Over the past several months, I’ve been contributing a series of articles exploring the rise of regional artists across Canada – shifting the spotlight beyond the familiar centres of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, and into the rich creative ecosystems found in smaller communities.
This latest issue of Oceanside Arts Magazine brings together a compelling range of voices and perspectives, each shaped by place, lived experience, and the act of making. We open with a featured conversation with Octavio Ribeiro, whose work – spanning figure, interior, and cityscape – reflects a lifetime of observation, technical exploration, and an intuitive response to his subjects.
January Issue Oceanside Arts
Throughout the issue, readers are invited into the personal journeys of artists working across diverse mediums. Zana Ancerl Jefferies offers insight into a multidisciplinary practice rooted in design, intention, and meaning, while profiles of artists such as Emma Paveley and Elissa Anthony reveal how creative paths evolve over time through experience, place, and persistence.
A strong sense of place runs like a current through these pages. Features such as Looking at Nova Scotia and Travelling for Art’s Sake: Egypt explore how landscape, history, and culture shape artistic expression. Meanwhile, A Vibrant Collective of More Than 20 Artists reflects on the energy and connection found within shared creative environments.
February Issue Oceanside Arts
Other pieces turn inward, exploring creativity as a form of reflection and storytelling. Cantaloupe and Other Local Legends highlights the role of narrative in artistic practice, while Art Therapy examines the powerful link between creativity, healing, and emotional expression.
The issue also celebrates the broader arts landscape. Echoes of Salt and Story weaves together music and storytelling in an immersive performance grounded in coastal traditions. Closer to home, At the MAC shines a light on the McMillan Arts Centre as a dynamic hub for exhibitions, learning, and creative engagement in the Oceanside region. Together, these stories form a layered portrait of contemporary creative life in Canada and beyond.
March Issue Oceanside Arts
April Issue Oceanside Arts
In this issue, I’m pleased to share my interview with Nova Scotia-based artist Dave Barrer. Known for his bold, stylized interpretations of iconic Canadian landscapes, Barrer’s work blends realism with graphic design sensibilities – resulting in large-scale, dramatic compositions of mountains, sky, and coastline. His early experiences guiding canoe trips along the Mattawa and Ottawa River systems continue to inform his deep connection to the Canadian wilderness.
In our conversation, we explore his distinctive outlining technique, which lends his landscapes a striking, pop-infused edge.
Please enjoy this month’s issue.
April Issue Oceanside Arts
Read more of my writing about the Arts in Canada on my top Canadian Art Blog, Iconography.
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/april.jpg826778Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2026-04-01 11:17:362026-04-01 11:17:36April Issue Oceanside Arts
Oceanside Arts Issue 3 – A West Coast Art Magazine Rooted in Place
On the eastern shores of Vancouver Island lies Oceanside, a coastal region shaped by salt air, long horizons, and a pace of life that invites reflection. Encompassing the City of Parksville and the Town of Qualicum Beach, along with Nanoose Bay, Coombs, Errington, French Creek, Bowser, Deep Bay and Qualicum Bay, the region forms a vibrant cultural corridor within the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Oceanside has long attracted collectors, artists, and cultural patrons drawn to its luminous coastline and contemplative atmosphere. A remarkable concentration of creative talent has taken root here, supported by the dedicated advocacy of the Oceanside Arts Council. At its heart stands the McMillan Arts Centre, a historic schoolhouse transformed into a dynamic arts hub housing three galleries and educational space that fosters both emerging and established voices.
Now in its third issue, Oceanside Arts magazine reflects this thriving ecosystem. While grounded in regional programming and artists, its scope extends outward, connecting readers to art travel and cultural initiatives across Canada and beyond.
West Coast Art Magazine – Oceanside Arts
This issue highlights the practices of Elfrida Schragen, Kyle J. Bennett, Elspeth Pratt, and Sarah Beck, alongside thoughtful features on community engagement. Nazanin Shoja reflects on her 15-year involvement with BC Culture Days, and Diane Moran shares insights into Mindfulness in May, a youth exhibition in Qualicum Beach. Readers are also transported to Petra, Jordan, and invited into the Harvard Art Museums to explore the Forbes Pigment Collection, 2,500 historic pigments examined through an audio tour led by conservation experts.
For collectors, publications like Oceanside Arts offer more than coverage. They provide context. They trace the threads between artist, place, and patron, illuminating the cultural fabric that gives artwork lasting resonance.
On the West Coast, the tide carries more than water. It carries stories.
