The Travelling Celts

The Love of Art

by Michael Cameron

For as long as I can remember I've drawn, pre-school, school, post school. I suppose it was the only thing I really excelled at , achieving top grades in class, helping win friends. But Oh how I wish I'd developed this talent, for so long I simply took it for granted, not realising that studying the techniques of others, using quality materials, could only improve my output. I guess I was only really encouraged by one person in my childhood - my older sister Alexis, may she rest in peace. My beloved sister was afflicted with mental health problems, her perception of the world really never developed beyond that of, I think, a five or six year old. She did fixate on things though, included was images of Elvis Pressley, Cliff Richard, or if folk can remember from the comic "the bunty", The Four Marys. Time after time I found myself, at her insistance drawing these for her when a previous version had either gone astray, become tattered or somehow been destroyed. Thinking back such insistence inevitably honed my childhood skills, and whilst she wouldn't really understand, I believe I owe her a debt of gratitude.

I did manage to achieve some Art qualifications, up to Advanced Level, but life, my job, my family and other distractions meant I didn't commit as much time as perhaps I should have. Making the odd infrequent sketch usually for a friend. Alas most of my early work is lost, obviously no great loss to the world of art, just to me.

Of late I've rediscovered the pleasure I get from drawing, and if I'm honest, the enjoyment I get from gifting my work to friends and family. Though I can tell you, it is much easier handing over a piece that has been 'commissioned', than gifting something unexpected - you never really know if the reaction is genuine. It's for me, a horrible moment, happiest when others present my work whilst I hide in the background.

I've taken to digitising my images on completion. Mostly a photograph, and they aren't always a fair representation of the work. I'm hoping someday to purchase an A3 scanner to manage this better - boy are they expensive. But in any event you can see some of my work here on this site. Some I have hanging on my wall at home, others have moved on to friends and family, the rest remain in a portfolio folder waiting I guess for an owner. I've never purposefully sold a piece, I don't want to turn my hobby into work.

Click the links below to see a sample of my work