Echos of Laughter

An exhibition of cloudscapes by Julia Norton and fundraiser for Giant Steps School

In her latest series Echos of Laughter, Julia explores the complex emotional landscape of mothering her children into adulthood particularly her significantly autistic son. The passing of clouds serve as a powerful metaphor for this transition of dependence to independence. The clouds represent the uncertainty and unpredictability of this transition; they shift and change reflecting feelings of joy, nostalgia, fear, and hope that accompany this letting go. Each cloud captures a moment of introspection, a memory suspended in the air, illustrating the duality of beauty and pain as children grow.

Julia begins by chaotically dripping, scribbling and scrubbing the paint before adding many layers to veil the brooding sky beneath, as we do in real life. The soft, billowing forms evoke a sense of comfort and safety, reminiscent of the nurturing embrace of a parent. Yet, these same clouds can also present a darker, more turbulent side—suggesting the weight of sadness and uncertainty that often accompanies a departure.

This depicts the skyscape as not a 'place' but a landscape of the soul. The result pulls the viewer in to reflect on their own experiences of love, separation, and the ever-changing seasons of life. Half of the proceeds of this exhibition will go to support Giant Steps School where Julia’s son, now almost 18, flourishes with individualised attention. When Julia is not painting, or advocating for, or looking after Jack and her two vivacious daughters, she fund-raises for Giant Steps.

Image: Julia Norton, 'Wish you were here', oil on canvas