Robin Cameron's work, on first look can appear to be quite whimsical and straightforward. However, stare a little longer and you'll find your mind wandering through thoughts, opinions, impressions, and feelings of your own and perhaps some that help shape her carefully layered pieces. This young Canadian is our new favorite muse of musing.

Chief Magazine: Where did you grow up?

Robin Cameron: I was born in Kimberly, BC. That's in sort of the middle of British Columbia Canada. When I was three we moved to Ontario, where I spent most of the rest of my childhood. My family would go to the cottage every weekend when I was growing up, it is on Bass Lake. We had a tree fort and would swim to the raft and go out in the little boat in the summertime, in the winter I would cross country ski and build snowmen.

Where did you go to school?

I went to ECIAD, it's in Vancouver, BC. I moved back there because my parents were always talking about how wonderful BC was when I was growing up. Vancouver is a beautiful city, it rains a lot like Seattle but when it's sunny it's the most beautiful place. I was glad to be there.

When/why did you come to NY? How is it working here as an artist?

I came to New York two and a half years ago. I had lived in Vancouver for 5 years,I stayed a year after school ended. There were a few reasons for leaving, most of my close friends from school had left, moved back to Toronto. Also, I took a trip to Tokyo, and being in this type of metropolis opened my eyes. I realized that there was a whole world out there past my little bubble of my neighborhood in Vancouver. So I came back from Tokyo broke and decided just like that. I was like what other city is a metropolis like Tokyo but also where I speak the language. I had wanted to come to New York for years but never got the nerve up. So the first time I came was when I moved just like that. It was everything that I had expected it to be and more. It is different working here as an artist, studio space was a struggle at first. When I was in Vancouver I shared a small studio for fifty dollars a month, here that would be an impossibility. So I did what I could, worked at a tiny desk and tried to keep organized. Now things are good, I have a little studio in my apartment and a bigger desk to work on. I have been inspired by the city a lot, and the people I have met, I meet a lot of other Canadians that are living here.

---

---

You have mentioned that you really appreciate having an artistic community around you...people to talk to about your work, their work, other work, etc. have you been able to create that or find that in the working world?

It's been a struggle I think as well. I have some close friends that I've known for years that have moved here for one reason or another. Building up that kind of network just like everything it takes time. I think it takes about five years to really know a place and have the people you know. I think that the other exciting thing is when you know people in other places like Europe or Asia, and then you can go and visit them to experience something new.


Sometimes artists who show in galleries as well as work in the commercial field like to keep the work for either separate. On your site though a lot of for hire projects are mixed in. Do you differentiate what you create by commission from what is for your sake? If so, what is the main thing that you feel you have to...let's say 'adjust' when working in that more commercialized realm?

I don't think that I can separate things because for me all of it is life, and I have had people tell me to separate it, but then I guess I feel it would be dishonest. I like to think of myself as someone who can do everything, I mean if it interests me in any way. Although I do like solving problems and helping people. With that being said, I think there is a definite difference in my commercial type work. It depends on the situation but the best is when you get someone saying we like what you do, can you do that for us and you get paid for that.

What has been really inspiring you lately?

Inspiring me.. hmmm.. Cinema, been watching a lot of French films and any recommendations from my brother, Music any old records I can get my hands on, I've been listening to a lot of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and other folksy stuff, Old feminist essay books, Going to the library, Going to all the museums we are lucky to have here, lately how the moon how it hangs so low, looking at street fashion and people watching, Chinatown, seeing friends that are visiting, learning how to play the drums, experimenting with new drawing processes, talking philosophy, still life drawing, collage.. I could go on forever.