Oceanside Arts Magazine Issue 3
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Kyle-J-Bennett.jpg915710Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2026-03-02 14:18:172026-03-02 14:18:17West Coast Art Magazine
A Publication of the Oceanside Community Arts Council – Oceanside Arts Magazine
The Oceanside Community Arts Council (OCAC) is a collective of arts professionals serving the Oceanside region of Vancouver Island, including Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Nanoose Bay, and Nanaimo. The council plays a vital role in supporting and promoting art, music, and culture across the region, while also providing essential funding and programming support for The MAC (MacMillan Arts Centre), the area’s public art gallery.
Parksville, located within the community of Oceanside on Vancouver Island.
Through exhibitions, performances, classes, workshops, and community initiatives, OCAC fosters meaningful connections between artists and the public, helping to sustain a vibrant and accessible arts ecosystem in the Oceanside region.
Oceanside Arts Magazine
Recently, OCAC launched Oceanside Arts Magazine, a monthly publication dedicated to celebrating the creativity, culture, and artistic life of the region and beyond. With this second issue, the magazine continues to take shape as a dynamic platform for artists, writers, and arts organizations to share work, ideas, and perspectives that reflect the richness of contemporary creative life on Vancouver Island and across Canada. Rooted in the belief that the arts are essential to a healthy, connected community, each issue features artist profiles, exhibition highlights, interviews, critical perspectives, and opportunities for engagement through galleries, performances, studio tours, and workshops.
I am pleased to be a regular contributor to Oceanside Arts Magazine, writing a series focused on regional arts and artists across Canada. Drawing on my extensive national arts network, I will be sharing stories from local arts communities and exploring how creative practices and markets are evolving beyond major urban centres.
In this second issue, I begin with Beyond the Big Three: Why Regional Voices Are Reshaping Canadian Art Collecting, an exploration of art markets and artistic activity outside the familiar metropolitan hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
You can read the current edition here. You can read more articles by Brandy Saturley here.
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oceanside-arts-magazine.jpg534710Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2026-02-03 15:24:012026-02-03 15:30:03Oceanside Arts Magazine
In The Steps of O’Keeffe – Artist on The Road to Santa Fe
If you have been reading this blog and following my work you know my obsession with Georgia O’Keeffe. It began in youth, intensified when I saw a retrospective of her works at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It then deepened with seeing her work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Now, after many years and more paintings, I am on my way to Santa Fe, do you know the way? Beginning in Victoria, Canada and ending in Santa Fe, New Mexico, we are headed out on the next journey. This trip will take us to the heart of the southwest art world, and one of the largest art markets in the USA, after New York City and Los Angeles. I’m an artist on the road, once again.
Cow’s Skull: Red, White & Blue – Georgia O’Keeffe, 1931
Over the years I have painted homage works to many of the greats, beginning with Goalie’s Mask; red, white and Dryden. Known as the ‘Goalie’s Mask Painting’, it is a composition and comment inspired by a famous work by O’Keeffe. When I first saw, Cow’s Skull: Red, White and Blue at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, I was surprised at how small it is, as with many famous works, grand in their infamy yet not in their size. Painted in 1931, this beautiful oil painting is visceral and moving, especially when you are close enough to see the scratches of the artists’ brush.
Goalie’s Mask: Red, White & Dryden, Brandy Saturley, 2011
Tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, O’Keeffe sought solace in the tranquil landscapes of Lake George, New York, and later, New Mexico. It was during her initial visit to the Southwest in 1929 that her artistic focus shifted from urban architecture to the natural wonders of New Mexico. In this particular piece, O’Keeffe captures the essence of a single skull, accentuating its rugged contours, weathered textures, and pale hue. To her, these bones symbolized the enduring allure of the desert and the resilience of the American ethos, hinted at by the striped backdrop. In 1949, O’Keeffe made New Mexico her permanent home, where she resided until her passing in 1986.
Georgia O’Keeffe, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, 1968 – Arnold Newman
Georgia O’Keeffe in Maui – Artist on The Road
While Santa Fe is the homeland and final resting place, Maui was another favourite place the artist painted. I discovered a book written by Maria Ausherman from interviews with Patricia Jennings, about world famous painter, and one of my favorites, Georgia O’Keeffe. The book, Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawaii , focuses on three month’s in 1939 when O’Keeffe visited Hawaii including Maui, as guest of the Dole Pineapple company as they had commissioned her to paint an image for their advertising campaign. I retraced the steps of O’Keeffe and also came home with sketches and photos that would become a painting, a visual story, of my time soaking up Maui.
IAO, acrylic on canvas painting, 2018, Brandy Saturley
Connections with Lawren Harris
After this trip I began to dream about and see connections between the work of O’Keeffe and Canada’s luminary of the landscapes, Lawren Harris. While I have yet to find evidence of their world’s connecting, they certainly knew of one another. I found a paper online by Sara Angel, that explored the possibility of a connection between the two modernist painters. In the spring of 1938 Harris drove more than 3000km to relocate to Santa Fe, which is not surprising as the area is celebrated for it’s stunning landscapes.
