Holiday Reception

November 30, 2012

It was raining cats and dogs last night but our Holiday Reception at the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery was packed as usual! Sales were brisk and I was happy to meet with friends and clients (old and new). Whether people came out for the art or the champagne and pepper jack persimmon slices, everyone enjoyed themselves including this cutie pie, Buddy.

Holiday Reception, artist David Stonesifer LGMG 2012

Buddy eyeing an hors d’oeuvres at the Holiday Reception with artist David Stonesifer (middle) and volunteer bar tender Dan Turkus.

Holiday Reception, Marie Cameron with collectors David and Carol Ann Graves LGMG 2012

In the fine company of collectors David and Carol Ann Graves.

Happy hubbub at the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery. My Shell Grave in the background.

Holiday Reception Jeanettte Turkus, Pam Murphy 2012

Artist Jeanette Turkus (left) in front of her painting Sun Rays with Pam Murphy of Los Gatos Plein Air (right).

Artists chatting over hors d’oeuvres.

Sculpture by Fabienne Bismuth

Artist Deborah Matlack checking out the Christmas tree.

Holiday Reception LGMG 2012- Diana Leone

Artist Diana Leone sharing her work. with gallery goers.

Holiday Reception Tonight!

November 29, 2012

Art Tree at the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery 2012

Looking forward to the Holiday Reception Tonight from 6-8:30 ! I have my Shell Grave painting on display (which takes up a lot of real estate on it’s own) while I’m busy in my studio preparing work to be featured in the gallery this January as Featured Artist. Tonight the tree will be laden with paintings and there will be oodles of member artists, drinks and hors d’oeuvres in every hand. It’s a free, fun, public event.

Cheers!

Art Tree

November 28, 2012

Palm tree on the art tree at the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery

Tomorrow night’s our Holiday Reception at the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery from 6 – 8:30. Along with the festive refreshments, and our 60 member artists, there’s an art tree loaded with $100 paintings like this sweet palm tree oil painting by Diana Leone entitled, My Harbor. Stocking Stuffers anyone?

Cherry Blossom Joins Sisters

November 27, 2012

There was a cherry blossom reunion today when Mauve Shadow joined her sister paintings Pearl and Pink & Lavender Shadow. Actually, I’m honored to say this special collector has six of my paintings, which delights me to no end!

Cherry Blossom Mauve Shadow oil on canvas by Marie Cameron 2012

Inner Wonder Woman

November 27, 2012

Vintage Shell Lady Secret Wonder Woman Wannabe photo Marie Cameorn 2012

Vintage shell lady is a secret Wonder Woman wannabe! Photo Marie Cameron 2012.

I guess I have a thing for Wonder Woman too. I had taken a photograph of this street art image of her in San Francisco in the late 90s and had cropped it down to the minimal essentials of the portrait, the eyes and the crown – stopping just before it would have crossed over to abstraction. It’s a tiny image in a small frame and I think it has some of the same qualities of a reliquary, something you might meditate on to remind you of a higher power. In the face of all I need to do in a day (today it was crawling about the roof cleaning out the rain gutters before the storm and getting off an international painting shipment) I feel the need to tap into my inner Wonder Woman. I’ll take a pass on the metal bra but I sure could use the magic lasso and, what to you know, I’m already wearing the red boots!

Wonder Woman Cropped Street Art - photo MarieCameron 2012

Wonder Woman street art as religious reliquary. Photo Marie Cameron 2012.

Abalone and Float

November 15, 2012

Abalone and Float found a new home today!

It was lovely meeting Kristen and Isabella as they came to my studio to pick up the painting, I really enjoy getting a sense of who my clients are and how they relate to the art. I hope they also enjoyed getting to know me in the context of my studio and how I work. We spoke of my motivation in painting abalone, which beyond trying to capture their iridescence and texture, is a love of the marine environment and a commentary on its over harvesting. Kristen knew abalone from growing up in the Bay Area, San Francisco and Santa Cruz. “I even know the smell of it” she pointed out, the comment poignantly underlying her intimacy with abalone and how evocative it is for her. Abalone symbolizes place for her, a piece of California she can take with her any where in the world.

Abalone and Float oil on canvas by Marie Cameron 2008.

Mug Shots

November 14, 2012

I was recently asked to help a friend with some mug shots. No, she was not arrested. She was asked by Good Housekeeping to provide some photographs of her beloved Wonder Woman mug and I happened to be around with my camera.

When asked by Gretchen what makes her happy, Nilofer shared that drinking coffee from her Wonder Woman mug that was given to her as a gift by her step daughter had turned into a real source of pleasure.

An innovator in business thinking in the new social network climate, Nilofer Merchant has authored The New How, #SocialEra and Yes & Know. As a writer, corporate director and speaker, she is a dynamic person – a real wonder woman! No wonder Gretchen Rubin, author of the Happiness Project wanted to talk with her, to provide some insight into where this Silicon Valley mover and shaker finds her happiness! In the interview, http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2010/01/wonder-woman-rumi-and-erin- Nilofer had mentioned this mug. Good Housekeeping needed some pics for their January issue, so, I got to work with my camera. I bet it has something to do with New Year’s resolutions – don’t we all long to tap into that inner Wonder Woman (or Superman)!

Wonder Woman Mug Transformation photo Marie Cameron 2012

I love the transformation of business woman to Wonder Woman on Nilofer’s Mug!

Shiny Wonder Woman Mug photo Marie Cameron 2012

Maybe we are what we drink from – it worked for Nilofer Merchant!

