Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Cohen.
Hi Cameron, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a family of creative and artistic individuals. So it’s no surprise that when I was young, I dreamt of being an artist. However, I never believed that I could actually make a living at it. I started college as a Biology major (thinking I would become a doctor) and after two years, I switched over to Art Studio. College is where I sharpened my skills and focused my studies in painting. After college, I had to get a “real job.” I continued to be creative in my careers as a jewelry designer and then as a make up/lash extension artist.
I had put down my paintbrushes for 23 years until the pandemic hit in 2020. I was unable to work on my client for five months so I turned half of my garage into an art studio. In that time, I painted every single day. I found my voice while exploring new techniques materials and basically just playing around. Three months in, I got my first commission. From there, I’ve been fortunate enough to continue making custom paintings to compliment my clients’ spaces.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a pretty smooth road once I finally made the decision to have a career as an artist. I think the struggle that inherently comes with being an artist is having the confidence that people will like your work and be happy to pay for its value. At the moment, I am struggling with putting myself out in the world and marketing my work to a larger audience. I know social media is a helpful platform to achieve this. So, I am currently learning how to best utilize all it has to offer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a painter, I have recently been playing with acrylic paint and resin. I enjoy the bold colors I’m able to use with acrylics while the resin brings more depth and vibrancy to my paintings.
At this time, I am known for my portrait silhouettes. Most of them are customs of my clients, my clients’ children and even their pets. I have taken the classic silhouette…you know, the one where a black piece of paper is cut from the shadow of a person’s profile, and I have added multiple colors and patterns to represent the energy of the figure. They are intuitive paintings that give the viewer a deeper insight into the essence of the person in the portrait.
I am most proud of the recent solo show that I put together called Art With Purpose. I created this show to support my upcoming adventure to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and more importantly to give back to Tanzania by donating half of the proceeds to an incredible organization, Plant With Purpose. I created two hundred and twenty-two 5”x5” paintings where each painting sold would help plant 50 trees in Tanzania. So far, over 8,000 trees will be planted! This is my way to leave a place better than the way I found it.
What sets me apart from other artists who might work in a similar painting style is the intention that I apply to my work. Each of my paintings are like snowflakes. They are all unique and can not be recreated.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memory is when my mom used to take me and my sister to Michael’s arts and craft store on rainy days. We had free range to buy art supplies for new projects that we could play with that day. My projects usually had glitter, sequins and rhinestones incorporated in whatever we were doing.
Contact Info:
- Email: Cameroncohenart@gmail.com
- Website: www.cameroncohenart.com
- Instagram: @Cameroncohenart
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Cameron-Cohen-Art-107209337652537/
- Other: http://www.cameroncohenart.com/art-with-purpose.html
Image Credits
Laura Grier