Natural Affinities – O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams
This exhibition and the companion text, examine the connections and friendship between the iconic painter and landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Produced by The Smithsonian, Natural Affinitiesexamines the friendship of two artists who were attracted to the distinct landscape of the American southwest and were committed to depicting its essence with modernist sensibilities.
San Francisco de Assisi , Santa Fe, Ghost Ranch New Mexico, Georgia O’Keeffe – Ansel Adams
It’s Good to Have Goals
Places I would like to live other than Vancouver Island – Maui, Santa Fe, Maui. I saw this pop up in my memories the other day, thank you Facebook, a reminder that I am on the path that I speak out loud, or at least to Facebook. While I have made my life and career as an artist on Vancouver Island as my home base, it has never stopped me from travelling for my art career. Now nearly twenty years in, I am looking at mid-career and where I would most like to see myself living and painting for the next twenty. Ideally the goal has always been split between Maui and Vancouver Island, but I have longed to spend time in the high desert of Santa Fe and on some level deep down, I know I will feel at home in this Southwestern landscape filled with vivid Indigenous cultures and colours.
Black Mesa Landscape, New Mexico / Out Back of Marie’s II, 1930 – Georgia O’Keeffe
The Time Has Come – Artist on The Road
After years of absorbing the wonderous world of O’Keeffe. Her passionate relationship with Alfred Stieglitz and her vibrating artworks, I am now only a week away from hitting the road to Santa Fe. Beginning in Victoria, BC with stops in Oregon and Moab Utah (serious photography and hiking time) I will arrive in Santa Fe in time for a few margaritas and a whole lot of art to see and create. There will definitely be some museums and a few other surprises.
On a side road somewhere in the Canadian prairies of Manitoba. Summer 2020 – self-photography Brandy Saturley
The next journey begins in May. Follow along with me on Facebook and Instagram.
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For many years I have shared my artist process and inside my studio on Instagram. While it has been a great tool for connecting with collectors, it has also been an opportunity to connect with fellow Artists of all stages. I get asked all the time about my custom made easels and my lighting equipment. Oftentimes there are questions about the brushes I use, the paints I prefer and even the cameras I utilize to capture my process. Instagram is a tough place to offer an in depth account of my studio tools, particularly when I am good at writing and love to share with people outside the Instaverse. So, after nearly two decades making art daily, here are the keys to my studio and a list of my essential tools and where you can pick them up online.
Brandy Saturley Studio, Vancouver Island, Canada, 2024
Wall Easels: these were custom built by my partner and me after we began looking online for options. At the time my studio was in the living room of our condo, and while I have great easel, the wall easels offered the opportunity to work on more than one painting at a time, while not taking up space. I found Paper Bird Studios online, they make handcrafted wall mounted easels, but they are pricey and shipping to Canada from Virginia. So we took Jason Tueller’s design and used it to make our own right here in Victoria, Canada. We used walnut and ended up making three wall easels. Since moving to my new home, and setting up a dedicated studio space, I dropped it down to two walls easels and kept my free standing crank easel.
Brandy Saturley Studio – Victoria BC Canada, 2024
Free-Standing Easel: I bought the BEST Classic Santa Fe II crank studio easel when I was in my condo, it’s a great sturdy studio easel and will easily take up to a 72″ canvas and still offer stability.
Studio Lighting: I like to control my lighting in the studio, I largely close up my windows to the outside and use four adjustable freestanding LED photography lights from GODOX. These lights offer the ability to control colour temperature, lumens power and angle of lighting. I can also control them by remote, but don’t often use the remotes as I find it just as easy to manually change the settings. The GODOX LED’s are meant for a photography studio, which is perfect for studio photography and video outside the ability to light for painting. I use the Godox LEDP260C Ultra-Thin 30W Dimmable LED Video Light Panel Lamp 3200K-5600K. I added the universal tripod stands by Amazon basics.
Brandy Saturley Studio – North Saanich, Canada, 2023
Ring Light: for video where I am speaking to the camera, recording painting process videos, and for Zoom, I use the 18 inch LED Neewer ring light with changeable filters from cool to warm light. It’s dimmable and comes with a tripod mount for iPhone. It makes everyone look great and comes with a useful camera remote.
Studio Supplies Cart: I love my cart, I keep some paints and mediums, as well as my brushes in this handy cart that I can move freely in the studio. It’s also a great place to put tapes, scissors, rulers and whatever else I might need to grab at a moments notice. I bought my sturdy steel 3 shelf cart through ULINE.
