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Arts Fundraiser in Edmonton

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ARTattack at The Miller Art Gallery: Arts Fundraiser in Edmonton

On September 19th, 2025 another edition of the ARTattack fundraiser opens at the Miller Art Gallery. This annual Arts fundraiser in Edmonton helps support the Peck Visual Art Program and the Miller Art Gallery inside the Roxy Theatre.

Arts Fundraiser in Edmonton

The Miller Art Gallery and the Peck Visual Arts program are proud partners of Theatre Network, located within the Roxy Theatre in Edmonton. Established in 2022 by Theatre Network, the Miller Art Gallery was created to diversity the programming and take advantage of the expanded space within the new Roxy under the curatorial direction of Jared Tabler.

The Miller Art Gallery is the proud home of the Peck Visual Arts program, which focuses on championing the best in Canadian contemporary art and elevating the work of Canadian artists. We are creating an artist’s home, with a sense of community, where people feel valued, are elevated and have a safe space to develop and grow. We invite audiences to engage and connect through visual art and transform their understanding of the world around them.

Arts Fundraiser in Edmonton

This year’s ARTattack fundraiser titled; Iconic Brands offers 20 Canadian Artists’ takes on the theme. This years artists are: Jai Tanninen, Curtis Trent, Josh Harnack, Sean Allan, Charlene Johnson, Nick Ross, Brandy Saturley, Marcie Rohr, DUNCE, Lydon Hurst, Sarah Jackson, Beto Vigo, Riki Kuropatwa, E.R. Gott, Patrick Marino, Michael McLean, Denise Lefebvre, Justina Smith, Maverick McGinn, and Dean Pickup. Each artist has created work based on their own interpretation of the theme in their unique and definitive style. The works will be auctioned off during ARTattack on September 19th with all of the proceeds supporting the Peck Visual Art Program at the Miller Art Gallery.

When I was invited to donate a work to this important event I immediately began thinking of iconic Canadian brands. With a limited canvas size of 14×14 inches I was looking to create a bold message with the brand logo as the focal point. There are so many iconic Canadian brands to choose from like the Hudson’s Bay stripes and the purple and gold of Crown Royal Whisky, but for this event I chose Hawkins Cheezies with it’s bold red and white stripes and vividly orange Cheezies set against a complimentary teal background. The piece feels like childhood and fun memories of eating the favourite snack after school or late night in front of the TV. They could be spilled out during a card game or a late night chat session with a friend. As an adult I prefer my Cheezies with a nice glass of wine, making the perfect pairing for a lazy evening. Get your tickets and score some ‘Iconic Art’. See all the paintings here.

Arts Fundraiser in Edmonton

Say Cheezies! 14×14 acrylic on canvas, Brandy Saturley, 2025

Secret Ingredient Condiment Company
presents
ARTattack 2025 featuring Ethan Palazzo
Friday September 19th, 2025 at 8pm

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

7PM – VIP Reception
8PM – Doors Open / Party Starts
Tickets: General $25, VIP $75*
*includes $50 tax receipt

 

Let Your Backbone Rise

Exploring the Depths of Brandy Saturley’s Let Your Backbone Rise

Brandy Saturley’s Let Your Backbone Rise (2016) is a captivating self-portrait that blends surrealism with profound cultural and personal symbolism. Viewed from behind, the artist stands against a striking mountainous backdrop, arms raised as if adjusting a hat, set against a dreamlike landscape. This piece, rich with influences and meaning, invites viewers to delve into its layers, drawing from the mountain paintings of Lawren Harris and the symbolic backbone adorning her red coat.

