It has been written of Shawn Cameron and her work, “Hers was a world apart. From a young age she absorbed life around her filled with talk of cattle, weather, the smell of horse sweat and leather, the sound of hooves before dawn, the weariness of long days…and sense of purpose. Problems presented were solved and lessons learned. So… it had been for generations and remains still. With no memory of beginning she continues to record and preserve ranch life as it unfolds, through paint and canvas. God gave her a gift of observation to capture the beauty of fleeting moments that are re-lived by the viewer. They provide a window into a world she reveres.  Her subjects are real and their story is true.

 

Learning is a life-long passion and the art world is an infinite resource. Although primarily self-taught, the mentoring of several prominent western artists helped her work grow and evolve into a career that has spanned three decades. She remains grateful to all but especially Bill Owen, for generously sharing his knowledge in many areas, for Joe Beeler whose continued encouragement and support meant so much and to Robert "Shoofly" Shufelt who opened a door to the world of professional art.

 

Resource material is gathered on the family’s ranch of Dean, other family members and cowboys as they work. These captured memories become visual references. They are taken to her studio where they are studied, drawn, re-drawn and finally arranged on canvas. She is closely surrounded by critics for accuracy yet her goal is to grow in ability to portray the life few have experienced.”

 

Shawn Cameron has shared the cowboy and ranch world she knows through her poetry which has been included in various publications and recited by her and others at numerous events.

 

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

The Pearce Western Art Museum, Navarro College, Corsicana, TX

Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:  Museums, Galleries, Shows, and Awards

Summer Stampede Art and Gear Show and Sale, The National Ranching Heritage Center, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 2022

Night of Artists, Briscoe Western Art Museum, San Antonio, TX 2010-2021

Small Works Great Wonders, Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK 2009-2021 

Prix de West, Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City, OK 2003-2009

Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ 2006-2021: Artist's Choice          Award 2007, Governor's Choice Award 2015 and 2016, Museum Purchase Award 2020: Dusty Haze - permanent art collection.

C.M. Russell Auction, Great Falls, MT 2005-2015

Women Artists of the Twentieth Century, The Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ, 2001

Arizona Woman Artists, Phippen Museum, 2001

Heart of the West, Cowgirl Hall of Fame, Ft. Worth, TX 2008-2010

   (Cowgirl Hall of Fame also displays a photo of Shawn’s mother in 1942 at Madison Square Garden)

American Miniatures, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ 2005-2021

Women Artists and the West, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ 1992-1994

Masters in Miniature, Phippen Art Museum, Prescott, AZ

Masterworks of the West, Calgary Stampede, Calgary, Canada (a founding artist)

Phippen Museum Western Art Show, Prescott, AZ, 1991-1995, Phippen Family Award: Ranch Weathered 1993 graphite drawing

Phippen Miniature Masterpiece Show, Prescott, AZ 2006-2020

The Mountain Oyster Club, Tucson, AZ, 1991-2021, Lifetime Honorary Membership 2013

Academy of Western Artists, Gene Autry, OK, Will Rogers Award for Artist of the Year 2019

Visions of the West, Legacy Gallery, Jackson, WY 2005

Legacy of the West, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2005

The Peppertree Art Show, Santa Ynez, CA 2002-2004

The Cattlemen’s Western Art Show, Paso Robles, CA 1997-2003

Ranching Traditions, Trailside Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2010

Women of the West, Trailside Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 1999

One Person Show, Jackson-Kirkland Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 1998​

Cheyenne Art Show, Cheyenne, WY

Phippen Western Art Museum, Prescott, AZ, past Board Member

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SELECTED PUBLICATIONS (including Covers and/or Featured Articles)

Western Art Collector, American Cowboy, Western Horseman, Southwest Art, Art of the West, Rocky Mountain Rider, Cowboy in the West, American Art Review, Santa Fean, Art Talk

 

SELECTED POSTERS

Cowboy Poetry, Bar D Roundup 2013

Arizona Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Prescott, AZ 2004, 2009

The Tucson Rodeo, Tucson, AZ 2004

The Arizona Cowpuncher’s Rodeo, Williams, AZ 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999

The Cowboy Classics Art Show, Arizona Livestock Show, Phoenix, AZ 1993

50th Anniversary of Gold Rush Days, Wickenburg, AZ 1998

 

“My paintings portray the cowboy and ranch life I’ve personally known.  My motivation is the nobility of these horseback men, my medium is canvas and a brush and by God’s grace I accomplish what is set before me.”

-Shawn Cameron 

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