ART LIFE - CAM CHAMP
I consider myself so lucky to call Cam Champ a friend, as he is not only a brilliant visual artist and designer, but also a kick ass guy! Getting to know Cam and his artistry has been a joy, so I was stoked when he agreed to answer a few questions and be featured on my site. Here is a peak into the world of artist, Cam Champ:
ED: What is your earliest memory of visual art? How did it speak to you?
CC: My family is not particularly art-oriented and didn’t really have any art in the house growing up, so I had to kind of find it on my own. I remember my mother used to buy a Van Gogh themed wall calendar every year to keep in the kitchen, but that’s about it.
My only real source of access to art at a young age was art classes at school and the internet. My middle school art teacher was particularly inspiring because he was kind of weird and had this wealth of abstract information, about all kinds of things, and not just art. He’d tell us about the time it takes for the light from distant stars to reach us, stuff like that. And I just remember feeling inspired by the type of person he was, and what it meant to be an artist, or someone who thinks obliquely.
ED: When did you first recognize your artistic ability?
CC: I’m not really sure. I mean, of course I enjoyed drawing as a child (who didn’t?), but it wasn’t this thing I spent all of my time doing. I much preferred to be exploring and biking in the ravine near my house with my friends.
ED: How does your artistic background bleed into your graphic design work?
CC: I would say it’s the inverse. I’m very thankful for choosing to study graphic design over fine arts. While there is a degree of artistry that goes into some types of graphic design work, I never allow my own personal “aesthetic” or art mind to find its way into a client’s brand. Graphic design, especially as a profession, is the trade of visual semiotics. Every element present in a design for a client, whether it be anything from advertising to branding needs to communicate and carry a very specific tone or message.
ED: Where do you find your inspiration?
CC: Inspiration comes from everywhere. At all times. I just try to be ready and receptive to receive it. Nature in particular is very inspiring to me.
ED: Why do you feel so drawn to painting in shades of black, white and grey, in lieu of colour?
CC: I have never been comfortable using colour. It’s something I’ve been coming around on lately during COVID, though. It sounds flowery and cliche to say, but I just don’t think I’ve needed colour until now. I’ve been studying photos of nature scenes I’ve captured and am painting them digitally on my phone.
ED: You are an incredibly fast painter. What is your record time for finishing a piece?
CC: I don’t keep track of time while I’m painting. It’s always different depending on what I happen to be making. For instance I could spend an hour on a big painting and three weeks on a small collage. What’s most important to pay attention to while making something is to be careful not to push a painting too far. There is a moment during every work where you can either stop and leave it, or keep going and possibly wreck it. It’s often difficult to determine where this line is, because it’s always different. You have to listen to what the work is telling you and not fight it too much.
ED: You paint, and collage… but I know you like to try new mediums. What have been your favourite mediums to try, and what medium are you eager to try next?
CC: I’ve been experimenting a lot with sculptural mediums lately and thinking more about the experiential side of art. I bought 5,000 wooden beads that I’ve hand painted and now stringing them into a beaded tapestry.
ED: As an artist, you must feel a personal connection to each of your pieces. How do you hope others connect with your work?
CC: It’s easy for me to let go of a work once it has been completed. The image has left my mind and I can stop dwelling on it. I try not to embed too much specificity into my work. I like to leave the imagination of others to add to the work.
ED: Where can people find you and your art?
CC: I’m most active on Instagram at @cccccccchamp but I also have a website: camchamp.ca
It is amazing getting to know a little more about what makes an artist tick, and where their artistry comes from. I think there is something so special about an artist’s individuality, and how their unique eye contributes to our global landscape of visual arts. I want to thank Cam Champ for doing this interview, and I hope you all take the time to look through his repertoire because I personally have so loved watching his continuous growth and creative evolution!
Ella
Images: Cam Champ