Go to Local Art Supplier: I have been loyal to my local supplier for years, Opus Art Supplies, they offer pro-discounts if you are buying over $1000 of supplies per year. I buy Golden Fluid acrylics, Golden OPEN, Liquitex acrylic gouache, Golden mediums and varnishes, Holbein Duo Aqua Water Mixable Oils, my canvas and panels through this awesome local business.
Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints and Mediums
Go to Local Acrylic Paint Supplier: there is a well known paint maker on Granville Island in Vancouver called KROMA, they offer top notch acrylic paints at reasonable prices and even supply paint to the Vancouver Film industry. Launched in 1970, KROMA has now been a part of the Vancouver art community, providing paint to painters for 50 years. Their success is based on the word of mouth recommendations of regular customers. While their business has slowly grown they still make each colour with considerable care, by hand, in small batches.
Brandy Saturley in studio with Kroma paints, Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity.
Paintbrushes: after my time in London, England at the Royal College of Art I came to discover Rosemary’s Brushes – from the Rosemary & Co. brush company. The finest handmade brushes on the planet and quite affordable as well. Shipping directly to my front door via Royal Mail service. I have come to develop a bit of an addiction to these great brushes. I am particularly in love with their SMOOSHING brushes, great for feathering and blending hard edges. If you purchase brushes please enter my affiliate coupon code BRANDYSATURLEY24 at checkout. Referral email for setting up a new account art@brandysaturley.com .
Using a Rosemary & Co. mini smooshing brush for tiny details.
Don’t forget the good old dollar store (Poundland in the UK) and building supply stores, they offer many great tools for artists at reasonable rates. I also love walking the back aisles at our local Princess Auto, it’s amazing what you can find that can help you in the studio. From paintbrushes to foam brushes, rollers for finishing and painters tape.
My Essential Art Supplies – studio table at Pouch Cove Foundation, Newfoundland, 2023
Remember, I have been building my studio for nearly twenty years and three moves, so as your art career grows, your studio will grow with you and these pieces are things you invest in both daily and over time. There is no sense going out and buying the best of everything right from the start, what you need grows out of where you are heading with your art career. Next post I will cover camera supplies, printers and archiving software.
Approaching the canvas of 2024, we stand at the threshold of a year brimming with vibrant hues and compelling narratives. It’s a blank canvas of possibilities, a fresh chapter waiting to unfold—a sentiment shared by many as they approach the new year. Personally, I find myself standing in my studio surrounded by endless opportunities to create something new, filled with eagerness to paint it with the kaleidoscope of colors that life has to offer. As I look back at 2023, I see the paradigm shift that has occurred and continues to drive me into this new year. This is my 2023 in Art Review, month by month.
In my perspective, the allure isn’t confined to the strokes of art alone; it extends to the numbers that intricately weave a subtle story of meaning. Consider this beautiful 2024 – when its digits dance together, they harmonize into the number eight, a symbol of auspiciousness and completeness. Isn’t it remarkable? Numerology, with its enchanting twos, fours, and the timeless circle of zero, occupies a special place in my heart. These figures, to me, are not merely mathematical; they are promises of positivity and gateways to the potential that this year may unfold.
Lucky Number 8 in 2024
As I glance into the rear-view mirror, reflecting on the journey through the business of art during 2023, the mirror reveals nearly thirty new paintings. It tells a tale of exploration, as I travelled to Vancouver, Banff, and Newfoundland, not only to showcase and deliver my art but also to immerse myself in the diverse landscapes that inspire my paintings.
Brandy Saturley working on an oil painting in her studio.
Being a professional artist in Canada is a perpetual adventure, marked by new connections forged and opportunities that materialize on the horizon. However, growth also entails leaving some relationships behind, a necessary step as I continue to surge forward in my career. Let me share with you the highlights of this transformative year, one I’ve come to name ‘Paradigm Shift,’ a testament to the profound changes that unfolded in every stroke, connection, exhibition, and journey undertaken. Welcome to the vivid canvas of my 2023 – a year that exceeded expectations and set the stage for the next chapter in my professional art career.
2023 in Art Review – a year of shifting and rolling with the times
January
The first two paintings created in any year (I like to paint two at a time) are celebratory and set the tone for the year ahead. In 2023 I began with paintings of skaters on outdoor ponds.
Canadian Artist Brandy Saturley with her painting, Glide Away. January 2023
February
The month began with a group exhibition in Banff, Canada with my Alberta dealer, Willock & Sax. I rounded out the month with two very large paintings, one portrait depicting our future consciousness in Canada and one depicting a conversation with a polar bear underwater.
