I recently did a portrait for a friend who's in-laws were celebrating 50 years of married life together.  50 years!  That is nothing to sneeze at, and it certainly is a rarity in this day and age.  My in-laws are celebrating 64 years together this year.  There is something to be said about the traditional values of the past , and shear tenacity, that have helped to bring these two couples through their life long commitment to themselves and their families.

So...below are "The Storms", a mixed media portrait, 16x20. 

Happy Anniversary to them!

Have a great day!

Your friend in art....

Camille

So, you have been commissioned to create a portrait, and you think you have it all under control. No worries whatsoever!  Going to be smooooooooth sailing!  There is definitely a 50/50 chance it can go either way.  If you are lucky....the client will be very cooperative during, and appreciative after.  However, if it goes the other way, well then you could absolutely have a problem.

Let's face it....you know when you are spending your hard earned money on something, you want it to be right.  So does any other customer, and as artists, we try very hard to give the customer what he or she wants.  Even the best well laid plans can develop wrinkles depending on the person with which you are dealing.  Good or bad...as an artist, you will never please everyone all the time.  That is true of most anything. 

How you handle the situation from the beginning will give you greater assurance that a project will move along pleasantly, and with a positive outcome.  It is important to make sure all expectations are not only explained to the client, but that you get a confirmation that the client understands what you have just described for process and payment.  He or she needs to know what you expect of them, and they of you. If they are sitting for a portrait, rather than working from a photo, then you must provide the client with what you need them to do, and for how long, and any other specifics you require.

Now....coincidentally, I found a really great article written by Brian Sherwin who recounts a story about the great surrealist artist, Salvador Dali.  It is really quite humorous from an artist's standpoint and a client's as well.  Take the time to read it.  It isn't long, but it is definitely funny.

Have a great day! 

Your friend in art.....

Camille

How Salvador Dali handled a portrait commission gone wrong

by Brian Sherwin

I was reminded recently about a story involving artist Salvador Dali and power art collector Stavros Niarchos. [...]

Read the rest of this article at:
http://fineartviews.com/blog/39502/how-salvador-dali-handled-a-portrait-commission-gone-wrong

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a free email newsletter about art, marketing, inspiration and fine living for artists,
collectors and galleries (and anyone else who loves art).


For a complimentary subscription, visit: http://www.fineartviews.com

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So...been vicariously kicking around Greece for awhile.  Got side tracked a little bit with some side projects and some travels, but I am back on track now!  Almost done with my "Stonehouse by the Harbor" painting.  This is the first in a series of Greek trios I am creating. 

"Stonehouse by the Harbor" is a two floor, stone home nestled against a backdrop of shrub covered hills in greens and golds and siennas.  It faces the harbor which is a stone's throw away from the arched front porch that greets the sea with that familiar "blue" painted door that adorns so many of the buildings in Santorini. 

On the second floor is an open air terrace, where as I mentioned in my previous blog, is where you can find me sipping on iced ouzo or a glass of fine Greek wine from some of the poplar vineyards of Santorini.  The breeze blows in lazily from across the water, and cools the skin in spite of the hot sun.  On the table before me is my sketch pad where I am already laying out the design for my next painting.  It is difficult not to be inspired by the view from my little perch above the world.  The ebb and flow of the water is making those hypnotic sounds as the waves lap against the shore, and the colorful little vessels that come and go are beckoning me to paint them....and so I must! 

Stay tuned for the finished "Stonehouse by the Harbor" painting, and more about my visit to the boats in the harbor!

Get more info on Santorini at this great little website that covers everything from drinks, night life, daytime fun, beaches, hotels...you name it!  Click here.

Cheers!

Your friend in art...

Camille

"An artist's dream, turned reality on canvas,

is the mind's transportation device to anywhere it wants to go."

~ Camille Roman

Hello, art friends!

I am happy to say that you can see my "Down by the River" painting in the the December issue of the Nashville Arts magazine!

Take a look at page 88, and you will see my painting, along with paintings of two other featured artists from the Merging of the Arts Fine Art Gallery & Studio which is located in Franklin, TN.

Cheers!

Your friend in art....

Camille

Took a break from my vicarious painting trip through Europe to visit a wonderful artist who lives in Glendale, CA. (Not to mention, but the weather here in Cali is sooooo much nicer than at home right now from what I hear!  Ah, but it is back to reality tomorrow!)  

So who is this artist I am speaking of?  Her name is Pomm, and if you haven't seen her work you should check out her website.  http://www.pommfineart.com/

I was fortunate enough to have attended a lecture she gave last year in Nashville, TN, and the meeting was inspiring enough to give me the push I needed to get my art career in high gear.

She is an internationally known artist who not only creates beautiful watercolor paintings of Europe, and figurative works in oil, but travels all over to help other artists with their careers and teaches others the importance of art.

Pomm was very gracious, as was her assistant Gail, to spend a great deal of time with me discussing her paintings.  I have seen them online, but it was such a pleasure to see them in person because although they look beautiful on screen, seeing them in real life makes you admire them even  more.