Let Your Backbone Rise

Influence of Lawren Harris’s Mountain Paintings

The painting’s backdrop is a direct nod to Lawren Harris, a cornerstone of the Group of Seven, known for his abstracted depictions of Canada’s rugged landscapes. Harris’s works, like Baffin Island (1931), infuse nature with spiritual depth through clean lines and bold colors. Saturley incorporates a segment of this painting into her own, transforming Harris’s soft peaks and icy waters into a surreal setting that echoes the Canadian wilderness. This homage reflects her five-year retrospective focus on Canadian themes in Alberta exhibitions, where she “paints with Lawren Harris” through a pop-art lens. The geometric mountain forms and vibrant hues mirror Harris’s style, while hints of Rockwell Kent’s introspective landscapes add further depth, portraying human solitude against nature’s grandeur.

Let Your Backbone Rise

Baffin Island Mountains, Lawren Harris 1931

Symbolism of the Backbone on the Coat

The figure’s red coat, a central element, is steeped in meaning. It recalls the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s red serge uniform, symbolizing national stature and authority, while also nodding to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band jacket, infusing a pop culture twist. The coat’s vivid red contrasts with the cool landscape, radiating vitality.

Most striking is the white backbone design running down the coat, exposed like vertebrae. This motif embodies resilience and the “backbone of a nation,” reflecting Canada’s enduring spirit. For Saturley, it also marks her personal ascent as a female artist during her 2016 career peak. Paired with white gloves and a formal French twist hairstyle, the figure exudes confidence, suggesting vulnerability turned into strength. Saturley describes this self-inclusion as “looking for herself in the world,” weaving personal growth into a broader Canadian narrative.

important Canadian Painting

Let Your Backbone Rise, 2016, Brandy Saturley

Let Your Backbone Rise: A Bridge Between Past and Present

Let Your Backbone Rise exemplifies Saturley’s “Pop Canadianisms” style, merging historical influences with modern resilience. By honoring Harris’s legacy while adding contemporary symbols, she creates a bridge between past and present in Canadian art. This painting is more than a visual feast—it’s a celebration of identity, heritage, and the artist’s journey, inviting viewers to see themselves within its vast, symbolic landscape.

No Dress Rehearsal

With Hearts on Our Sleeves, 2017, Brandy Saturley

Studio Moving Sale

Marking a Milestone – Studio Moving Sale

Big changes are happening in my world—I’m moving into a new, larger studio. This new creative space will give me more room to experiment, tackle larger canvases, and keep exploring the Canadian stories that have been at the heart of my work for the past twenty years.

Studio Moving Sale

Since the early 2000s, my paintings have been shaped by journeys across this country—capturing everything from the powerful presence of the Rockies to the windswept shores of the Atlantic, from quiet prairie skies to the colours of our northern lights. Along the way, I’ve painted symbols and scenes that speak to our collective identity: plaid patterns and poppies, canoes and hockey sticks, wildlife and wild landscapes. Each canvas is a reflection of time spent listening to the rhythms of Canada.

Studio Moving Sale

This move would not be possible without the people who believed in my work and chose to make it part of their lives. To thank my collectors—and to welcome new ones—I’m offering 20% off all original paintings priced over $5,000 for a limited time. This is both a celebration and an invitation: a moment to add another story to your collection or to begin one. This is a rare opportunity to collect significant works at special pricing, as I make room for the next evolution of my practice.

Banff Paintings

Studio Moving Sale

For longtime collectors, this is an opportunity to add another chapter to your collection. For new collectors, it’s a chance to begin your journey with a piece of art rooted in Canadian culture, history, and landscape—at a moment when my work continues to gain recognition and evolve.

The sale runs until September 15th. After that, I’ll be unpacking in the new studio and preparing for what’s next: a fresh chapter of Canadian-inspired paintings, larger in scale and scope.

Celebrate this milestone with me and bring home a piece of the journey.

See available Brandy Saturley  works here.