The Conversation, 48×48 inches, acrylic, gouache and gold leaf on canvas, 2023 Brandy Saturley
March
On the verge of Spring weather here on the west coast I found support for the work I created during my Banff Centre residency with a featured article in Vancouver Island Arts Magazine. New paintings were flowing with an annual self-portrait about me and Lawren Harris in the works.
I launched a revolutionary 3D virtual exhibition of my work celebrating Northern scenes, Aurora Stories launched online, to a worldwide audience. The show was visited by cities in Canada, the USA, UK and art centres such as Basel, Switzerland, Berlin, the silicon valley. Grand Cayman and Dubai also came to see what was hanging in the virtual gallery. Thank you for visiting. There were new paintings honouring my Ukrainian Canadian heritage and a trip to walk the beautiful tulip fields of Chilliwack near Vancouver BC.
Paintings inspired by Ukraine and Ukrainian Canadian roots. Brandy Saturley studio, Victoria BC.
May
In May Britain was crowning a new King Charles, and the world was churning. My trip to the tulip festival and my UK roots were flowing into my work as I created two still life paintings of tulips encircled by a variety of tartans.
Tulips and Tartans paintings by Brandy Saturley, 2023.
Invited by Canadian Art Today, I sat down for an interview by Zoom from my studio here in North Saanich on Vancouver Island. With over an hour of material the interview is available on YouTube as well as an Apple podcast.
Canadian Art Today interview with Brandy Saturley and host Paul Constable for Artists in Canada.
New Brunswick school re-creates paintings by Canadian Artist, Brandy Saturley, 2023
This year I have been approached by arts educators across Canada, and it is wonderful to know that my work is being embraced by the next generation! Sending a big ‘Bravo!’ to these talented young artists. I painted a commissioned work for the Art in Nature Trail in Banff and also created a number of small polar bear paintings for my gallery in Banff.
Arctic Monarch – original acrylic and gouache painting on wood cookie, 2023, Brandy Saturley
The Polar Bear King in Banff, Canada. – Brandy Saturley
August
Two Toronto Magazines, the Toronto University produced Hart House Review and the visual and performing arts publication, smART Magazine published many of my works, painting and self-photography.
Brandy Saturley featured in smART Magazine – Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity
With the rising gas prices and an aging JEEP we traded in our rugged ride for a quiet Tesla, complete with new decals! Now you may see me coming, but you certainly will not hear my approach.
The Art of Brandy Saturley Tesla Y in front of mural by Jeff King, Victoria BC Canada
I also supported my original hometown of Sooke BC with a painting for their annual Sooke Fine Arts show, now celebrating 38 years.
Swinging into the Weekend at the Sooke Fine Arts show 2023. – Brandy Saturley
September
Heading into the glorious season of Autumn and all those beautiful colors, we were contending with a year of wildfires and hot temperatures and I couldn’t help but want to send good vibes to the people of Lahaina, Hawaii and Yellowknife, NWT. I sent the Polar Bear King to visit these communities and heal them, through two new paintings.
Guardian of the Arctic Realm, 2023, Brandy Saturley
I was also in preparations for my month long residency with the Pouch Cove Foundation in Newfoundland. I made the decision to pull my work from my dealer in Whistler, Adele Campbell Fine Art, after 2.5 years with this dealer it was time for me to move on and continue to push my market across Canada and into the US and European markets. I painted a little ‘Peace, Love, Canada’ before packing and hopping on the plane. Looking forward to a month creating on the easternmost coast of North America.
Peace, Love, Canada – 2023, Brandy Saturley
October
This month was all about an invitational artist residency in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland. One month to inhale all Newfoundland has to offer and spill it out onto three large canvasses, and capture it through my artist lens. A remarkable experience offering this west coast artist the opportunity to dip her toes in the Atlantic and Pacific. I produced new original paintings, writing, poetry, photographs and digital videos, which continue to come together in films posted to YouTube. A deeply holistic approach and record of my art making process from inception to presentation.
November
Returning home after a month away at year end means hitting the home-ground running! Production and printing of my annual art magazine, holiday mail out to clients and end of year shipments. I joined Mastrius as a Master Artist mentor and began promoting and preparing for a mentorship group I would be leading.
I stretched and finished my rolled paintings from Newfoundland and I shipped a painting back to James Baird Gallery. As a result of the residency you can now find my work available on ARTSY through James Baird Gallery.
Follow Brandy Saturley on ARTSY
December
I was invited to join the jury panel for the Canada International Art Competition in Toronto, and as I worked to wrap up my year I finished my final two paintings for 2023.
