Local Artist to Keep an Eye On
By Nicolas Fequiere
Canvas Wear is a clothing company that was begun in April 2012 by Cameron Werner, a graphic artist from Bakersfield, CA. In his own words, he “started Canvas Wear to spread creativity in the community as well as share the love of God through [his] passions and hobbies. Over the last two years, Canvas has been a stamp on not only myself but the overall concept of Canvas has changed peoples view on creativity as a whole.” Werner is unapologetic about his faith, but never overly insistent on sharing his personal beliefs.
He explains that his passion for art comes from God, as well as his father, who also happened to be a graphic designer. Werner’s father taught him about art and design, even as a child. He explains that even though he fought against becoming an artist for quite some time, he eventually began to see it as his calling as he got older.
Canvas Wear is essentially “not for profit,” as all proceeds earned are funneled back into the company to create even more art that Werner uses to promote creativity and inspire positivity. He now sees it as his responsibility to keep his fans happy and supply them with awesome artwork that they can not only wear, but bond with on a more personal level. In the past, Werner has also done tattoo designs for others. Some of his biggest inspirations are those who have walked this very same path before him and achieved success, such as his mentor Barret Colvin, who works for Neff Headwear.
While Canvas could be considered Werner’s flagship company, he also runs Werner Designs, which is his graphic design business. He has helped many young people with grand aspirations to get started off on the right path to achieving their dreams. He creates amazingly beautiful logos and other designs for new clothing companies and local bands. As he explained to me, he does not see the clothing industry as a competition as it pertains to Canvas’ role in the marketplace. He only hopes to focus on fostering others and their own dreams.
Werner is intensely focused on helping others achieve their dreams, as it pertains to graphic design and artistry. He understands the importance of asking for, providing assistance, and engaging in collaborative efforts with others in order to uplift an entire community of young creatives. While he comprehends the direct effect that his talents have had on the local scene, Werner also gets caught up in the little moments. He explains that he appreciates every single time he sees a random person at the mall wearing a Canvas shirt or anytime he sees someone on Instagram post a picture tagging the Canvas page.
For those who are looking to achieve success in graphic design or start their own business, Werner offers this advice: “Stay passionate and follow your dreams. Never give up when it seems hard… Never stop believing in yourself.” You can check out more of his designs on his personal Instagram account: @Canvas_Cam and you can support Canvas at @Canvaswear on Instagram. If you wish to purchase Canvas products, they can be found on the official website: Canvaswear.bigcartel.com