MfJ Artist dies · Story continued from page 1. In 1939, she and new husband Allan Cameron moved to Point Anne east of Belleville. Allan was a foreman with Canada Cement (now Laf arge) and a talented portrait painter. They'd met in an art class and later helped found the Belleville Art Association. In 1949, they moved to a Rednersville farm to raise their four daughters: Jean Wiinblad of Kitchener, Mairi Redner of Ottawa, Anne Rathwell of Reclnersville and Donnah Bojanowski of Newmarket, who paints as Donnah Cameron n. "She was a wonderful mother," Wiinblad said Thursday evening in a telephone interview from her mother's home. "She taught us many wonderful things . . . everything from how to keep a house (and) making preserves to art. There's lots of people in the family with the talent. "She could do anything, she really could. Even as a teenager she did watercolours. She went around and took orders, and on beautiful rag paper did watercolour Christmas cards and sold them." Cameron was a hairdresser -- a skill she'd studied before marriage -- and clothier, sometimes to the Allan's frustration. "My husband used to say, 'Donnah, no more people comin' here tryin' on clothes at supper time,'" she said in 2004. Wiinblad said her mother was a hard worker, and had little patience for those who weren't. "She grew up in a time when idle hands were the devil's work." In 1967, Loyalist College began offering continuing education (non-credit) courses. Cameron began teaching art at the campus in the southern Pioneer building and Kente Public School. "She was a good teacher," said Florence Lennox, one of Cameron's first Loyalist students and now a well-established Belleville painter and member of Gallery 121. "She was thoughtful and she loved all her students," said Lennox. "She was a good, kind lady, and was most anxious for everyone to succeed." The pair developed a long friendship that extended beyond their times spent painting together. "She was always a good friend. It wasn't just a teacher pushing a student. We worked together very well." Barbara Whelan also painted with Cameron and remembered her as being "so generous of spirit." "She was always enthusiastic with her painting," said Whelan. Cameron retired four years ago from The Artist in Her Own Words Donnah Cameron gave a lengthy interview to The Intelligencer in November 2004. Here's how she saw herself and her art. On hf r art: "I'vebeen an artist forever... It's fun, but its part of my life." On drawing: "It's the basis of everything. You've got to be able to draw what you see -- even a cup and saucer." On cutting hair in her farm days: "Some people'd come off the tractor and get it done, then get back on the tractor and get it dry." On making clothes for others: "I have people in Belleville today say, 'Don't forget, you made my wedding suit. My husband used to say, 'Donnah, no more people comin'here tryin'on clothes at supper time.'" > teaching courses, but Sharon Campbell, Loyalist's continuing education co-ordinated the centennial calenprogram co-ordinator, continued to dar Belleville Today, a collection of visit her. 19 ink drawings by local artists, "It was a highlight to go to her including one by her. The originals home and have a cup of tea with still hang at the downtown Scotiaher," said Campbell. "She always bank. Wiinblad said Cameron was still wanted to show me the latest paintings she had done or the latest quilt painting -- and, won an award -- last year, and even went on a famishe was working on. "We don't really appreciate right ly trip to Newfoundland. "She was right out there with now the hundreds and hundreds who have taken watercolour classes everybody else painting," Wiinblad with Donnah, and so many of them said. "When she came home, she starting on watercolour paintings had 15 big paintings." The arts council's Feeney and going on themselves to being really well-known. It's because of laughed as she said Cameron was her. She was such a wonderful still feisty at the 2005 Artevino exhibition, exchanging smart remarks teacher." with a well-known auctioneer. "First of all, people had a great "She was giving Boyd Sullivan a admiration for Donnah's paintings, and so they wanted to be able to run for his money," Feeney said. paint like the way she did," said "She was a good heckler." It was only in the last year that Campbell. "They came to her with a real respect for her work, and ... her mother started truly showing she gave everyone lots of attention. her age, she said. She is survived She was really clear in the way she by dozens of family members, including more than 20 great-granddid demonstrations. "She would do it step by step children. Those who were taught by! and just make it really easy for Cameron will never forget her. everybody. I just loved her." Campbell noted Cameron was Lennox said the artist has left a lastalso well-known for her quilting, ing impression. "We all advanced, but it was our which was very similar to her watercolour work: instead of boxy early training with her that has designs, Cameron quilted flowers meant so much to us, that brought us to where we are today." and flowing designs. A reception for Cameron will be Cameron sometimes seemed not to value her work as much as her held Saturday at the Steele Funeral fans, Campbell said, but she delight- Home, 30 Moira St. W., from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Funeral to follow. Cremaed in telling stories. tion has occurred and interment "It wasn't just a painting there was some reason that made will be at Carrying Place Annex Cemetary. The family appreciates her paint it," said Campbell. donations to the Heart and Stroke In 1978, Lennox said, Cameron Founation.