Rick Cameron Paintings
Exhibited April, 2010

          What’s beautiful about the Sonoran Desert? April featured artist Rick Cameron responds immediately with an emphatic “absolutely everything,” and visitors will see the proof of his celebration of nature during the month-long solo exhibit in the Visitor Center Gallery.

        “Growing up in California, being close to the ocean, I never thought I would find so much beauty in the desert. My wife and I moved to Arizona five years ago and I love the desert, from the grandeur of its Superstition Mountain vistas down to the smallest iridescent hummingbird or preying mantis. I had protested the move in the beginning, but now I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else on the planet. I discovered love of art in my youth, creating murals in my grade school classes. I was always put in charge of their layout; this talent came in handy once we moved to Arizona. My wife didn’t like looking out the dining room window at a block fence. She wanted to plant a bougainvillea, but I talked her into letting me paint one on the wall. It turned out great. It doesn’t take any watering and I don’t have to pick up any debris.”

              Cameron graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in art and education. It wasn’t until moving to Arizona that he began dedicating most of his time to art. “I work primarily in acrylic and oils but dabble occasionally in watercolor. I have yet to do much traveling in the northern part of Arizona but plan on field trips there this spring. With each day-trip I am amazed at how many different things I see. The desert is full of so much beauty, and the thought of being able to create a picture from a pencil or brush is magical and a gift from God. One of my favorite places to visit is the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Every time I visit it inspires me to continue my work.”

          Cameron is a member of the Mesa Art League and was a featured artist at the Superstition Mountain Museum in 2008. “It amazes me that so many talented artists enjoy this same beautiful landscape and yet paint so many different views of it. That is another thing that is so enriching about being an artist. It’s your picture; your view and hopefully others will enjoy it as much as you.”

           Paintings displayed during Cameron's April exhibition will be available for purchase. In addition to framed and unframed art, prints and note cards will also be available. Paintings start from $200 and range in price according to size. Correspond with the artist by email to: cameronznaz@cox.net or by phone at 480-220-8868

     Boyce Thompson Arboretum is at highway 60 milepost #223 near the historic copper mining town of Superior, a drive of about 45 minutes due East of Mesa. April visitors are admitted from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and the Arboretum closes at 5:00 p.m. ( summer month hours resume in May, when BTA is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) New exhibits begin each month and may be seen daily during business hours; the Arboretum is an Arizona State Park and daily admission must be paid to enter the Visitor Center where our gallery is found. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Annual memberships at the Arboretum begin at $45, and include a year's access, guest passes for your friends and family, along with many other benefits. A membership may be purchased in the gift shop on the day of your visit. To review other recent gallery shows from...

Nan Lawrence March, 2010

Barbara Atkinson February, 2010

Nancy Matus January, 2010

Barbara Cox December, 2009

Margaret Whittaker November, 2009

Artists of the Superstitions October, 2009

Marilyn Barton September, 2009

Gila Community College August, 2009

Deborah A. Lee June, 2009

Margie Porter May, 2009

Timm Chapman January, 2009

Paul Kinslow December, 2008

Maggie Leef November 2008

Sharon Sieben October 2008

Nicole Royse September 2008

Judy Bottler Photography May 2008

Bob Estrin Photography April 2008
Mary Isham Watercolors March 2008
Susan Strom and Cathy Franklin Lightning Photography February, 2008
Arizona State Parks Plein Air Paintings January, 2008
Carolyn Gray & Connie Thomas December, 2007
Jean Sullivan November, 2007 Sue Cullumber October, 2007
Adriane Grimaldi September, 2007
Pima College print-making students July-August, 2007
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2007
Fred Charlton May, 2007
Paul Mudersbach March-April, 2007
Linda Kaiser February, 2007
Edith Kreueger-Nye December, 2006 - January, 2007
Cindy Carrillo October-November, 2006
Bob Rice September, 2006
Bud Heiss July-August, 2006
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2006
Sandy Tracey April-May, 2006
CJ Rider March, 2006
Jessica Green February, 2006
Steve Davidson January, 2006
Don & Carole Schupp December, 2005
Carolyn Gray November, 2005
Martha Burgess October, 2005
Boeing Photographers September, 2005
Lightning Lady Susan Strom July/August, 2005
Mesa Arts League June/July, 2005
Jeanette Bronson May, 2005
Tom Stanley April, 2005
Kathy McClure February-March, 2005
Pam Smyth January, 2005
Tina Faust December, 2004