Studio Moving Sale

Rise of Regional Artists

The Rise of Regional Artists: Collecting Canadian Art Outside the Big Three Cities Matters

When we talk about Canadian art, the conversation too often circles back to the same three cities; Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. These cultural hubs have long held the spotlight, with their galleries, art fairs, and institutional backing. But across this vast and varied country, a quieter shift is underway. Collectors and curators are beginning to look beyond the urban centres, seeking out fresh voices and authentic stories rooted in place. Regional Artists are on the rise.

Rise of Regional Artists

As a Canadian artist whose practice has taken me from coast to coast to coast, I’ve spent years painting the spirit of this country, not from a single vantage point, but from deep within its regions. Whether in the Arctic stillness of Yellowknife, the salt air of Newfoundland, or the wide-open skies of the Prairies, I’ve immersed myself in local culture, letting the land and its people guide my brush. The result is a body of work that is undeniably Canadian, yet unbound by stereotype or geography.

Rise of Regional Artists

My paintings are part pop modernism, part documentary and often feature the iconography of everyday Canadian life: plaid shirts, canoes, wildlife, poppies, denim jackets, and patriotic hues. But beneath the surface, they carry the stories of real places, from remote fishing villages to mountain passes to small-town arenas. This is the Canada I’ve come to know, not just through travel, but through conversation, observation, and creation.

No Dress Rehearsal

What I’ve noticed lately is that collectors and curators are hungry for this kind of work. They’re no longer looking just for names stamped by the urban art machine. They want connection, story, and authenticity. They want art that reflects Canada in its full diversity and not just culturally, but geographically.

recent paintings

Art Apprecaition: Rise of Regional Artists

We’re witnessing a rise in appreciation for regional perspectives. Curators are expanding collections to include artists from smaller towns, Indigenous communities, and northern regions. Collectors are realizing that acquiring work by artists living and working in these areas offers something rare: a direct link to places and experiences that are often underrepresented in mainstream narratives.

Indigenous Landscape painting

For those looking to build meaningful, future-facing collections of Canadian art, now is the time to look outward – to the maritimes, to the Yukon, to the heart of the prairies, and to the west coast islands. The art being made in these places is powerful, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in lived experience.

Top Vancouver Island Artist

My own studio practice, based on Vancouver Island, continues to grow from the momentum of residencies and exhibitions in places like Newfoundland, Alberta, and soon, the Maritimes. Every piece I create is informed by these journeys, and by the desire to paint not just the physical landscape of Canada, but the emotional and cultural one, too.

Rise of Regional Artists

To collect Canadian art today is to participate in shaping its future. By embracing regional voices, you’re not just acquiring work; you’re investing in a fuller, richer picture of what it means to be Canadian.

See more paintings by Brandy Saturley here.

Rise of Regional Artists

Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art

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Plaid, Pop Culture, and Patriotism: The Iconography of Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art

What does it mean to be Canadian, not just in spirit, but in symbol? For generations, artists in this country have been exploring Canadian identity in contemporary Art: the rugged landscape, the solitary canoe, the maple leaf. But as our nation evolves, so too does our iconography. In my own work as a Canadian painter, I’ve long been interested in the visual cues that shape our collective identity, a patchwork of plaid shirts, denim jackets, goalie masks, polar bears, poppies, canoes, and tragically hip lyrics.

These symbols, sometimes quiet and sometimes loud, tell the story of who we are. They’re shorthand for values we hold close such as resilience, humility, humour, pride – and they form a visual vocabulary that continues to grow and shift.

Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art

With Hearts on Our Sleeves, 40×30, acrylic on canvas, 2017 – Brandy Saturley

The Power of Plaid

Plaid, for me, is more than a fashion choice or a lumberjack trope. It’s a cultural fabric very literally and metaphorically that is woven into the Canadian psyche. It speaks to our working-class roots, our connection to nature, our frontier spirit. I’ve painted plaid in countless forms: draped shirts, textile-inspired backdrops, even as abstracted colour grids. It’s instantly recognizable and deeply nostalgic, yet flexible enough to carry new meanings in a contemporary context.

Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art

Come On Just Let’s Go, 48×30, acrylic on canvas, 2024 – Brandy Saturley

Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art: Pop Culture as Collective Memory

Canadian pop culture often flies under the radar, quieter than our southern neighbours, but no less rich. From the storytelling of the Barenaked Ladies and The Tragically Hip, to the childhood nostalgia of Hinterland Who’s Who and Heritage Minutes, these cultural touchstones unite us across provinces and generations.

I’ve been incorporating pop culture into my work as a way to explore this uniquely Canadian quirkiness for decades, a kind of smart humility and quiet defiance. Referencing music, film, and sports lets me connect with a wide audience and spark recognition. It’s not about fandom; it’s about shared memory.

Plaid in Canada

Son of Canada, 40×30, acrylic on canvas, 2020 – Brandy Saturley

Patriotism, Reimagined

In the 21st century, Canadian patriotism is a more complex concept. It’s not blind nationalism, but rather a critical, evolving love of place and people. My use of national symbols such as the poppy, the maple leaf, the RCMP, the hockey net, are both homage and inquiry. These motifs raise questions: Who are we really? What do we want to be known for? How do we honour tradition while also pushing forward?

One of my more recent pieces, featuring a close-up of a denim jacket with a Remembrance Day poppy, is a quiet meditation on the “uniform of the everyman” and a symbol of collective identity and hope. In another, two red and black plaid shirts hang together like a domestic still life, echoing intimacy, memory, and cultural weight.

Say a Little Prayer, 18×24, acrylic on canvas, 2024 – Brandy Saturley

Contemporary Iconography in Flux

Canadian iconography isn’t static, and that’s what keeps it compelling. It’s fluid, shaped by immigration, Indigenous voices, regional stories, and the challenges of the modern world, from climate change to reconciliation. In my work, I try to honour that fluidity to hold space for both history and invention.

As I continue to travel across Canada from Victoria to Newfoundland, I find new symbols emerging. Sometimes they’re subtle: a specific tone of northern light, the shape of a maple leaf, or the architecture of small-town rural. Other times, they’re bold, like the juxtaposition of a vintage Tim Hortons cup with a wild mountain horizon.

Canadian Identity in Contemporary Art

The Red Mittens series, 2014, Brandy Saturley

Final Thoughts: Painting the Story of Us

At its heart, my work is about storytelling. I’m painting a visual memoir of Canada, one that invites viewers to bring their own memories, experiences, and meanings. Plaid, pop culture, and patriotism are just the starting points. The deeper story lies in how we connect through these shared images and how we continue to define what it means to be Canadian.

Art of 2025

Brandy Saturley in studio at the Pouch Cove Foundation, Newfoundland CANADA

Public Art in Toronto

Brandy Saturley Art Licensing – Lighting Up Toronto with Public Art Installations

Living in the digital age has opened exciting new avenues for sharing my art with the world. One of the most powerful ways to extend the life and reach of an original painting is through art licensing, transforming a singular piece of art into an image that can live across different mediums and formats, reaching broader audiences in diverse environments.

Art licensing allows artists to retain ownership of their original work while granting permission to companies, brands, or organizations to reproduce it for commercial use, whether that be on digital screens, in advertising, or as part of curated design experiences. It’s a way to breathe new life into a painting, to reimagine it in a public context, and to keep it working for both artist and client, again and again.

Public Art in Toronto

Raised in The Sky by Brandy Saturley

No Dress Rehearsal

Most recently, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Highness Global Inc., a bespoke business consultancy based in Toronto, to showcase my work in a stunning public art installation at 2 Bloor West – a landmark address in the heart of the city’s Mink Mile.

This location features a spectacular 38-foot by 43-foot digital screen in the building’s lobby, offering a glowing, cinematic platform for art. It’s an incredible experience to see my work presented at this scale – illuminated, immersive, and accessible to all who pass through the space.