Brandy Saturley studio, North Saanich, BC CANADA – December 2023
Thank you for being part of my year! It’s 2024, let’s go!
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/brandy_saturley_tesla.jpg11251500Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2024-01-11 09:37:112024-01-11 18:39:592023 in Art Review
In Canada, according to the Canada Council for The Arts, professional artist is defined as an artist who has specialized training in their artistic field (not necessarily in academic institutions), is recognized as a professional by his or her peers, is committed to devoting more time to artistic activity, if possible financially, and has a history of public presentation or publication. In legal terms a professional Artist is defined as an individual who has a history of paid work as an Artist. Being a professional artist also means you have the character traits and habits to persist in your aim, even in the face of challenge and lack of earnings.
Anyone can consider themselves a professional artist, but that doesn’t make it so.
I watched a child trip on a curb and skin her knee. Her mother stopped to put a bandaid on the wound. Does this make her a doctor? or a nurse? My aunt takes painting classes and paints for enjoyment now and then, does that make her an Artist? There are many hobbyists and amateurs in the world of Art. What sets the professionals apart is every detail from our dedicated process for developing new artworks, through to finishing, presentation and delivery of the work. When I was in London at the Royal College of Art painting and expanding my mind and abilities as a contemporary painter, I came to see that in Europe, I did not have to explain why my profession of Artist, is a legitimate profession. When I was in New York City exploring the galleries in Chelsea, I did not have to explain that Artist is a legitimate profession. I also didn’t have to preface it with, “I’m a full-time professional Artist”. It is not the same in Canada, except for perhaps in Montreal and Toronto. Even though I have been making Art since birth, have training, public and commercial gallery shows and representation, and have been earning a full-time living from making Art for over 17 years. I know that I still have to educate people I meet, about what the profession of Artist really means.
While there is no universally agreed-upon definition, several key elements characterize a professional artist. Firstly, they possess a high degree of technical skill and expertise in their chosen medium or discipline. They have typically undergone extensive training, education, or self-directed learning to develop their artistic abilities to a professional level.
Secondly, professional artists demonstrate a consistent and focused commitment to their artistic practice. They invest significant time and effort in creating artwork, often adhering to a disciplined work routine and meeting deadlines. They recognize the importance of continuous growth and improvement, and they actively seek opportunities to develop their skills and expand their artistic horizons.
Financial sustainability is another hallmark of a professional artist. They derive a significant portion, if not all, of their income from the sale of their artwork, commissions, grants, or other artistic endeavors. They approach their art as a business, managing contracts, negotiations, pricing, marketing, and financial aspects associated with their profession.
Professional artists also exhibit a level of professionalism in their interactions and collaborations. They maintain ethical standards, meet their obligations, communicate effectively, and conduct themselves with integrity when dealing with clients, galleries, curators, and other stakeholders in the art world.
Ultimately, the definition of a professional artist encompasses a combination of technical skill, dedication, financial sustainability, and professionalism. It is a term that denotes not only artistic talent but also the commitment to pursue art as a serious and viable career path.
Being a Successful Artist in Today’s Age Means Embracing Technology
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_2485.jpeg11251500Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2023-05-10 15:24:542023-05-10 15:24:54Professional Artist
Imagine this, you develop a relationship with Van Gogh, and he says to you, ‘buy my art collection’. What if Picasso sold you 300 works, in one fell swoop, in his productive mid-career time of life. Can you imagine being one person with ownership of an entire collection of works by one artist? There have been a few times I know of where an art collector has come forward to invest in the works of one artist, setting that artist up for a lifetime of painting and allowing for the artist to move on to ‘bigger things’ than what they are currently capable of financing.
Over the past two decades I have been busy building a significant career and a substantial collection of original fine artworks. The work features in prominent and important collections both public and private. I have gained notoriety as the ‘voice of Canadian Pop Art’ and the ‘Iconic Canuck’. My work is equal parts sincere and quirky, and tells stories deeper than are seen. I am known for my bold and vivid palettes, my paintings are not shy and nor am I when it comes to my Art and where I see myself and my work twenty years from now. Between here and there the goal is always to push the boundaries of the year previous. You may have heard of me or seen my work, and you may not of, but if you are reading this, I am now on your radar.
As I plan for years ahead I realize that I will not be alive forever, and I will need to begin planning stages for what happens to the collection when I am no longer around. At this point my interest is in selling the current entire originals collection (minus the Goalie’s Mask Painting, currently listed at $91,000.00 CAD).
Maybe you have billions, you own a beautiful home on Maui, or a brand new Rivian. Perhaps you are building rocket ships or electric cars, or a society altering clothing brand. Perhaps you are an entrepreneur who finds talent and things to invest in, at the most unexpected places (like this blog). Rather than the rush of the auction at Sotheby’s, you find excitement in the direct approach, scooping up the entirety of something just before it peaks (or continues peaking).
