Galeria Buena Vida & Cock of the Walk Designs

Carrie Cameron & Cock of the Walk Designs

It is difficult to decide whether art reflects life or vice versa when observing Carrie Cameron and her work. Carrie’s appreciation of beauty has materialized in various mediums in both her art and her daily life. Painting, designing, entertaining and even cooking, she loves to create.

Always an aspiring artist, as a child in elementary school, Carrie saw the movie The Ten Commandments. She then painted a mural around the entire classroom depicting scenes from the movie. Carrie’s professional painting career began in 2001, and soon thereafter she was exhibiting her creations in the California wine country, The dream of owning her own gallery became a reality in the historic downtown area of McKinney, Texas, in 2005. The gallery was housed in the old Collin County Prison, where Carrie was a driving force in creating a thriving art business in the Texas town. After being forced to close because of losing her lease, she partnered with her brother, to form The Cameron Gallery in Dallas. Presently, her work hangs in many homes and businesses across the United States, including Gables Park Seventeen, a high-rise condominium in downtown Dallas, where several of her works are displayed throughout the building. Gables continues to collect Carrie’s art for more commercial projects around Texas.

Currently a resident of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, she continues to paint and has added another medium to her artistic career. Carrie’s latest ventures include an art gallery and showroom in San Miguel, “Galeria Buena Vida”, where she displays her paintings. The gallery also features “Cock of the Walk Designs”, a leather line specializing in custom boots, shoes and accessories, designed by Carrie. All are hand tooled and hand painted, most inspired by her paintings. Described as “art you can wear” by many of her collectors, her leather line is now carried by several retailers in the United States including Space Cowboy, SoHo, New York, Chateau Rustic, Frisco, Texas, Guitar Sanctuary, McKinney, Texas, Cowgirl Kim Unique Western Wear, Sweet Georgia Gray, Virginia and the list keeps growing.

The artist lists the works of Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh as major influences in her art. Close friend and mentor, JD Miller of Samuel Lynn Galleries, Dallas, and color specialist, Liz Richardson of the William Merrit Chase School, were both integral in developing her style.

Carrie’s painting technique is 3-D oil sculpture, known as the Reflectionist Movement. Using only palette knives and oil paint to create thick, almost porcelain like creations. As the impressionists strove to capture the experience of light and record how they saw it, Reflectionist artists strive to capture the “now” and the entire feeling of the experience, on canvas. Carrie’s use of bold colors and rich textures reflect her unique view of the complex beauty in her world.

One of her passions is charity work. Along with two close friends, she is a co-founder of the Love Life Foundation for at-risk children in 1992. Donating her time and art for years has raised tens of thousands of dollars for, not just Love Life, but many other non-profit organizations as well. Mexican children have now captured her heart and are the primary recipients of her generosity.

“My mind never stops thinking of what to do next! I have so much I want to create, and share with the world”, says Carrie. “Life is such an adventure and I’m nowhere near the end of it.”