To date, I’ve licensed three artworks to appear on this massive digital canvas, each contributing to the visual identity of this vibrant urban location. Here are the works that have lit up the screen:

Public Art in Toronto

I’ll Carry That Weight by Brandy Saturley

paintings with poppies

These public art moments not only expand the visibility of my work but also invite new conversations and connections between viewers and the Canadian stories I paint.

If you’re interested in bringing art into your space through licensing whether for digital installations, marketing campaigns, or product collaborations. Brandy Saturley Art Licensing offers flexible solutions tailored to your vision.

Let’s work together to make art more accessible, impactful, and unforgettable.

Public Art in Toronto

With Wind and Without by Brandy Saturley

This is just one example of how the Art of Brandy Saturley can liven up your space and draw attention to your business and brand. More about Art Licensing here.

Art Opening Coles Art Market

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NEIGHBOURLY – A National Juried Canadian Art Exhibition at Coles Art Market

Opening Night Celebration in Huntsville, Ontario July 18, 2025

“Neighbourly” is a national juried art exhibition that brings together Canadian artists exploring the ideas of community, connection, and sense of place. Opening night offers a unique opportunity to be among the first to experience the show, meet the artists, and engage in thoughtful conversation with neighbours both familiar and new.

Art Opening Coles Art Market

Neighbourly at Coles Art Market opening July 18, 2025

Featuring over 40 original works ranging from painting and sculpture to drawing, the exhibition highlights a diverse range of artistic interpretations of what it means to be “neighbourly” in Canada today.

Hosted by Coles Art Market in beautiful Huntsville, Ontario, the gallery is known for showcasing and selling original fine art by some of the country’s most accomplished artists. Whether you’re seeking a striking centrepiece for your home, business, or cottage – or need expert guidance in finding the perfect work—Coles offers an exceptional variety of Canadian artworks, including painting, sculpture, drawing, and handcrafted jewelry.

I’m honoured to have one of my paintings included in this thoughtful and timely exhibition. Titled “Lovers in a Dangerous Time,” my piece explores the complex and evolving relationship between Canada and the United States. Set at dusk against a backdrop of ocean meeting snow-peaked mountains, the Canadian and American flags appear gently touching and quiet, almost hesitant. The painting reflects on the delicate balance of our cross-border ties as we navigate changing political landscapes, tariffs, and a redefined neighbourly connection.

Art Opening Coles Art Market

Lovers in a Dangerous Time, Acrylic on wood panel, 18 x 24 x 1.5 in – Brandy Saturley

If you’re in the Huntsville area, I encourage you to join us for the opening or visit the show during its run—this exhibition offers a compelling and heartfelt look at what it means to be connected.

Opens July 18th and runs until August 17th.

Art Opening Coles Art Market

See more paintings by Brandy Saturley.

Landscape Paintings in Banff

10 Landscape Paintings Available in Banff at Willock & Sax Gallery

While I’m most recognized for my narrative Canadian paintings, works that tell visual stories through symbolism, iconography, and Canadian culture – there are times when the landscape itself takes centre stage. In these moments, the story lies within the land, and the landscape becomes the subject, the emotion, and the message.

The Canadian landscapes that most captivate me are the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. These towering giants provide striking compositions through their bold lines, dramatic forms, and seasonal transformation. Whether draped in winter snow or framed by the rich greens of summer foliage, these mountains invite endless study and artistic interpretation.

To paint them is to witness constant change. The light shifts from the warm glow of morning to the cool hues of evening, reshaping contours and altering mood. Mount Rundle, for instance, can appear entirely different depending on the time of day or season. In this way, the land tells its own story through form, colour, and shadow.

From the distinctive silhouette of Mount Rundle to the iconic forms of Temple, Cascade, and the pristine waters of Lake Louise, the Banff/Lake Louise region offers an abundance of inspiration. These places are more than subjects; they are muses that shape my artistic approach.

