About the Artist
Raised and schooled in Grass Valley, Nevada - Union Class of 1957; Don and his wife moved to Humboldt County in 1960. Don worked as a heavy equipment operator for the California Division of Forestry, California State Parks & Recreation, as well as Caltrans. Until his retirement in 1990 upon which he moved back to Grass Valley, California. As a self-taught taxidermist, Don made molds of trout and salmon reproducing them with resin. Don started carving fish at the age of 56. After living in Grass Valley for 13 years, Don and his wife moved to their current residence in Lassen County, CA in 2003.
Don Cameron
Awards & Championships
FISH CARVING AWARDS
1996 Best of Show–Capital Woodcarvers
1997 Best of Show–Capital Woodcarvers
1999 Best of Show–Trout & Salmon–Pacific Flyway Decoy Show
2001 First Place–Trout & Salmon–Pacific Flyway Decoy Show
2007 First Place & Best of Category–Fish Carver Invitational
World Fish Carving Championships
2012 (2nd) Best of Show–Trout & Salmon–Pacific Flyway Show
2012 (2nd) Best of Show–Trout & Salmon–Columbia River Show
About the Carvings
Based on his passion for nature and art, artist Don Cameron is known for his artistic design, attention to anatomic detail, and commitment to high quality.
Don is self-taught in the art of wildlife carving and world-class painting. He specializes in creating one of a kind woodcarvings with outstanding detail. His carvings possess great energy, realism and beauty.
Don began as a self-taught taxidermist, creating and displaying his own fish mounts. In 1995 he carved his first wood carving and was immediately recognized by his peers as having a gift. In 1996 he entered one of his fish carvings in a Capital Woodcarvers competition and won "Best of Show."
The carving process begins by using hand and power tools to carve and shape the piece, then he burns all the details into the wood using a wood burning tool; individually creating every fish scale, giving the piece the most realistic texture. Glass eyes are used and often hand painted as well. The final stage of the process is painting the piece, which brings it to life. Many colors are hand mixed and applied by airbrush as well as by hand to give the carvings a world class, natural finish.