I speak for many people when I say that the Wolfville Farmers’ Market is an incredible venue. The food, music, artists, etc. found within those walls on Wednesdays and Saturdays are spectacular assets to our community. This week’s “Who’s Who†is someone I “met†at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market, even though he wasn’t actually present. I came across his business card on the huge rack off to the right as you enter the building. Have you seen this rack? It’s filled to the brim with so many neat and intriguing people. Kevin Cameron’s rack card caught my eye instantly and for good reason, he designed it! If he doubts that it’s not working for him, hopefully this profile proves him wrong.
Kevin Cameron is a self-taught artist who sold his first painting at the Apple Bin Gallery in Kentville over 20 years ago. Now he is the owner and operator of Kevin Cameron Art + Design. He creates his own work but primarily the focus of his business is creating art and design for others. Kevin’s extraordinary talent has led to jobs designing logos and creating unique art to highlight products and services for businesses. He also does illustrations, paintings, brandings, cartoons, and caricatures, as well as providing artistic consultations to new and growing businesses looking for a special and fresh look.
Kevin says, “I like to think of myself as more of an artist who does design work than the other way aroundâ€. Kevin created his first mural when he was 5 or 6. It was of an old man’s stubbly face smoking a cigar. He has since painted many murals for homes. You may have encountered Kevin at the County Fair Mall in New Minas doing caricatures of people passing by. Kevin says, “I remember being 16 and seeing a caricaturist at the Bridgewater Mall. My Dad told me that I did work just as good as that artist and to keep at it. I never thought I could do it, but look at me now!â€
Kevin’s main focus these days is building a body of work and gathering a clientele base. His business actually started as a side venture to his regular employment. Through exposure to his artwork, friends began asking Kevin to design logos and other illustrations for their businesses. Now, products that Kevin has done illustrations for have appeared at the Toronto International Gift Fair and have sold internationally. He has also been asked to create holiday window displays and holiday murals for many local businesses. For nine years, Kevin has painted the window murals for Tim Horton’s at County Fair Mall. He puts his heart into every project no matter how big or small and the results are always met with high praise.
Something interesting that I learned about Kevin is that he has struggled his whole life with Social Anxiety Disorder. This disorder, affecting between 7% and 13% of the population, makes people feel quite nervous or uncomfortable in social situations. They are very concerned that they will do something embarrassing or humiliating, or feel that others will think badly of them. These individuals are very self-conscious and constantly feel “on stageâ€. Kevin finds that his job, and all that comes along with creating his art pieces, is very therapeutic and much easier these days due to being able to sell his work via the Internet without a need to interact directly with his clientele. He says, “The joy of the internet is that you don’t have to live near your work or your clients. So long as you have electricity and a phone, you can do business with anyone anywhere.â€
Kevin is currently working on a new series of paintings that he describes as being somewhere between expressionist and surrealist. Simply put, they take a break from realistic expectations and focus more on a fanciful, slightly abstract interpretation. Immersed in the local beauty of the Annapolis Valley, Kevin paints from his second storey studio surrounded by beautiful orchards and a vibrant market near Wolfville. He enjoys spending time with his family, taking nature walks, and checking out the stars with his 5†Reflector telescope. He is interested in old abandoned buildings and other human-made artifacts from the past and can’t get enough of old classic B&W movies and TV shows, including being an avid collector of the cult comedy series Mystery Science Theatre 3000.
I encourage you to check out kevincameron.ca to see a sampling of Kevin’s fantastic artwork. You’ll find his paintings, business logos and more. Interested in freshening up your house or business with new exciting art? Email Kevin at kevincameronartist@gmail.com. And the next time you’re at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market, take a peek at that rack of business cards; you just never know whom you’ll encounter!
Mike ButlerÂ
