Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Bliss.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
For as long as I can remember, I have had a crayon or paintbrush in my hand. Both my mother and grandmother are creative people and that helped to inspire me and shape my desire to develop as an artist. I have never known a time when I wasn’t busy creating something. As Anais Nin said, “…creation is the closest we come to divinity”. And isn’t this so true? Moving into high school, I was encouraged there by my high school art teacher, who entered one of my paintings in a SCAD exhibition for local high schools. When I won a Golden Key Award from SCAD ( WOW! ), I knew for certain this was the path I wanted to follow.
So, I graduated from SCAD with a BFA in painting in 1992. From there, I traveled around the world, moved to Athens, joined a band, quit the band, moved back home to Savannah, traveled around the world some more, ran a business (a frame shop and small art gallery) for twelve years, moved back to Athens, got married, moved to Winterville, had three kids and then finally picked a paintbrush up again in 2011, when my husband, Dodd asked me to illustrate a book he had written! Wow, I didn’t realize it was nearly a twenty-year painting hiatus!
After illustrating If You Were A Jellybean, I painted our family portrait and got hooked on painting people and faces. My desire is to capture what someone is feeling rather than just a smiling happy face. I sometimes get criticized for my people were to “moody” or “unhappy”. It isn’t that they are grumpy or sad, it’s that you have walked in on them in a moment in time where they were deep within themselves. They weren’t expecting you. You are seeing them for who they are, not who they want you to see.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s not always easy juggling work and a household. At times, I feel anxious that I am not being productive enough and that there are not enough hours in a day. But life seems to have a rhythm of swells and seasons balancing all aspects of life.
Cameron Bliss Art – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a painter of people from the inside out. You will usually find my figures just looking up from whatever they were doing when you came across them, suspended at that moment in time. Often they sit in front of a heavily patterned background… could this be the many facets of their lives woven into colors and shapes behind them? I ask you this because I believe art should be interpreted by each individual viewer rather than by the artist. I can tell you all day long what the painting means to me, but isn’t it more fun to know what it means to you? I would love to know! Based on your life experiences, what do you see and feel when you look at one of my paintings? We can talk about it sometime… pensive faces and patterns. This is what I enjoy painting most.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I feel that if I can speak to someone’s soul on a personal level or to help them feel something or even heal a part of themselves that perhaps they were not even aware of, would be a wonderful thing for my art to do as it moves about the world. I imagine most all creators wish this.
It would also be lovely to be able to support our family in painting sales alone!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cameronbliss.com
- Email: cameron@cameronbliss.com
- Instagram: @cameronblissart
- Facebook: CameronBlissArt
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Anne H. Mingledorff
May 1, 2018 at 7:46 pm
I love how Cameron feels about her own art. She has a good concept of what she expects from her viewers. I feel that she doesn’t expect critiquing but enjoys it as a matter of interest.