Based on current Canadian art market value, 400 paintings from me, Brandy Saturley, would come to the sum of about $2.8 million dollars (minus the Goalie’s Mask painting) You bring the cash and I will deliver the paintings to your secure art storage facility, home, or business. You have a home worth $2.8 million just sitting in your portfolio? I could be persuaded on a trade. Just like real estate this art collection will continue to accrue in value in a less volatile marketplace.
Maybe you read the Financial Time’s, Globe and Mail, Robb Report, or the New York Times. Perhaps you spend your time perusing Larry’s List or Artsy. Have a new Tesla X Plaid? I would consider a trade for 30 paintings from the Iconic series of original artworks. The works in this collection are uniquely Canadian and would love to collaborate with all of the following brands; Lululemon, Canada Goose, Arcteryx, Hudson’s Bay Company, Fairmont Hotels, to name a few.
All I am interested in is continuing to make Art, continuing to push the boundaries of my work and continue this life as a contemporary fine artist. Continuing to travel to those places that feed the work, such as Churchill to record the polar bears or Fogo Island to capture the east coast of Canada. Have a vacation home on Maui? This is where I would love to spend six months of my year painting.
This collection spans two decades and not only includes the Iconic Canadian paintings I have become known for, it includes early work from travels across North America including; Las Vegas paintings, landscape paintings, wildlife paintings and pour paintings.
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/freepressjournal_2020-09_a474544e-5b7d-485f-845c-3b2da2247cd6_auction.webp399760Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2022-09-29 15:07:382022-09-30 13:51:24Buy My Art Collection
What is a self representing Artist? one with an entrepreneur attitude.
In the world of art, there are essentially two kinds of Artists; self-representing and gallery or dealer represented. So what is a self-representing artist? Quite simply, self-representing artist means time spent on the art making is equal to time spent “on the business”. A challenging juggling act for many artists, moving between artist brain and salesperson brain. I’m constantly thinking about where I can take my business and how I will get there. I am also continuously thinking about what I want to paint next, often times with a series of already painted works sitting in my frontal lobe waiting for excavation. Shifting between Artist brain and art sales brain, requires rigorous dedication and a tireless focus. That’s not to say I don’t get tired, or take a pause from my work, it means I am fully consumed by my work.
Inside the studio of Canadian artist Brandy Saturley
In every Art there are purists, those that hold fast to tradition and structure. When I began moving forward with my art, in a professional sense, I sought out the experienced, the Icons and the elders in the field of Canadian Art. Mentorship, connection and validation is what I was seeking, and I found it and learned much from these relationships. I met a lot of Artists and Gallery Owners who had established rules and guidelines for how Artists should be and what they needed to do to be successful. I found so many rigid structures within the Art business and amongst artists here in Canada, I moved from group to group learning about what made their way ‘better’. In the end what I discovered is I did not fit into any group or way of being, I was building my own path based on the knowledge I was gaining along the way. For me, rigid structures go against everything that Art represents, which is the freedom to paint the world the way I see it. There are many misconceptions out there about what makes an artist or art good or even valuable, more so in Canada.
So, lets tackle a few of these misconceptions about self-representing artists;
Self-representing artists aren’t good enough to be in a gallery.
WRONG: being represented by a commercial gallery in Canada does not mean the artist is any more skilled at making Art, it does mean that the artist follows and falls within a structure set by an association of dealers across Canada.
Artists should focus on making Art and not on business, they should focus on their expertise.
BOTH RIGHT AND WRONG: some artists are good at both, it comes down to experience, alternate skill-sets and enjoyment – I enjoy learning about both sides of the business and am driven by both aspects, the convergence of artist/entrepreneur, this is what invigorates my work.
Self-representing artists charge less, because their work is less valuable.
WRONG: as a starting point, artists should look at their market and price their art within the market. As the artist develops and expands their market, their prices are determined by market demand and a variety of others variables including press coverage, artist reach, recognition, cost of living, and fame.
Self-representing artists should concentrate on selling Art in their local market.
