I was fortunate enough to do another anniversary portrait for the parents of a dear friend.  She wanted to capture the way they were and the present all in one.  She had some great pictures, and with me loving the drama of old black and white photos and movies, I was excited to do it.

So below is the portrait of two people married 43 years, and are still going despite the ups and downs that life brings.  Happy Anniversary!

Have a great day!

Your friend in art...

Camille

For those of you creative people out there.....

Did you ever have something conjured up in your mind, and you were just driven to bring it to life on canvas or sculpture, or whatever medium you work in?  Only to find that your hands just don't want to cooperate?  No matter what you do...you just can't get it to translate?  It is extremely frustrating, that's for sure, because you are compelled to do it.  Sometimes you feel like you want to scrap it all, and then you put it aside, but in the back of your mind it is nagging at you to be put on the front burner again.  Your dream wants to come out and be known to the world.

Well, you aren't alone....it happens to everyone at some point.  The trick is how to get past it.  I have found, in my own work, that some of the paintings that cause me the most problems are usually the ones that other people like.  It baffles me because I haven't always quite replicated what I envisioned, but yet...somehow the painting gets the attention I wanted without reaching my idea of perfection! That old saying that "art is in the eye of the beholder" is true.  Art is very personal.  It is very subjective. The popularity can be fleeting.  Let's face it...there are thousands of artists out there, and there even more viewpoints on a given work or style.  In the end, an artist has to do what makes he or she happy because they are creating from within.  We create because we must, and we hope that others will like what we have to offer because we are giving a piece of ourselves to the world.  It is like baring your soul, and that takes guts.

So how does an artist get past being stuck, stiffled, blocked?  Well, there are several things that can be done....

1. Put it away. Start another piece, and let the first one simmer for awhile.  Sometimes you need to get involved with something else to gain clarity for your original project.

2. Get away from your studio for a bit. Take a walk. Go see a movie. Go listen to some music....maybe a live band! Go to an art exhibit and become inspired by your peers.  Being in a new environment, and relaxing your mind with alternative stimulus could be just what the doctor ordered!  You might see something or someone on your walk that will make the light bulb go on!  You might see a beautiful backdrop, or array of colors in a movie that snap your mind back onto track!  Closing your eyes and listening to a particular instrument in a melody or the words in a song could transport you to just where you need to go to draw inspiration!  Then go back and have at it! 

3. START OVER!  OK...so you might be so absolutely disappointed in what you are doing that you simply just have to paint over what you have done.  I know....it is sometimes difficult to do, especially if you are working in a restricted timeframe.  HOWEVER, sometimes working under pressure puts your brain into high gear, and with the problem removed...you can think much more clearly.  You might turn out a masterpiece!

There are some pieces you will never get off the ground, but the trick is....keep going!  Keep creating even if it is a little each day.  It is ok to scrap something that isn't working.  That is how we learn, but you have to keep going!  We all have something to offer, and you can't do it if you stop!

Happy creating!

Your friend in art....

Camille

I had an idea for a painting that I had tucked safely into my memory bank some time ago which was inspired by a movie about a great and famous artist, Pollack. About two weeks ago I was sitting in a restaurant where they were playing the oldies of the 50's and 60's.  The song, "Two Silhouettes on the Shade" (Made in 1957 and sung by The Rays) came across the loudspeaker, and like a spark....I remembered my long lost painting idea!

Click on the link above, listen to the song and just picture it.....On the inside....two lovers in the throws of passion.  On the outside....a jilted boyfriend seeing the two of them together.  I'm always talking about the emotion put into a painting so it can tranfer to the viewer.  Well....that sure stirs up some emotion, doesn't it?  I started thinking of a myriad of silhouette scenarios, and the range of emotions a viewer would display based on the subject, and well.....like a spreading fire, I have been working on a series of paintings, "The Silhouette Series", and I am very excited to share some of these with you!

In addition....I have been working with acrylic all along, but texture has found its way into my work, and I can't let go of it.  I want to touch as many of the senses as I can to create a bond with you, the viewer, the art lover.  All of the new works have some kind of tactile addition to it, and I am just loving how they add to the feeling of the paintings.  You can "feel" the wood work, the table, the picture frame.  All of this adds dimension, literally and figuratively to the painting.

Here is a peek at one of the paintings:

"A Kiss in the Shadows", Acrylic mixed media on 11x14 Canvas

Amongst the dimly lit hallway, two lovers kiss for the first time. The glow from the small lamp paints the room with romance. It spills quietly, seductively, into the hallway as if the passion could not contain itself.

Keep an eye out for more from this series.  This story and others continue!

Have a great day!

Your friend in art....

Camille

I have always loved walking through galleries, viewing the paintings by various painters who paint in varying genres, and what comes through to me is how a painting makes me feel.

If standing in front of an abstract painting, I may not see exactly what that painting is depicting, but I can tell you that if there is a striking red color, it will make me feel lively, energetic or maybe even passionate.  If that painting has cool, Mediterranean blues and greens....my feeling will be relaxed, dreamy, calm.  So much can happen in one's mind from just viewing a color.

The portrait of a woman staring whistfully at a flower she is holding in her hand, shows just a hint of expression on her face as she peers through the soft strands of hair that fall over it...can invoke a sentinment in the viewer.  Without even knowing the title of the painting, your mind automatically begins to put together pieces of a puzzle, concocting a story behind it.  Why?  Because something has tugged on your heart strings, and you can feel a sensation in the pit of your stomach or in your heart.  What is it that she is feeling? 

That brings me to my question....is art created by emotion or is the emotion created by the art?  My answer is both.  As an artist, I am driven to create.  I create based on my emotion and my ultimate goal is to transfer that emotion to the viewer.  Truthfully, an artist has more power than many would think.  No matter what is going on in someone's life, all one needs to do is listen to a song, or watch a great movie, OR see a beautiful painting filled with lively colors and shapes and flow.  The more senses that are touched, the more a feeling can be transferred. Art transports you to that happy place even if you are feeling down.  It can inspire you to feel passionate when you have been just going through the motions. 

There are so many beautiful pieces of art out there that can bring life and emotion and inspiration to you.  Check out a gallery this weekend.  I promise it will not be time wasted.  Bring with you an open mind and let yourself be transported!  Enjoy!

Your friend in art....

Camille

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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This excerpt appears courtesy of FineArtViews Art Marketing Newsletter by FASO,
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!

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• The Past and the Present....
• What Dreams May Come....or not!
• Silhouettes
• Which comes first....the Emotion or The Art?
• "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!!!

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