Fine Art
CAMILLE KOUYOUMDJIAN
Painter & Mixed-Media Artist
Camille Kouyoumdjian
Photo Courtesy: Camille Kouyoumdjian
Photo Courtesy: Camille Kouyoumdjian
Camille discusses her style, which is a mix of realism and abstraction, and how engaging with nature has always inspired her work.
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There’s a clear relationship between your work and the environment. Has the natural environment always been an inspiration for you?
Absolutely. Nature has been a source of inspiration for me ever since I was a kid. I've always been fascinated by the symbiotic relationships in the natural world, like how aphids rely on ladybugs, or the unique partnership between alligators and egrets. There's also the intriguing dynamic between horned wasps and fig trees. I find this interconnectedness incredibly inspiring. The idea that a seemingly fragile flower can have such a significant impact on its surroundings is just amazing. I love the quote ‘bloom where you're planted’ because it captures that power perfectly. People often overlook how much influence a flower has — drawing in pollinators, providing food, and supporting entire ecosystems. It's incredible to think about how something so delicate can drive so much life and activity around it. These natural wonders continuously fuel my creativity and push me to explore new ways of expressing their beauty and complexity in my art. How would you describe your style? My artistic style is a mix of abstraction and realism. In my work, you'll notice realistic elements that give the piece a solid foundation, but there's also a fluid, abstract quality that lets viewers explore their own interpretations and feelings. I love highlighting the intricate patterns and forms found in nature with realistic details. Then, through abstraction, I express the energy and emotions that nature inspires in me. This blend creates a dynamic and engaging visual experience, capturing both the tangible and intangible aspects of the natural world. |
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Gossamer Spring
Oil & Cold Wax ~ 16 x 12 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
Resurrection
Acrylic & Mixed Media ~ 24 x 18 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
Onward
Collage ~ 12 x 9 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
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Camille explains her process:
My process starts with immersing myself in a landscape. I hike, cycle, kayak, and take lots of photos. I also learn about the history of the people, plants, and animals that inhabit the land. This information shapes the mood of my paintings. Sometimes, my work captures the essence of a specific scene, inviting viewers to share that moment. As I continue, my art often evolves into more abstract expressions of memory and emotion. I begin a painting with intuitive mark-making, using paint, charcoal and Caran d'Ache to create an abstract underpainting. After setting it aside for a few days, I come back to it and let the composition emerge naturally. I hope my work encourages viewers to contemplate, engage in dialogue, and feel hopeful about the future of our cherished landscapes. Has your work taken a different direction recently? If yes, what prompted that?
I wouldn't say my work has taken a completely different direction, but as I've been honing my skills and developing my voice as an artist, I've noticed some changes. Lately, I've been focusing on limiting my palette, which has really helped me bring out more depth and nuance in my pieces. My work is gradually becoming a bit more abstract, too. I'm experimenting more with textures, patterns, and the smaller details or microcosms, rather than focusing solely on big-picture compositions. It’s more a reflection of my fascination with the details that make up a particular ecosystem, rather than trying to capture the enormity of a place. |
Meadow Medley
Acrylic & Mixed Media ~ 14 x 11 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
Of your Wild Inspiration: Intuitive Landscapes, you state: “My paintings are a compilation of memories accumulated from engaging with the outdoors. I always begin my day with a morning walk, listening, watching the light change, and enjoying the scent of the forest. This experience opens my mind to new beginnings and is a vital part of my process.” Do you create sketches or take photographs while exploring the environment and work from those? Or is your work done strictly from memory?
I definitely take a lot of photos while I walk, but I don’t make sketches in the field. I like to let the changing light wash over me, without thinking too much while I’m moving about outdoors. I enjoy photography and incorporate it in my collage work quite often. I find that taking pictures of interesting colors and patterns brings me closer to what I want to capture about a scene. I then use those photos to inform my palette. I crop and edit them to find the composition I want; however, it’s always just a starting point. More often than not, the final painting looks nothing like the photo, and that is my goal.
I definitely take a lot of photos while I walk, but I don’t make sketches in the field. I like to let the changing light wash over me, without thinking too much while I’m moving about outdoors. I enjoy photography and incorporate it in my collage work quite often. I find that taking pictures of interesting colors and patterns brings me closer to what I want to capture about a scene. I then use those photos to inform my palette. I crop and edit them to find the composition I want; however, it’s always just a starting point. More often than not, the final painting looks nothing like the photo, and that is my goal.
