Art
This gave me the opportunity to
build my art business rather than
returning to office work. This also
gave me the drive to do everything
possible to build a self-sustaining
business. I am passionate, both
about art, but also the business
of being an artist.
Maralyn: What is one of the
hardest challenges you face
as an artist?
Cammy: People tell me that what
sets me apart as an artist is that I
have a strong head for business as
well. I think that’s true. It’s also the
biggest challenge. It’s two separate
sides of your head that you have to
balance and turn off and on. My wish
is that I could find people to do
certain things in my business that
would allow me to spend more time
creating. Such as, I’d love to have
someone in charge of my website and
social media. I’d love to have a sales
rep for my jewelry. I’d love to have
an engineer for my radio show. As
a small business owner, you end up
doing it all yourself to save on costs,
but the time and energy detracts
from the actual art.
Maralyn: What is one of the most
rewarding elements you take away
from doing what you do?
Cammy: Inspiring others. Whether
it’s with my art or my art business,
I feel deeply rewarded when I see
it helping and inspiring others. The
event I created, “Edgy in October,”
was meant to inspire artists to push
their limits. Some push them a lot,
some push them a little, but I get a
lot of comments of what artists are
working on for “next year’s Edgy,”
and how it pushes them to do
something different than their norm.
I love to hear that. With my radio
show, “Art on the Airwaves,” I bring
on guests who will inspire listeners
with information on how they can
build their art business or create
new opportunities for themselves.
With my art, I want it to draw
people into a memory or emotional
space that will inspire them to feel
and to be okay with their feelings.
My jewelry is meant to be an
affordable piece of art that
anyone can be inspired by.
Maralyn: What is one quality you
feel is key in succeeding at your
craft in today’s creative scene?
Cammy: I think drive is the top
quality for success. I take every
opportunity I am given, or create
for myself, and run with it as far as
I can. I think there are many great
artists in the world today, but to
make yourself stand out from the
crowd, you have to be fearless and
driven. I ask for everything I want.
Meaning, if I meet someone and see
an opportunity, I ask. I don’t allow
myself to back down out of fear.
I work from the time I get up in
the morning until the moment I crawl
into bed at night. I am very driven,
because my art career is that
important to me. But, whereas a
lot of artists and business owners
are very focused on themselves,
I have found that I am happier when
I am taking other artists with me.
That’s why creating events, videos
and the radio show works well for
me. I can help others build success
at the same time.
Maralyn: If you could be another
artist (dead or alive) for a day, who
would it be? Why? How does other
art inspire your work?
Cammy: I am often inspired by
others’ art. I go to as many galleries
and art receptions as I can. I am
inspired by the lines they use, the
materials, the textures, the color.
I don’t have a specific name, I just
know that if could find the time,
I would take a day to be a sculptor.
I love concrete, I use it in my mixed
media pieces and I make garden art
out of it occasionally. But I feel like
I don’t have enough time to really
learn the material and create with it.
The interesting thing is...now that
I’ve written it down, I will make the
time. My guess is that you will see
concrete art from me in the next
year or two.
Maralyn: What advice can you
share with other artists about
what you’ve learned from
your journey?
Cammy: I just did a video on
Overcoming Challenges for Artists
and Entrepreneurs. My biggest
advice from that video is to find
a solution and keep moving forward.
Don’t let the obstacles slow down
your drive. Don’t halt until the
situation is perfect, take the first
step and keep walking. If you want
something badly enough, you will
find a solution.
Maralyn: For someone who is new
to discovering art, what would you
recommend on how to explore the
possibilities of what is out there?
Cammy: I encourage everyone to
stop being afraid of art. Just
yesterday, I had a nurse comment
to me,:”I love art, but I don’t know
anything about it; I’d probably
say stupid things if I went to an
opening.” It made me smile, because
that is exactly why I started
creating “Gallery tour” videos and
creating art events for everyone.
I want people to stop being afraid
of art and just realizie it’s about
inspiration. Just go to art events and
enjoy them. Don’t worry about what
you will say or doing the wrong
thing. Go, be inspired.
Maralyn: Have you been
fortunate enough to have one
or more showings?
Cammy: Yes, I exhibit at quite a few
galleries and have had solo exhibits.
The biggest exhibit was one I created
for myself, and I encourage other
artists to create their own
opportunities. I spent a year creating
an exhibit called “Connections” and
chose a local photographer to do the
exhibit with me. It featured nine
couples or singles from Southern
Oregon. I got a space in an old
historic building on t