Currently, 10 of my Rocky Mountain landscape paintings are available through Willock & Sax Gallery in Banff. Each piece is a celebration of place and presence, and a reflection of time spent immersed in one of Canada’s most awe-inspiring environments.

Explore these works in person at Willock & Sax Gallery or contact the gallery for purchase inquiries.

Landscape Paintings in Banff

Vermilion Canoes, acrylic on canvas, 36x60x1.5 inches, Brandy Saturley

Landscape Paintings in Banff

Cascade, acrylic on canvas, 36x48x1.5 inches, Brandy Saturley

Landscape Paintings in Banff

Temple Top, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 12×12 inches, Brandy Saturley

Paradise, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 12×12 inches, Brandy Saturley

Landscape Paintings in Banff

Minnewanka Muse, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 12×24 inches, Brandy Saturley

Sawtooth, acrylic on canvas, 12×24 inches, Brandy Saturley

Banff Paintings

Mount Temple, acrylic on canvas, 36x48x1.5 inches, Brandy Saturley

jasper paintings

Momentous, acrylic on canvas, 36x48x1.5 inches, Brandy Saturley

Landscape Paintings in Banff

A Long and Winding Road, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 x 1.5 inches, Brandy Saturley

Little Rundle, acrylic and gouache on canvas, 12 x 12 x 1.5 inches, Brandy Saturley

See more landscape paintings by Brandy Saturley here.

Risk Taking Canadian Artists

Are Canadian Artists Taking Risks? Or Is the Canadian Art Scene Complacent?

Earlier this week, I received a question that struck a chord: “Is risk-taking top of mind for Canadian artists? And is the Canadian art scene, as a whole, supporting those artists who take risks?”

As a professional Canadian artist with over two decades of experience, I understand why these questions arise and where they come from.

Risk Taking Canadian Artists

Are Artists Risk Takers?

To be an artist is, by nature, to be a risk taker.

I don’t know a single artist who isn’t putting something deeply personal on the line by choosing to share their work with the world. Whether you’re revealing internal landscapes, personal experiences, or observations about society – making art is a courageous act of vulnerability. In my case, painting is my language. Through it, I tell stories rooted in Canadian culture, landscape, and identity.

Mid-career artists, in particular, often find themselves walking a fine line. It’s a point in their practice where skill, vision, and recognition begin to align, but the desire to stay fresh, relevant, and engaged with their audience pushes them to continue evolving. This stage can be both creatively fertile and risky.

Risk Taking Canadian Artists

Risk-Taking in Technique

Risk in art doesn’t always mean controversy or provocation, it can also be technical. Artists push themselves with every new canvas, seeking growth, challenge, and renewal in their process. For me, it’s about pushing the paint: trying new surfaces, simplifying strokes, altering scale, and refining colour language.

I often say, “My best painting is my next painting.” That mindset drives me forward and keeps the work honest.

Over the years, I’ve found that as the ideas behind my work become more focused, the execution becomes more refined. The message gets stronger, even as the brushwork becomes more economical.

Canadian Pop Art Painter

Risk-Taking in Subject Matter

When we think of risk in subject matter, names like Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons often come to mind – artists whose work is grand in scale, budget, and ambition. These are risks taken on a level akin to stock market speculation.

But what about here in Canada?

Are Canadian artists pushing boundaries with subject matter? Or are we growing too comfortable with our rolling hills, picturesque landscapes, and soothing abstracts that don’t challenge the viewer or the interior designer?

A snapshot of the commercial gallery scene in Canada reveals a safe pattern: brightly coloured landscapes, generally sized 20×30 inches, priced under $2,000. These works sell. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially if the artist is making work that’s aligned with their voice and vision.

The key here is authenticity. If you’re creating work you truly believe in whether it’s a prairie skyline or a pop-art political commentary the right audience will find you. The issue arises when market demand becomes a muzzle.