Iceborn Beach
Acrylic ~ 20 x 24 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
A Grain of Sand
Acrylic & Mixed Media ~ 16 x 24 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
“Acadian Glory” and “Yellowstone Morning” are two pieces in the series National Parks and Conservation Lands. What would you like to say about this series? Have you traveled to the locations that are represented?
National Parks hold a special place in my heart. Most of our family vacations center on exploring our country’s beautiful terrain. I only paint locations that I’ve visited personally. I think it is vital to know a place before trying to capture it in a painting. Our conservation lands, both in the U.S. and abroad, are rich with inspiration. Without visiting these places in person, it would be hard to understand the impact they have, their history, and their importance. We can read about them, but immersing oneself in their atmosphere is something that can never be captured secondhand.
National Parks hold a special place in my heart. Most of our family vacations center on exploring our country’s beautiful terrain. I only paint locations that I’ve visited personally. I think it is vital to know a place before trying to capture it in a painting. Our conservation lands, both in the U.S. and abroad, are rich with inspiration. Without visiting these places in person, it would be hard to understand the impact they have, their history, and their importance. We can read about them, but immersing oneself in their atmosphere is something that can never be captured secondhand.
Acadian Glory
Acrylic ~ 24 x 8 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
Yellowstone Morning
Collage ~ 12 x 16 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
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“Motherhood” (from your Flora collection) has terrific texture. What medium do you prefer when incorporating lots of texture. Do you prefer mixed media for more textural pieces or the use of heavy brush stroke?
I love experimenting with different texture media in my art, like acrylic, oil, cold wax, collage, and encaustic. Acrylic is super versatile, and I've learned how to manipulate it to reflect the nooks and crannies of the earth. Oil and cold wax can create such beautiful translucent effects, while encaustic, which is an ancient method using melted beeswax and Damar resin, results in a luminescent, tactile surface. I enjoy using collage because I love the idea of upcycling papers. I even clean my brushes on parchment paper to save both paint and water, creating plenty of collage materials for later. Instead of using brush strokes for texture, I usually opt for a palette knife with texture media. This approach lets me explore and highlight the unique textures in my work. Where do you find sanctuary?
Whether I'm hiking through the woods, kayaking on a calm lake, or just sitting in my garden, being outdoors brings me a deep sense of peace and introspection. The quiet and beauty of natural settings help me recharge and reflect. There are several places near my home where I can get away from the noise of traffic, lawn mowers, and other suburban sounds. Finding these quiet moments alone helps me clear my head and start my day. |
Motherhood
Acrylic ~ 20 x 20 inches © Camille Kouyoumdjian |
Camille Kouyoumdjian’s artistic journey is deeply connected to the environment. Growing up in the Blue Ridge Mountains and along the eastern shore, she developed a deep respect for nature and a keen awareness of how humans affect it. Working as a Master Gardener, beekeeper, and environmental educator brought her close to delicate ecosystems, sparking her desire to create art that celebrates and deepens our relationship with the earth.
Being in nature is crucial to her work, helping her connect the chaos of the outside world with her inner emotional responses. The canvas becomes a way to express the beauty and complexity of nature, capturing her feelings and perceptions.
Camille has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Being in nature is crucial to her work, helping her connect the chaos of the outside world with her inner emotional responses. The canvas becomes a way to express the beauty and complexity of nature, capturing her feelings and perceptions.
Camille has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Photo Courtesy: Camille Kouyoumdjian
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CURRENT & UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
"Wild Harmony" June 26 - Oct 6, 2024 868 Estate Vineyards 14001 Harpers Ferry Road Hillsboro, VA Meet the Artists: Sunday, July 14 ~ 2 – 4 p.m. Artists in Action: Sunday, Sept 8 ~ 2 - 4 p.m. "Earth Awakened" July 5 - 28, 2024 Glen Echo Park Stone Tower Gallery 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD Stone Tower Gallery Hours: Saturdays & Sundays, 12 pm – 6 pm Opening Reception: Friday, July 5, 6 pm – 8 pm |