RIGHT and WRONG: for me, the focus from day one has always been to sell my art nationally and internationally. Since day one I have always been looking towards my end goal. I also focus on selling my art where it is loved and where people most respond to the work. I have established a fair bit of latitude with my Art, in that I don’t just focus on painting one thing. While I have branded myself as the ‘Voice of Canadian Pop Art’ and the ‘Iconic Canuck’ and am known for paintings influenced by the iconography of Canada, I am not hyper-focused on any one subject. For example, while I have painted ‘hockey goal tender masks’ that is not all I paint. This is my approach. Another approach may only be focusing on local and painting local scenes, which quickly establishes a local market for an artist. I think the biggest key in deciding what you can manage as a self-representing artist, is important. I have big audacious thoughts and dreams, I like to go big, which means if the idea doesn’t work, I fall hard. But I like the challenge. I remember going to an artist talk in Vancouver by Takashi Murakami, prior to the launch of his solo exhibition tour for ‘The Octopus Eats His Own Leg‘. He gave a masterclass of epic proportions of the challenges and pitfalls of self-representation and artist as entrepreneur. It helped me figure out where I wanted to land within the Art market.
One of the greatest challenges for a self-representing artist is finding buyers.
RIGHT: Unlike a gallery, where the buyers come to find art, a self-representing artist typically has to go to the buyers. No two sales are the same, and every sale must be approached differently. I have had collectors come to me from a myriad of ways, on and offline. Roughly 2% of my sales come from social media, the rest come from a combination of finding buyers, working with my suppliers, connecting with artists in other fields and with different skill-sets, and working my network of collectors. This year I am putting more focused time into developing my website and online sales than I have in the past 13 years. Certainly spurred on by COVID, but also because I am not on the road as much and therefore the focus on the business side has become even more concentrated. Thankfully all the travel and in person connecting of years past, is paying dividends in this time of isolation.
Brandy Saturley at opening of ‘Canadianisms’ in 2017 – Okotoks Art Gallery
So, this is what a self-representing artist is, one who works full-time at the career of Artist. While Art comes from a purely creative, abstract and fluid part of the brain, it’s wiring is similar in many ways to that of an entrepreneur, and it is a PROFESSION. I have always enjoyed this quote from a favorite portrait artist from NYC by the name of Chuck Close,“The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who’ll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work. If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself.”
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BrandySaturley_instudio_2020-scaled-1.jpg4631500Brandy Saturleyhttps://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngBrandy Saturley2020-11-20 11:02:092020-11-20 11:16:50What is a self-representing Artist?
When it comes to packing and shipping fine Art, whether it be across town, across the country or shipping artwork overseas; the packaging of artwork is serious business. About a decade ago I invested time in searching out options for protecting and shipping my paintings. There are many options available, from reinforced cardboard shipping boxes to wooden crates and aluminum crates. I found my ideal solution for art shipping in VEVEX Crates. VEVEX makes crates for demanding cargos, and fine art is a specialty of theirs, which is why I confidently call on them anytime I need to ship my work across Canada, the United States or overseas to galleries in London. Last year they celebrated making their 10,000th crate and they have many more to build.
From antique Raven Totem Pole’s being repatriated to Haida Gwaii, monumental photographs by Jeff Wall to London, England or The Artwork of Brandy Saturley to galleries in Toronto; these crates are one-of-a-kind custom works themselves designed to protect the fine artworks stored within.
We recently popped into VEVEX crates to visit CEO and head engineer, Rod Russell. We were excited to see two monumental crates being built for an upcoming exhibit of Ian Wall’s photography in galleries in London and Australia. Here are a few photos inside the shop where Brandy Saturley’s art crates are made in Vancouver, BC.
At VEVEX Vancouver – Jeff Wall crates for Canada House UK exhibition
Maximum protection for artwork from penetration, jarring, vibration, crushing, thermal changes and moisture.
Boxes have thick walls and additional framing, making for a very robust box that will stand up to repeating handling, storage and re-use. Providing the maximum in protection for customers that are highly risk-averse, such as fine artists and art museums.
Boxes have bolted lids and can be top loading, side loading and platform loads are accomplished through separate designs. Lids are provided with compression seals. Boxes are sealed with a satin outdoor wood finish, or painted. After receiving my crates, I paint the exterior with The Art of Brandy Saturley branding and logo, including signature colours of white, red, black and gold.
When you buy a painting from The Art of Brandy Saturley, you can feel comfort knowing your precious original piece of Canadian art, will be protected from weather, handling and transfers between couriers. Boxes are lined with 3/4″ thick expanded polystyrene foam. Lids are secured with Unidrive screws, accepting both Philips and Robertson drivers.
CEO and Crate Maker, Rod Russell with client and artist, Brandy Saturley
Next time you find a new painting to collect, rest assured you will receive your artwork safely and securely inside a handsome crate that can be kept to store for future, or can be recycled into many uses. Find a beautiful new artwork to put in that crate, now.
https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_6472.jpg9001200am-330https://www.brandysaturley.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/brandysaturley_logo.pngam-3302018-10-31 17:00:202023-03-01 09:48:23Packing and Shipping Art
