Sophia Cameron ~ Sophia Madeleine Art.
Sophia Cameron’s work is layered with colour, humour and a deep reverence for the human experience, she approaches both painting and travel with that same spirit ~ attentive, tactile, and alive to what unfolds. Having joined us in Ghana, and now returning for Senegal, Sophia moves both as a tourist, and as a practitioner ~ observing, absorbing, and allowing place to shape her work in real time.
Sophia answered our questions, so you could get to know her more closely..
Where does making live in your life? What has your creative practice taught you that thinking alone never could?
Creating has always been a part of who and why I am. My creative practice has cemented my appreciation of persistence, commitment and authenticity. I believe that if you keep working at something, no matter what state of mess you think it’s in, it will eventually work.
What role does play have in your practice?
For me, humour is vital. Without that, some of life’s stories can feel too heavy to hold.
When do you feel most alive ~ morning or night? What do those hours give you creatively?
I’m full of energy in the morning and after a whip around the streets on foot I prefer to address admin & daily grind tasks before midday. With a cleared “to do list” I can then paint and create with a more relaxed head space which allows my subconscious to come out and play!
How is colour significant for your work?
I consider colour to be a form of oxygen. Colours, & their combination, influence mood, energy and state of being. The use of it in relation to creating, including my home’s interiors & fashion choices, is intuitive. I get a buzz from using combinations and observing how these sing, or not, together whilst noting the different energy intensity generated.
I use colour to create intrigue, surprise and ultimately joyful company. I’m motivated by a desire to make pieces which pulse & vibrate! Colour is magic.
How do you know when a piece is finished? What tells you to stop?
When I feel the piece’s visual energy and elements honour the painting’s story or intention. I will leave it to dry before sealing it with epoxy to intensify its depth and colour.
What struck me most in travelling alongside Sophia was her openness ~ to colour, to people, to the unexpected moments that sit between the planned itinerary. She describes Ghana as a kind of creative residency, a place where sensory richness fills the well and invites new expression. Her practice, much like her way of moving through the world, is grounded in persistence, play and a belief that something meaningful will always emerge if you stay with it. There is a generosity to how she sees ~ and in turn, how she paints ~ holding humour and depth in equal measure.
What are the 3 items you can’t leave home without when you travel?
My phone – which is my camera, a sense of humour and a skip in my step.
You once described our Ghana journey as feeling like a creative residency. That really stayed with me. What did you mean by it?
After 25 years since my last trip to the African continent, I was bursting with excitement at the opportunity for a first time visit to Ghana. I was determined to soak up the colour, energy and vibrancy, absorbing it all to top up my creative fuel tank. The itinerary ensured that sensory stimulation was aplenty.
How did Ghana surprise you?
The colour embraced in fashion, and the expressive and warm nature of the Ghanaian people.
Why did you feel called to return with us, this time to Senegal? What are you hoping to meet or discover there?
How could I resist Senegal?! I very rarely leave home with specific travel expectations. I assume any trip will be interesting, insightful, fun and funny. My only wish is that I pick up a suntan, which will mean I’ve been outside, walked & explored whilst observing the place’s energy.
What would you say to another creative who is curious about travelling in this way ~ not as a tourist, but as a practitioner?
It is the most delightfully rewarding way to experience a place. As a tactile learner, I love seeing artisan’s working their magic.
What are you most excited about bringing into form in the year ahead?
With the move from the year of the snake, to fiery horse, I have been thinking about how much of one’s space for thoughts can be wasted on self-generated fear/self doubt. So I intend to consciously bring into form more positively productive mental space, for creating and thinking creatively.
