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FEATURED
ARTIST - Monica Van Campen
"My strongest
painting influence comes from Salvador Dali. I have studied his
pieces for many years. Dali's "Nature Morte Vivante" shows
how the perception of a dressed table can change in the mind
of the artist. Fruit is flying, water is pouring and swirling,
and a knife is floating in mid-space.
Not all realistic paintings need to be pretty pictures. I believe that they
should tell a story and make the viewer think, review and come up with
their own interpretation. Without that, what is art really for?"
Monica Van
Campen
Illustration
by Monica Van Campen c2007
"Bird
Suitcase is based on a Time Magazine article ("Bye
Bye Birdies," May 15, 2006) about potentially extinct birds
within the U.S. The populations of migratory birds have decreased,
in
some cases, by global warming. This original article had photos
of each bird and had a standard tag line and description for
each. I saw the photos as very plain in their display. These
birds are
vibrant and show strong personalities.
I decided on another way to address the message. What about the
birds being put away for safe keeping? I realized that people
would see this as either being a loving thought or a hateful
one. Regardless, the viewer is given the ability to question
their own perceptions.
The painting of the suitcase, the human hands, and the room is
rendered with oil paints on canvas. The birds are photo images
taken from the Time article and from professional photo sites.
The oil/collage is merged using a non-liquid adhesive process."
Monica Van
Campen received her education in art at the Los Angeles County
Museum of Art
from 1975-1977. She studied
Italian Art and Art Process in the Summer of 1982 and attended
UCLA for Commercial Art Studies.
Monica practiced freelance design work in Los Angeles, CA during
the 1990's before starting her own business, Van
Campen Designs, in Roseville, CA in 1997.
Her clients include,
but are not limited to; Hewlett Packard, Sony Playstation, Wells
Fargo Bank, The Sacramento
Ballet, Mikuni Sushi, Miyamoto International, Inc., Restoration Resources,
Comstock’s Business Magazine, Black Rhino Coffee, AMASV, City
of Fairfield, Utush Soccer Academy, MAXIT, Inc., Serenity Spa, Sinclair • Wilson,
Attorneys at Law, Cook, Inc., Placer SPCA, National Association of
Woman Business Owners, and the American Cancer Society.
Illustration
by Monica Van Campen c2007
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