In Memory of Norman Paschall

Most all of the regular Open Arms volunteers knew Norm Paschall. During the years that Norm attended Open Arms, he was present most every Sunday morning. An artist, Norm openly shared his work with volunteers once he got to know them. It was Norm’s friendliness, as well as his talent, that inspired us to begin the Open Arms Member Profile Series.

In an August 2009 interview, Norm said he had always drawn, and that over the years it had provided stress relief as well as a way for him to pass the time. Animals were usually his subject. A regular at the downtown library, he was often inspired by pictures he found in books there.

Many of Norm’s afternoons, weather permitting, were spent outside alongside Bayshore Blvd. As he sat and sketched under the shade of an adjacent tree near the Davis Island overpass, nearby residents would often take notice of his work while walking their dogs. They stopped to chat with him about his artwork, and he would tell prospective clients they should bring him a photograph of their animals so that he could create a custom drawing for them. His usual rate was $20 per picture, and his customers were usually able to collect their finished drawings from Norm within a day or two.

Norm found additional outlets for selling his artwork through those he came in regular contact with at the downtown parks and surrounding areas. Jim White, a local photographer and occasional sidewalk vendor (www.OldBaldyPhoto.com), and Norm got to know each other when Norm would stop to visit and admire Jim’s work. In the spring of 2009 Jim invited Norm to display his work alongside Jim’s photos in his Tampa Downtown Market vendor’s tent. Norm also sold quite a few drawings through Amazing Love, the Monday night ministry that up until April served dinner on Monday nights in HPUMC’s parking lot.

Norm’s goal was to one day see his drawings published in the same sorts of books he used for inspiration, and he submitted his artwork to a number of publishers for consideration.

Norman Paschall passed away on Christmas Eve 2009. At his memorial service  his friend, Jim White, recalled how Norm taught him that, even if you are homeless, beauty is all around us if we only look for it. 

While we miss our friend terribly we are grateful to have known him, and we will never forget him.