Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Soltani Icely.
Hi Camille, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My full name is Sarah Camille Soltani Icely, but I go by Camille. I was born and raised in Summerville, South Carolina. I have wanted to be an artist since the time I could hold a crayon in my hand. When I was a child, you could always find me drawing and creating things. In school, we learned about poetry and I found I could better express myself and my feelings in poetic form. I remember the first two poems I wrote were about my dog passing, and my toy wagon getting accidentally run over as my mom was backing out of our driveway. I think my mom still has both of those laminated in a memory box somewhere.
Shel Silverstein and Walt Disney have always been two of my biggest inspirations throughout my entire life. Even on family vacations to Disney World I would take my sketchbook and draw the characters. I also loved (and still love) meeting the Disney Artists when they are live sketching in the parks.
Growing up in Summerville, I was accepted into Rollings School of the Arts (now Rollings Middle School of the Arts) and had the privilege of attending from 4th-8th grade. In my last year there, I won an award for ‘Artist of the Year’, which took me by complete surprise, but I think that’s one of the first moments I truly started to believe in myself as an artist.
Around age 9 I had some pretty traumatic events occur in my home life, and this trauma has followed me for many years. That is why most of my artwork shares stories of trials, storms, and overcoming. I’m a huge believer of faith and inner healing.
In my 20s, I began to travel and do volunteer work overseas. For several months I worked with Rahab’s Rope in India, teaching young women who were at high risk for sex trafficking how to make jewelry. I also spent several years in England working as an intern with a church there, helping with a ministry school. Throughout my travels, I continued to paint and write poetry, even when I only had cardboard to paint on. I would have painting sales to help raise money for my living expenses since it was all volunteer-based.
My inspiration for all I do comes from my personal relationship to God, which is why my spirituality is reflected throughout all my writings and paintings. Even though I go by Camille, as a child I went by Sarah (my first name) for many years. I always loved both of my names and felt it fitting to my own inner healing story to include both names when signing my art. This is where my business name ‘Sarah Camille Art’ was born.
In 2019 I moved back to Summerville, South Carolina, and now live here full time with my husband and our baby boy. I have published two books of poetry and paintings, which can be found on Amazon or on my website.
I currently spend my days as a full-time mother, painting from my home studio. I also work with a group of local artists called The Carnes Crossraods Artist Cooperative, located at the Public Works Art Center in downtown Summerville. You can find many of my originals and signed prints for sale there. I also have an online store through my website, SarahCamilleArt.com.
The best way to keep up with my new paintings and events is through my Facebook or Instagram page. You can find it under Sarah Camille Art. My biggest hope in all I do is to encourage, inspire, and uplift anyone who views my work, hoping it speaks to them in its own personal way.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My road has definitely not been an easy one, and I could probably write a book of challenges but also a book on testimonies of how those challenges worked out for a greater good. I have made many trial and error mistakes in my art career until I found where my art does best in the world; and still finding this out as the years go on. I believe the biggest things that have gotten me where I am today, and will one day get me where I want to be, is I believe in myself and have never given up on my dreams.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think one of the things that set me apart from other artists is the poetry that is written for my artwork. I like to share these poems to take people who view my artwork a little bit deeper on the meaning behind the painting, in hopes that the words speak to their own hearts or life circumstances in a positive way. With my paintings, I work mostly in acrylic, but I also like to do some oils and watercolor pieces as well. However, I would say the majority of my work is acrylic on canvas.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I can’t think of anything too surprising, but I tend to paint a lot of night scenes with the stars and moon; and I’m actually not a big night person. I’m much more of a morning person. Even before I had a baby I was always one who wanted to be in bed by 9, and up with the sun in the morning.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.SarahCamilleArt.com
- Instagram: @SarahCamilleArt
- Facebook: @SarahCamilleArt