Looking forward to getting back home to finish my paintings of Santorini (however, I will miss the good weather!). 

I will say though that I just fell in love with the homes in the Glendale area.  Doesn't matter necessarily the size of the house...weather large or small, there are some really great pieces of architecture in the area, and the creative landscaping they have just caught my eye.  Yes....I went around taking snapshots so I can paint a series of them!  Of course...they will have to wait until I complete my European painting tour and my North Woods painting tour, but they will make a wonderful series in the near future.

So much to do...so little time!

Cheers until later!

Your friend in art.....

Camille

Well, my friends...I am continuing my vicarious journey through Europe.  Currently, I am in Santorini, Greece painting a lovely gray, stone front home with large doors that are painted in that shade of blue that is so much a part of the Santorini cityscape.  The home sits amidst a hillside backdrop, and is a stone's throw from the harbor. 

I can imagine sitting on the second floor terrace, and kicking back with a glass of wine or sipping on a glass of iced Ouzo.  A gentle breeze blows softly in from the harbor as I watch the little fishing boats come in with their treasured catches from the ocean, and go back out to look for more to add to their day.  I close my eyes and can hear the waves as they lap against the shore.  Don't you want to come with me???

Let me take you there!  Stay tuned for my finished painting!

So, I just finished a new batch of t-shirts.  More panthers, but different!

Check them out!

Contact me at artworkbycamille@comcast.net for custom t-shirts, hats, bags, etc!  Love working with corporate functions, religious or sporting events, charities. 

Camille's  art is protected by US copyright law and reproduction, in any form, must have her expressed written consent.

Recently I airbrushed some t-shirts for one of the Palatine Panthers cheer teams. (Thanks, Laurie!)

Below are some photos of front and back.  Also...the whole squad posed for a pic in their new t-shirts!  A sea of pink panthers!  "Panthers in the houuuuuuse!" 

I enjoy doing corporate venues, sports events, religious functions, girl scout/boy scout functions or one off custom shirts/bags/hats, etc..  If you would like to place an order....contact me at artworkbycamille.com, and I will be happy to create something for you!

Look for updates on more projects coming soon!

Have a great day!

Camille's  art is protected by US copyright law and reproduction, in any form, must have her expressed written consent.

As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs...I am able to live viacariously through some of my friend's vacations this past summer because they have provided me with fabulous photos begging me to be inspired by them. 

I had stated awhile back, that I was going to start with my friend Judy's stay in Santorini, however, I was sucked in by her photos from Monaco first.  The colors were so fabulous that I couldn't help but put some ideas on canvas.  Not to mention she has a really great eye, and purposely sought out images that provided me with that 'skewed' view of a cityscape or landscape that I so like to capture in my paintings.  Why she doesn't get into photography is a mystery to me. 

So....here are a few of my latest paintings.....in color!  Imagine that?  After all of this time I have spent painting in black and white...I had a great time working in color again!

Hope you like them!  Keep an eye out for more coming out soon!

AVENUE PRINCESS ALICE

12x12 Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

(inspired by original photo by Judy Tobias. Used with permission from Judy Tobias.)

CASTLE WALKWAY

12x12 Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

(inspired by original photo by Judy Tobias. Used with permission from Judy Tobias.)

THE HARBOR

12x12 Acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

(inspired by original photo by Judy Tobias. Used with permission from Judy Tobias.)

Camille's  art is protected by US copyright law and reproduction, in any form, must have her expressed written consent.

Ok...so as you may have noticed from previous blogs...I love sunrises and sunsets.  I just cannot get over the colors that nature so masterfully paints across the sky, on the water, in a forest....you get the gist.

I always paint from life or a photo that I have taken myself, or get inspiration from photos that my friends or family so graciously let me use for my work.  Speaking of photos from friends...my friends Judy and Laurie gave me some great photos from their vacations, and they have given me permission to use them for inspiration.  Keep an eye out for a couple of new series of paintings I am working on...."Santorini Blues" and "Evening Sunsets of the North Woods".

Today, however, I am sharing with you some recent sunrise pictures.  Hope you like them! 

Have a great day!

Camille

Been to the "Bean" lately?  You know....the big, silver bean sculpture in Millenium Park in downtown Chicago? Actually, it is named "Cloud Gate" and was created by world-renowned artist Anish Kapoor, but we Chicagoans like to have our nicknames for things...so..."The Bean" it is!

A couple of weeks ago I was on vacation, and for the first time, in a long time, we decided to stay home and do day trips around the area.  We took the train downtown (and I swear...I am going to paint a series of paintings about people on the train!  You just never know what will happen sometimes!  Talk about people watching! What characters!).  We arrived and I noticed I was seeing things just a bit differently on my "vacation", than when I rode the bus everyday for years down to the Sears Tower, I mean Willis Tower. (See what I mean?  I think that tower will always be called "Sears" tower by anyone who has lived here forever!)

