Plein air "colorist" Camille Przewodek (1947-2024)
Plein air "colorist" Camille Przewodek
-advertisement-


The plein air world lost a beloved painter this week when Camille Przewodek passed away from a sudden onset of liver cancer.

“I’m devastated,” said Eric Rhoads, CEO and publisher. “Camille was one of the greats of our generation and will be fondly remembered as one of the greats of all time. Without her encouragement and support there would be no PleinAir Magazine.” Eric first met Camille around 1999, when he would drive to Petaluma to study art and she taught concepts of using color blocks. “Her work stood out – you could pick it out across the room at any venue because she painted so differently and in her own unique style.” Eric said that when others discouraged him to publish PleinAir Magazine, she encouraged him and helped refine the concepts for it.

Camille was a plein air artist in the tradition of Monet. Her aim, she once said, was “to capture the light key of nature — the quality of light on a subject as determined by various factors such as time of day and atmospheric conditions.” She would then refine the composition of some paintings in the studio.

One thing that separated Camille from other artists is that she deeply understood advertising, likely thanks to her background in illustration and marketing campaigns before moving into fine art.

Camille Przewodek and Dale Axelrod
Camille with her husband, Dale Axelrod. Camille is also survived by their daughter, Erin Axelrod, and Erin’s daughter, Azita.

Camille Przewodek obituary

She intentionally branded herself as a plein air “colorist,” a term which she said helped her better define who she was as a painter. “Landscapes are brimming with color,” she said. “Why would I dumb down nature by dulling her magnificent symphony?”

PleinAir Magazine's 13th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition August 2023 Winner Camille Przewodek Sonoma Farm Vista Best Plein Air Landscape
Camille Przewodek, “Sonoma Farm Vista,” Oil, 9 x 12 in.; “It’s my favorite painting spot,” Camille said of this painting. “I cannot paint a painting from this spot that does not sell. Now I never paint to sell. I try to just paint the best painting I can, and it’ll eventually find an owner.”

In addition to her art training at Wayne State University in Detroit, and earning a BFA in Illustration at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, Camille studied painting with master colorist Henry Hensche at the Cape School of Art in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

For 25 years, Camille shared a studio with her dear friend Carole Gray-Weihman. “We even owned a house together in France and ran an art school for many years,” Carole tells us. “Ironically, we were in the process of moving out of our studio this month as our lease ends next week. We had hoped to reconnect more deeply as we made space in our lives for more fun and less business. With our pending house sale in France and returning to work in separate studios, we had already started to renew our friendship during PACE. At least we had that week together where she was on cloud nine after winning the PleinAir Salon show.”

In our interview at PACE, Camille said that winning the competition had been one of her major goals for over a decade because, although she was established, getting publicity was a key to staying successful as an artist.

“Beach Babe – Vernazza,” 14 x 11 in.
Camille Przewodek, “Beach Babe – Vernazza,” 14 x 11 in.

Camille was a Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters and the California Art Club; and a Master Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and American Women Artists.

She authored the book “Mondays with Camille, Capturing the Key of Light in Color,” taught at Plein Air Live and the Plein Air Convention, and was a guest on the Plein Air Podcast with Eric Rhoads (episodes 3 and 235). She also released the five-star rated art video workshop “A Colorist’s Guide to Painting” with Streamline Publishing.

Her approach to capturing the colors and light effects of nature garnered extensive coverage in numerous books and magazine articles, and her paintings have been featured in national ad campaigns for clients Alfa Romeo, Target, Loews Hotels, and others. Her painting “Sonoma Farm Vista” will be featured on the August-September cover of PleinAir Magazine.

CEO and Publisher Eric Rhoads, Artist Camille Przewodek, and PleinAir Salon Manager Kari Stober
CEO and Publisher Eric Rhoads, Artist Camille Przewodek, and PleinAir Salon Manager Kari Stober at PACE 2024, where Camille was awarded the PleinAir Salon Grand Prize

“Today we lost one of the great women of plein air, Camille Przewodek,” said Mark Fehlman. “She was the first artist that I connected with at the Laguna Invitational and I always looked forward to sitting in the back of the room at PACE and talking about politics and painting. She was no shrinking violet. She loved and respected he husband and partner Dale, and always told me about all of the wonderful things that he did. We all loved and respected Camille and she will be sorely missed. We all hope to see her in painters heaven.”

Lori Putnam with Camille Przewodek in Lori's art studio, 2021
Lori Putnam with Camille Przewodek in Lori’s art studio, 2021

“There is no way to know the number of artists whose lives she touched, but she certainly inspired me and will continue to do so,” said Lori Putnam. “It goes without saying that she was a tremendous artist … Camille knew her stuff inside and out. She could see and paint like no one else I have ever met. She lives on in our hearts. What a legacy.”

“Villa Stairway – Umbria,” 9 x 12 in.
Camille Przewodek, “Villa Stairway – Umbria,” 9 x 12 in.

“Color that expresses the light key of nature can make even the most mundane subject strikingly beautiful,” Camille said. “My paintings could be called ‘celebrations of mood,’ and I often go back to the same location at different times of the day in order to capture its mood in literally a whole new light. Windows and doorways both hold back and let in light. They intrigue me, as do shadows, which take on an ‘objectness’ even though they are insubstantial. Shifting light is my passion.”

Helpful Links:


7 COMMENTS

  1. I only met Camille one time at the Plein Air Convention in SF a few years ago but she was very generous and complimented me on my work. I will never forget that kind encouragement from such an accomplished artist. RiP Camille.

  2. I am so surprised to hear about Camille, I first attended her workshops in Santa Rosa decades ago. My husband and I. We even traveled to Spain to attend her workshop along with Carol (Iforgot her last name}
    She was a straight forward teacher and I accomplished the magic of color and composition.
    Barbara Fracchia

  3. very sad to lose such a great artist. Camille was so passionate about her work and carrying on the lessons of Hensche. She was so concerned with getting his painting method out to the world. She was a bit intimidating but very kind and had a genuine interest in helping her students learn. I remember her talking about the fact that a light in black could be darker than a dark in white – I might not have that right. it’s confusing. her color blocks , her mud people. I took a workshop from her in Madison, MS. My condolences to Dave and her daughter and grand daughter. Rest in peace Camille

  4. So shocked & saddened to hear of Camile’s passing. She shared her knowledge, wisdom & insights with countless painters, & her artful expression has always stood at the forefront of the plein air realm.
    Forever greatful to you Camile.
    RiP

  5. I am so sad to hear of her death. My condolences to all who knew her. I found out about her when one of her Venice paintings was donated to Goodwill to raise money for job training. A lot of bids cast but I got it and I absolutely love it. I reached out to her about the painting and she was so very nice. I started following her work and she was an amazing talent.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here