I thought about what mug I like to drink from in my daily ritual and what it means to me. My favorite cup (part of a pair – one green, one blue but I exclusively use the green one) was a given to me as a wedding present by a dear friend from art school. The cup is lined with polka dots and covered with playful naked people cavorting about and was made by a potter in Scotland. I find it beautiful, arty and celebratory and I love how it fits in my hands. What makes it really special though is the fact that someone I care about gave me the gift which says she knows the real me, that she sees who I am, that she gets me – and I get to drink from that gift every day! Sometimes a cup is more that a cup!

Celadon Cup with Handle- photo Marie Cameorn 2012

My favorite cup was a gift from a dear friend from art school – we share a similar aesthetic appreciation.

I love the color, the craquelure glaze and playful union of people on this handmade Scottish cup.

Is there a special mug or cup that you chose to drink from, and have you thought about why?

Painting Cypress Rock

November 13, 2012

I hope to capture the precarious nature of life on the margins of land and sea in this painting I began last Friday. I’m using one of the many photographs I took in the summer of the cypresses in Point Lobos as inspiration. It’s just so stunning to see these lone trees clinging to sheer rock face, pummeled by the Pacific! I like how the tree is dwarfed by the massive outcropping of rock on which it clings, rock which has been stripped nearly bare by the ocean. It’s almost a portrait of a landscape in which the skin and muscle has been pulled away to reveal the skeletal structure. Although the cypress symbolizes death and mourning, here I think it is a metaphor for perseverance.

Diana Leone – Featured Artist

November 12, 2012

Diana Leone is the featured artist this month of November at the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery. You can catch her every Sunday from 11- 3 and enjoy cider and cookies while she paints. She’s good! I was chatting with her while she was whipping up a sunflower before my eyes and she didn’t miss a stroke. She said she works better under pressure and often uses a timer. That’s her secret to her fresh and vibrant work. Her colors glow – they don’t have a chance to get muddy. I asked her how she finds inspiration. She smiled and said, “I just look out the window”.

See more of her work at dianaleone.com.

Diana Leone, her oil painting, Join Me For A Cup Of Tea and Marie Cameron at Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery.

Diana Leone at the easel (she had done another painting even before coming in)!

A closer look at Diana Leone’s Sunflower in progress.

Diana Leone’s oil painting Bountiful Maui.

Diana Leone’s oil painting Springtime.

Bury Me Amid Nature’s Beauty

November 7, 2012

That’s what persimmons say in the Victorian language of flowers, “Bury me amid nature’s beauty”, how poetic! How appropriate too, November is the month when persimmon leaves blaze yellow and gold and fall away revealing ripe orange persimmons dangling from bare branches like festive ornaments.

I took these photos yesterday between walking the kids to school and voting, it’s nice to take a few moments even in the busiest of days to feel and see deeply. Time to make some persimmon chutney!

Persimmon Branch photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmons Peach and Celadon photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmon Branches and Sky photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmon Leaf photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmon Leaves Ablaze photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmon Leaves photo Marie Cameoron 2012

Persimmon Orange photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmon Light and Shadow photo Marie Cameron 2012

Persimmon Leaves Peach and Blue Photo Marie Cameron 2012

LGAA Fall Show 2012

November 6, 2012

It’s great to take part in the community art scene! Sunday was one of those unbearably beautiful fall days of bright blue skies and amber-red leaves and I made it to the opening reception of the Los Gatos Art Association Fall 2012 Juried Show at the Addison- Penzak Jewish Community Center with platter full of torrone in hand. Juror John Agg, executive director of the Art Museum of Los Gatos welcomed the rowdy crowd with pronouncements on the fine quality of the art before the awards were announced – my award was that both Imprint and Last Stand had been included in the exhibition in the largest category of oil. I got to meet lots of new faces and see some really outstanding work!

Juror John Agg addressing the crowd before the presentation of awards.

Marie Cameron with Last Stand LGAA JCC 2012

Me with my painting Last Stand at the LGAA Fall 2012 Juried Members Show

Rebecca White - Grey Boat, Moss Landing and Marie Cameron LGAA JCC 2012

With Rebecca Lillis White and her painting Grey Boat, Moss Landing (below)

Marie Cameron with Imprint LGAA JCC 2012

With Imprint (it’s so hard to shoot oils!).

Karen White North Coast Cloudshower LGAA JCC 2012

Karen White with her painting North Coast Cloudshower.

Karen White - Uptown Market LGAA JCC 2012

Karen White’s painting Uptown Market. See more at karenwhiteart.com.

Ron Dell'Aquila with Shop Girl 1 LGAA JCC 2012

Photographer Ron Dell’Aquila with Shop Girl 1 http://rondellaquila.com

Ron Dell'Aquila Shop Girl 2 LGAA JCC 2012

Ron Dell’Aquila’s photograph Shop Girl 2. Check out his website, rondellaquila.com

Mei-Ying Dell'Aquila - Strength Through Tribulation LGAA JCC 2012

Mei-Ying Dell’Aquila with her painting Strength Through Tribulation – meiyingdellaquila.com.

Thalia Stratton - Montgomery and Washington LGAA JCC 2012

Thalia Stratton’s painting Montgomery and Washington – thaliastratton.com

Nancy Cheadle - Antique Pitcher & Cherries LGAA JCC 2012

Nancy Cheadle with her paintings Antique Pitcher and Cherries – nancy-cheadle.artistwebsites.com

Grace Tang with her painting Skyline.

Life Imitating Art

November 1, 2012

Cutting out silhouettes gives you time to think. Maybe I thought about it too much. I must say, I did have lot of fun sitting in a rocking chair in front of this back-lit frame handing out candy corn to unsuspecting trick or treaters! I was often asked if I was the Woman in Black but the movie reference was so lost on me. “I’m a Victorian silhouette come to life!” At least I was a little creepy.