In The Studio With Brisbane Artist Sophia Cameron
A dollop of colour
Sophia Cameron’s style is as bold as it is unpredictable. “Energetic, colourful, layered, and a little random,” she says, always with an element of surprise – you never know what will emerge.
For over a decade, Sophia ran her interior decorating business from her home, with a showroom set up right at the front. But just over two years ago, she felt it was time for a change.
As a full-time artist, Sophia is now living her dream. We sat down with her in her stunning Paddington home to discuss all things art.
Hi Sophia! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. To begin, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I had an interior decoration business for 11 years – it was all residential and I ran the showroom from the front of the house. Then just over two years ago I thought about what I wanted to do for the next ten years and I decided that I really wanted to explore my own colour combinations on canvas. That’s when I converted the garage into my studio and committed to my art practice full-time.
How would you describe your style?
Collected and curated! It’s energetic, colourful, layered, and a little random. There’s an element of surprise to my style – never sure what’s going to turn up.
What sparked the decision to transition from interior design to pursuing art full-time? Was there a particular moment or realisation that led you to make this career shift?
It was actually turning 50. I just thought, what do I want to do for the next 10 years? Is it carrying heavy fabric books around or would I prefer to be carrying, paint, paintbrushes, and canvases?
I miss my clients, but they’ve been so supportive of my art practice. I’m very grateful to them for their loyalty.
Have any of your interior clients bought your art pieces?
Yes, so I used to do some little pieces for particular clients. I had my first exhibition two years ago, and that was here downstairs. I lured everyone here as an interior decoration, thank you, and was like, “Oh, look what I’m doing now… painting!” That was really great. It was so well received.
I don’t actually do any commissions; I do option paintings. So, people will say, “I like this size,” and I’ll say, “Are you allergic to colour?” And they might go, “I’m not huge on yellow” – great. I’ll do them an option painting, so they get first dibs on it. That works really well, and 90% of the time it’s a great match. But there is absolutely no pressure to commit to it.
All my paintings are stories, in some way or another, even if I might not realise it, but subconsciously, I’ve been painting about something – like the youth, family relationships or homeless issues in Brisbane. And by the time I’ve finished it, it’s like, “Oh my god, it was about this.” So, with the option paintings, I capture the essence of the person I have in mind sometimes without realising it.
Can you walk us through your process of managing multiple paintings simultaneously? Do you find that each piece influences or informs the next? How do these works intersect and evolve throughout your creative process?
I love working on multiple paintings at once, so I don’t overwork one. And it’s similar to interior design jobs, which appeal to my need for variety. I’m really happy to mix things up a little because I love the variety, interest, and an element of surprise. Also, I might have a great idea, but it’s not right for that particular painting, so I’ll move on and pivot to another one.
How did your childhood in central Queensland shape your creative perspective?
I think growing up on a property had a huge influence on me. You really had to draw on your own imagination and creativity. There weren’t many people around to distract you, so you had your family and that was about it. It was all about inventing games and mysteries. I even remember chopping up my mother’s favourite fabric! Many of my peers grew up in a similar environment, where our imagination was our main source of entertainment.
You’ve travelled around the world, which trip was the most inspiring for your art?
Well, most recently it was Bali. I spent seven days in Ubud with a friend, and I’ve never been anywhere for that amount of time that was so quiet. It was like being in a bubble, staying on an estate for seven days. And that had a really big influence on my work. I take a lot of photographs and notice the details when travelling.
I also love walking around Paddington, my home neighbourhood. I find it really inspiring – the colours, gardens, flowers, sharing stories with friends, laughing… there’s inspiration everywhere!
What do you hope people feel when they step into one of your exhibitions or your studio space?
I hope they feel energised, like they’re in good company. I want them to feel joyful, positive, and uplifted.
Photography: Caroline Attwood (@carolinejattwood)
