P.O. Box 985, Susanville, Ca. 96130
(530) 253-3681
debakernorma@yahoo.com
Norma came to Susanville California from Alaska in 1990 where she and her family built their home in Janesville’s Elysian Valley. She has been in the Arts for over 33 years and continues to create and specialize in Ceramics and Fuse Glass in Lassen.
Her love of art began as a young child when she drew Disney characters, entered and won art competitions. Encouraged by her mother she continued to pursue her love of the arts. She majored in the field of Commercial, Medical, and Fine Arts at San Antonio Art Institute and La Villita School of Art in San Antonio, Texas. While studying at the Art Institutes she taught art to children and adults with developmental disabilities and physically challenged. Upon moving to California s Norma began her professional career in the field of art as an Illustrator with General Electric in their Nuclear Energy Division.
In Alaska during the pipeline years she continued her work as an Illustrator in Public Affairs with the U. S. Dept. of Interior. In addition to her fulltime job she worked as a freelance Commercial/Graphics artist under her business name Normagraphics, specializing in murals, brochures, displays, technical/commercial art and illustrations of children’s books on native cultures, and instructed children and adult in Art.
While in Lassen County she continued her pursue of the Arts and attended Lassen Community College. Her studies included Ceramics with Debbie Anderson, Adriana Walker, instructor of Glass Design and Edith Schwiarin, Jewelry Design. Norma stated that in addition, local potter Isabel Perez-Judge and metal sculptor Theodore Judge, influenced her greatly in the field of ceramics and sculptures. Norma’s art in multi-cultured hand sculptures masks and ceramic figurines, sterling silver wrapped dichroic fused glass jewelry and fused glass art are well known in the local community.
Lassen County accomplishments are the Westwood Agriculture Display, Lassen Capitol Display in Sacramento and Sacramento State Fair Display. In 2006, she was recognized and published in the Delphi 2006-2007 National Supply Catalog for her “Geisha” created with fused glass. Translated and designed publications for the Department of Health and Human Services and designs for other local businesses.
Norma recently retired as a Consultant/Bilingual Interpreter in the Spanish language and continues to market her Ceramics/Dichroic Fused Glass Designs business along with her sister Rachel at Artisan Coffee in Janesville and Salon One, Home Shows and local craft fairs.
Coons
Earrings