Higher-end galleries in Canada’s major city centres tend to take more curatorial risks, showcasing provocative or socially engaged work. But these are the exception, not the rule.

Ahead of Their Time

Artist Residencies as Catalysts for Risk

One of the greatest gifts I’ve received as an artist is the opportunity to attend artist residencies. These spaces allow time, solitude, and the freedom to create away from daily responsibilities. They offer a unique kind of risk: the chance to experiment, to fail, to discover something new.

Residencies often bring artists of different backgrounds together, enabling collaboration and the cross-pollination of ideas. These experiences can shift an artist’s entire practice, if you let them.

Risk Taking Canadian Artists

Banff Centre of the Arts & Creativity – Brandy Saturley in Thom Studio 2022

Risk-Taking in the Business of Art

I began my career as a self-representing artist, managing every aspect of my business from sales and marketing to logistics and inventory. It’s a full-time job in itself, layered atop the time spent in the studio.

In Canada, many artists choose the academic route: earning a BFA, then teaching to support their practice. I chose the entrepreneurial path. And while that road comes with financial risk and uncertainty, it’s also full of opportunity. You learn fast, you build resilience, and you gain the freedom to create the kind of art that resonates with you without waiting for permission.

Brandy Saturley Canadian Artist

Risk Taking Canadian Artists – Final Thoughts

So, are Canadian artists taking risks?

Absolutely. But those risks take many forms, from pushing paint and subject matter, to experimenting abroad, to running your art practice like a startup. The Canadian art scene supports some of this risk, but not all of it. Much of it still leans toward the safe and the saleable.

The question we should ask ourselves isn’t just “Are artists taking risks?” we should also be asking “Are we, as a culture, willing to support and celebrate risk-takers?”

Because in the end, risk is where the breakthroughs happen.

No Dress Rehearsal

See more paintings by Canadian Contemporary Artist, Brandy Saturley.

New Polar Bear Painting

The 30th Polar Bear Painting – Filled With Wildflowers

Each day, I walk the quiet country roads and along the edges of farmers’ fields in North Saanich, where nature’s details slowly reveal themselves. In spring, the once-muted palette of greens and golds transforms into a vibrant patchwork of wildflowers. The landscape, previously hushed and restrained, now bursts into song, each bloom a different note in nature’s symphony. Scarlet reds, brilliant yellows, soft purples, and crisp whites dance across the fields, shifting with the breeze, breathing life and motion into the earth beneath my feet.

This seasonal shift brings with it a deeper richness: textures layered like brushstrokes, shadows that stretch and play among the petals, and a fragrance that invites you to pause and breathe a little deeper. It’s a time of awakening, when even the most familiar paths feel reborn. As I walk, I imagine myself part of this landscape resting among the tall grasses, enveloped by blooms, listening to the hum of bees and the whisper of the wind.

It is in this moment of quiet immersion that my mind returns to the Polar Bear King.

Now marking the 30th painting in this ongoing series, this latest piece brings the iconic figure of the polar bear into a new setting, surrounded not by ice and snow, but by wildflowers in full bloom. This king of the North finds himself in a dreamlike place, filled with colour, vitality, and the gentle chaos of nature’s abundance. It is a celebration of contrast and transformation, of strength meeting softness, of solitude meeting bloom.

New Polar Bear Painting

The Wild Life, Acrylic On Canvas, 36 x 60 x 1.5 in, 2025 – Brandy Saturley

As with every painting in the series, the Polar Bear King becomes a mirror for my own journey; roaming, observing, resting, and transforming alongside the landscapes of Canada. This wildflower-filled work is not just a new chapter for the bear, but also for me, and for anyone who has followed this series over the years.

New Polar Bear Painting

Brandy Saturley studio, North Saanich, BC Canada

Here’s to the thirtieth painting. To wildflowers. To wandering. To finding beauty in unexpected places.

New Polar Bear Painting