From as far back as I can remem-ber, from when I was a veryyoung boy, I have always loved to

draw and paint and been schooled inthe disciplines of the arts,” says NormCooper.

“I just developed a bad habit alongthe way — I like to eat — and not toomany artists were making a living whenI was younger,” adds Cooper, tongue-in-cheek when explaining how a creative type such as he wound upspending 53 years (and counting) in thepest management business.

Cooper has dabbled in drawing andpainting throughout his illustriouscareer — which includes foundingAbby Exterminating Services, headingExterminating Services Co. (ESCO) for25 years, being selected to Pest Control’sHall of Fame and serving as an industryconsultant specializing in mergers andacquisitions for the past 10 years(normcooper@verizon.net).

In 1991–92, when serving as president of the National Pest ControlAssociation, now called the NationalPest Management Association(NPMA), Cooper designed the organization’s “Guardians of theEnvironment” theme.

Cooper also helped the group createa coloring book for kids that educatedthem (and their parents) on differentpests and how pest management technicians are both professionals and

guardians of our planet’s precious people and natural resources. The coloring book, which contained puzzlesand other games, is being consideredfor recirculation after its first printing ofnearly 500,000 copies, Cooper says.

THIRD LOVECooper says he first met his third love— Chinese art — after being intro-duced to his other main squeezes, hiswife and the pest management business.

The year was 1981 and it markedCooper’s first trip to China. He wouldfall fast and hard for the Orient, traveling to China five more times,Japan five times, Singapore four,Indonesia twice, and India and Taiwan

once each since then.“I was immediately struck by both

the beauty and the uniqueness ofChinese art,” Cooper says. “I remembersaying to myself 25 years ago, ‘Someday, I’d like to do that.’ However it wasn’t until I semi-retired and became apart-time industry consultant in 1996that I had the time to pick up my paintbrush and give Chinese art a try.

“I haven’t looked back since,”Cooper says. “Chinese art had myattention from Day 1 and my heartfrom the moment I began to walk inthe footsteps of other Chinese artistsand accept the hands-on guidance ofgreats like Diana Kan and Jin

Hungry for ArtIndustry consultant Norm Cooper becomes onewith his paint brush, rice paper and Chinese inkBy Marty • Whitford Managing Editor

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www.PestControlMag.com APRIL 2006 PEST CONTROL 79

”Autumn Outside Chengdu,” showcasing the lush fall foliage in a Szechuan village(based on sketches made on site)

continued on next page

“

Guangyu.”Chinese art typically is painted on

silk or rice paper with Chinese ink,which typically is processed dark charcoal containing a binder. The artistgrinds different types and pigments ofcharcoal on a special stone and mixesthem with a little water.

“The Chinese have a Zen-likeapproach to art,” Cooper says. “Before,when creating so-called Western art, Iknew exactly what each brush strokewould look like, and its precise thickness and curve, before I put brushto paper.

“Now, with Chinese art, it’s all abouta coming together,” he adds. “I’m justone piece of the big picture, along withthe paper, charcoal and water. We’re all

major contributors. I painted the samescene five times and it truly looks likefive different Chinese artists createdthem because of all of the variablesinherent in each of the many contributors. Each Chinese artwork istruly unique and breathtakingly beautiful in its own way — just likeeach of us.”

LIMITED EDITIONSIn the summer of 2004, Cooper hosteda backyard party and shared his Chineseartwork with his friends. Two friendswanted to purchases pieces but Coopertold them that’s not why he invitedthem. He just wanted to share withclose ones his passion for Chinese art.

“My two friends said, ‘That’s not

nice: Showing us your work and notletting us purchase it. You’re teasingus,’” Cooper says. “I had never thoughtof it that way.”

As surprises, he later gave his twofriends the Norm Cooper originals theysought.

In 2005, Cooper exhibited his artwork at the Hammond Museum inNorth Salem, N.Y., as part of an exhibition by the Oriental Brush ArtistsGuild (whose executive board he sitson), as well as at the China Instituteand the National Arts Club in New York.

“I showed the maximum piecesallowed at each of those three show-ings,” Cooper says, noting each artworkhad to be selected for the exhibitions.

Hungry for Art from previous page

80 PEST CONTROL APRIL 2006 www.PestControlMag.com

“Early Winter’s Eve Return,” depicting a fisherman’s return to his waterfront village

“I guess I’ve come quite a ways fromwhen I first picked up my brush, ricepaper and charcoal 10 years ago,”Cooper says. “The National Arts Clubtold me they could have sold each ofthe three pieces I showed there at least30 times due to demand, but I wasn’tselling my artwork then.

“That got me thinking about mytwo friends and that maybe I need toshare my artwork with more people,”Cooper adds. “After all, it’s not myartwork; it’s our artwork.”

Cooper has since invested in having

50 limited-edition prints made for each ofhis popular pieces so those interested inhis Chinese artwork can go home happy.

“I now charge just enough to covermy expenses,” Cooper says. “I don’tneed to paint to put food on the table.

“Chinese art has changed my lifeand I want to share that more,” Copperadds. “I want others to fall in love withChinese art just like I have.” PC

Whitford is managing editor of Pest Control. Youcan reach him at 216-706-3766 or e-mail him atmwhitford@questex.com.

www.PestControlMag.com APRIL 2006 PEST CONTROL 81Circle #158

”Summer Idyll,” encompassing recurring themes of classical Chinese art: meditation in atea house, mountains, mist and waterfalls