ROD CAMERON
Rod has received over fifty awards in illustrative art, painting & design and with his lively, in-depth workshops and successful one man shows, becoming one of Hawaii's most popular artists. In April 2014, Mr. Cameron's book illustrations were place in perpetuity and on permanent display at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima, Japan.
Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Echo Park, Los Angeles, Rod (AA) degree, went to Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles and had additional studies at the Art Students' League of New York.(AA) degree, learning the basics with a secondary emphasis on physical & comparative anatomy. Cameron apprenticed and learned to paint as the Impressionist's, in Palm Springs, California with Mr. Keith Ward (b1917/2001), his mentor.
Mr. Cameron began his commercial career in Honolulu, HI, designing and illustrating whatever jobs he could find (think surfing), including the first Diamond Head Festival posters and tee shirt designs. One of his very first murals was in the home of the late actress Ms. Gloria Swanson in Palm Springs, CA. Rod continued on in Los Angeles, then to Ventura/Santa Barbara Counties, CA where he worked as an art director, illustrator and eventually ran his own studio; East/West Arts. Clients included: The Los Angeles Times- Ventura Co, Warner Bros. Studio Stores, Hasbro, Weatherhill Publications, NY and others. Work included product design and thematic store concepts for airports: LAX, JFK, and SFO. During that time, Rod received several patents for summer toys and illustrated over one dozen children’s books, winning numerous awards including the National Ben Franklin Gold and two Silver Awards. Mr. Cameron’s illustrative works are in the collection of the late Laurence Rockefeller of New York and in the University of Connecticut Library Archives. His paintings are being collected around the world.
Rod Cameron has always had a strong figurative drawing inclination, studying anatomy, participating in workshops and drawing regularly in life sessions with other artist's. Those included being a regular out of the late Jessie Botke’s original California studio, (all her presses oiled and in tack). He began teaching part time in 1990, first at a private adult school in Thousand Oaks, CA. then at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Univ. Extension, where he was a frequent Guest Speaker and hired to teach color theory. Rod taught his first private workshop in 1992 and has been teaching life drawing, plein air and studio painting, extensively since 2004. 'I don't consider those in my workshops as 'students' but as 'artists.' He says, 'We are all artist's, actually - merely at varying levels. Creativity is something we all use and need daily to grow as a culture. I like to try and help that along.'
In 2002, Rod was able to return to the Hawaii to commence a one hundred percent fine art focus; devoting his life to drawing, painting and teaching, here and around the globe. This includes hosting inclusive, plein air painting workshops in Prague and in Paris along with private and smaller group lessons. His constant work and dedication has led to seven highly successful shows (five one man shows) since 2002, making Cameron one of the most collected and best known painters in the islands. In 2010 and 2011, he created the commemorative Merrie Monarch Festival paintings (most viewed event in the islands) which were published as posters by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau.
Rod Cameron creates and teaches out of his Beach Road Studio, in Keaau, Hawaii. He is represented by: The Prague Gallery, Czech Republic, Dreams of Paradise Gallery, Hilo, Hawaii, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Art Center and Cedar Street Gallery in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Rod Cameron joined Fine Art America on November 5th, 2007.
