True Colours of Sophia Madeleine
Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer meets an artist who marches to the beat of her own vibrant drum – and whose upcoming exhibition is a rainbow-hued love letter to the Coast.
If auras were visible to the naked eye, artist Sophia Cameron’s would surely be all the colours of the rainbow. Creating her bold, abstract works from her home studio in Brisbane, Sophia isn’t interested in putting a muted version of herself out into the world. As the creative force behind Sophia Madeleine Art & Interiors, she embraces her unique essence and shares her experience of what it is to be human through paintings that positively pop with exuberance and joy.
Sophia says that her detailed artworks, which combine multiple mixed-media layers, including acrylic paint, gouache, collage and gold leaf, contain elements that slowly reveal themselves to the viewer over time, with the intention that every piece feels like a warm hug.
“There’s always an element of surprise to Sophie Madeleine Art,” she says.
“People who’ve invested in my paintings often comment that, with time, they continue to discover new details in each one. They are like a special friendship where you develop levels of depth and connection.”
A lifelong love of colour and fabric led to a career as an Interior Decorator until the lure of creating her own art took over – something she says ‘felt like a natural evolution’.
“I have always drawn and created, and my artwork has been influenced by my interiors business in terms of the use of texture and pattern,” she said.
Her exhibition, Colour Hum, is coming to Cooroy Butter Factory from 28 March to 8 May, with the 17 pieces on show inspired by her stories, memories and emotions surrounding this region –a place she’s loved for much of her life.
“Noosa and the Sunshine Coast have been significant and sentimental places for me, since my early teens when visiting boarding school friends,” she shared. “I think the Sunshine Coast’s community and landscape combine to create a distinctly unique vibe – a comforting hum – that I wanted to reflect through my work.”
Themes explored in Sophia’s exhibition include the sense of warmth and comfort that comes from holidaying with friends, the benefit of long lunches as a lifeline for sharing life’s challenges; memories of Noosa’s rivers, canals and Hastings Street; the wisdom of letting go of expectations and realising you already have what you need; as well as the honour of being included in special occasions. Enduring friendships are clearly a huge source of inspiration for Sophia, as are family, travel, colour and memories.
“My paintings are essentially a celebration of people’s tenacity, strength, bravery and humour,” she says.
Her creative process is as unique as the captivating artwork she creates, and for this exhibition she went all-in, starting every piece of work at once.
“Normally I begin with a minimum of three canvases or large papers that I work on simultaneously,” she says.
“However, for this exhibition I decided to start all 17 pieces at the same time, which resulted in a very busy but high energy studio space!
“This meant I could immediately apply a creative idea to a canvas as it came to me – some were line drawings, some were paintings, and some were collages.
“I’d be thinking about a memory or conversation whilst referring to my collection of holiday snaps, and these would inform the direction for each piece.”
After a painting is finished, Sophia pours epoxy to enhance and protect the artwork.
“I love the further saturation in colour, and depth, that it gives the work,” Sophia said. “It feels like you’re viewing it through water.”
In a world where conformity is both expected and encouraged, what inspires Sophia to look inside herself and share such an honest and personal interpretation of life through her creative practice?
“I don’t know any other way to be,” she said. “I’m conscious of life’s fragility and uncertainty and that’s why I explore and nurture my passion for creating with dedicated momentum.”
Fostering human connection is the ‘why’ behind the colourful world she’s created.
“Life has its ups and downs, and some people don’t have anyone to remind them that it’s going to be okay,” she said. “I love the thought that my artwork might be able to do that for someone – to provide a sense of optimism and hope.”
Bring your authentic self along to Cooroy Butter Factory and prepare to be swept up in the joyous thrum and hum of Sophia’s wonderful world!
COLOUR HUM
Don’t miss Sophia Cameron’s Colour Hum exhibition at the Cooroy Butter Factory from Friday 28 March to Thursday 8 May!
Opening night: 5 April, 4pm to 6pm