I have always loved the architecture of the city. Such intricate designs edge the doorways and facings on so many of the old buidings, and then you have the new, contemporary styles.  I was like a regular tourist that day, snapping shots here and there.  Standing in the street to get just the right angles.  I did, however, refrain from laying down on the ground to get the best shot of the Willis tower, though I was pretty close to it!  The sky was such a beautiful blue, and the clouds were like fluffy marshmallows so it made for a gorgeous backdrop.  It was a great day for taking pictures of our little visit.

Well...we enjoyed our day there, and I am sharing with you some of my photos and paintings that were inspired by them.

Chicago has many sites and goings on to enjoy.  Here is a great link for artists and art lovers who want to see the "artsy" side of Chicago!  It is for The Chicago Gallery News ....check it out!

Inside the bean!

REFLECTIONS FROM THE BEAN, 10"W x 8"H

Acrylic on canvas

City View Through the Trees, 12"W x 12"H

Acrylic on canvas

Have a great day!

If you have ever been to Chicago, I don't think you can leave without having an appreciation for the beautiful skyline running along lake Michigan.  There is so much activity, especially in the summer...from dots of saliboats on the lake, bikers and joggers running along the shoreline, and not to mention...the architecture!

There is such of melting pot of people, places and history running through the veins of this city, and you can't possibly see it all in one stay.

I love visiting the lakefront, and this is what inspired one of my latest paintings (Chicagoland), shown below.  Whenever I travel, I am always interested in the architecture of the city, and the "feel" of the people who live in it.  You can see more new cityscapes by clicking my homepage link and looking under my "Fresh from the Easel" section.  Take a look at all my various pieces of work by clicing on the Gallery link on the homepage.

Looks like a nice week for sight seeing!  See what is happening in Chicago today! Check out The Chicago Traveler.

Cheers,

Camille

I will tell you....it has been incredibly hot and humid these last few days. However....I was lucky enough again to wake up to a gorgeous sunrise.  Nature's paintbrush is truly remarkable, isn't it?

I couldn't see a thing out of any of my windows because they were all fogged up, but when I stepped outside...there it was...the sun was bursting over the mist and trees. 

Just wanted to share this with you hoping it will inspire a great start to a new day!  Perhaps even inspire a new painting or drawing, or if you are skilled with a pen...maybe a poem or story.  Whatever the case, who can resist a beautiful sunrise? 

Have a great day!

Camille

As an artist....I have learned both the hard way, and from watching and listening to others who have paved the way, that though art is a passion...you must be displined to constantly hone your skills. You have to strive to make your way to your goals.  It just doesn't "happen" to you. You must be vigilant in your pursuit of your dream. 

Make a list of goals that you need to achieve in order to reach your main goal, and work your way upward.  It is a lot of work, but it is all worth it to make your dream come true!  Once I made my mind up that I was ready to make a go of it....I have just kept plowing forward.  I planted seeds in a variety of circles, kept track of them, nurtured them and before I knew it....opportunities have started to sprout. 

There is an artist that that I follow who I find so intriguing because she has made her passion her work and her work her passion.  She also takes time to inspire other artists, and to encourage others to see that art is important and that is helps to shape the world.  That artist is Pomm, and she is a watercolorist and oil painter from California.  You may find her latest blog interesting....I did. 

Check it out at http://pommfineart.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/stay-on-purpose/

Cheers!

Your friend in art!

Camille

I woke up this morning to the most beautiful sunrise.  As I stood looking out of my second floor window, I was struck by the ripples of pink, orange and purple streaking across the sky.  Far in the distance, a hint of yellow glow underneath the clouds soon became a burst of sunshine...coloring the morning with streams of gold and amber and orange.  The rays found their way through the silhouettes of the trees like warm flames from a burning fire. The morning had come to greet me, and I was a willing witness to it.

How those colors effected me as I watched from my window, and I thought to myself....this....views like this are what inspire me to paint every day.  I am always in awe of the way our world displays such beauty, and if we are lucky....we catch a glimpse of it, appreciate it and record it in our minds. 

As an artist....I work to bring that kind of moment to the canvas so that I can share that miracle with others.  My hope is to make the viewer feel the emotion I am trying to convey with the light or the colors on the canvas.  Whether it is a play of black and white to create dramatic moonlit scenes, or the infusion of bright colors to capture the warmth of the sun, I want to "move" the viewer, make he or she a participant in the painting.  Make them feel as though they are part of it.  To be a transporter of emotions.  This is why I paint, and that is why I will continue as long as I can hold a brush to the canvas.

Here's to inspiration, and may you always be inspired!

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• "The Storms"...a portrait celebrating 50 Years of life together
• Portraits Gone Wilder!
• European Trip Continues....
• See my artwork in Nashville Arts Magazine!
• Hello from Glendale, CA!
• Continuing my art pilgrimage to Greece!!!
• "Here a claw, there a claw....
• Pink Panthers Everywhere!
• A trip through Monaco
• I Wanna Walk on the Sunshine!

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