Remembrance Day Painting 2020

Making a Remembrance Day Painting in The Pandemic Year

Talking about making a Remembrance Day Painting, and looking at the artist process behind making a painting in 2020.

In Canada, red poppies seem to conjure thoughts and feelings about Remembrance Day and family that has served, or is currently serving in our Canadian Forces. I have painted red poppies a number of times over the years, but none seemed to touch Canadians as much as this piece created in 2014, inspired by the women of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps.

Perhaps it is because many of us had grandmothers, mothers and even great-grandmothers serve. Many people have sent me the most lovely notes about this piece over the years, it seems to connect with Canadians widely and on a deep level, with many seeing their own mothers in the piece. I have been interviewed about the piece, shown it in public and private galleries. Please enjoy this Remembrance Day Art.

A New Painting with Poppies: with this new painting my focus is Remembrance Day, as it is approaching and it has been 6 years since I have referenced the day in my artwork. I am mindful of how this day will look in this pandemic year. As this year is quickly coming to a close, I am looking at the paintings which I have made this year. I feel that this piece here, right behind my bowler hat and white gloves, is my very best of the year.

This piece brings together my pop aesthetic, realistic details, and symbolism – it is striking and simple in my design. I begin painting by sketching an outline of my idea on stretched cotton canvas. Then I outline again and add shading in a complementary colour, to the final colour I will be painting on top. In this case I am using variations of green for the outline and shading details, as the final colours in the piece will be variations of red.

Next, I begin to colour block and lay down big swathes of reds and oranges, using vigorous brushstrokes.

I continue adding layers of colour from background to foreground, repeating the process with more care each time. This part of the process adds depth, fine textures and various tones and shades. I am creating dimension as the piece begins to come to life and pop off the canvas. I also add the flesh tones to the face so that I can assess the overall tonal balance of my palette and within the piece.

I continue to repaint the entire painting, until the desired tonality is reached and definition is achieved. Then I go into the painting with a finer brush and lighter touch and work on the details, linework, and highlights. In this case metallic and interference paints have been added to bring reflective elements to the piece, adding to the overall ‘glow’.

Time for the final review: which has become known as my ‘chair of contemplation’ moments. The time when I stare for a long period of time as my eyes roll back and forth across the canvas and in differing lights, until I am satisfied that the piece is complete.

It has been said that Picasso created 50,000 works in his lifetime, and is known for about 100 of these. Not every painting is a masterpiece, and you must put in the time and make a lot of bad paintings to reach the masterpieces.

I am very happy with how this piece has evolved, and I hope you will enjoy it as well.

I’ll Carry That Weight (Spirit of Remembrance) Original acrylic painting on canvas honouring Remembrance Day 2020 – by Canadian Artist Brandy Saturley. The painting measures 36×36 inches, and is made with acrylic paints on the finest cotton canvas.

You can see more paintings celebrating Canada on my website.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

October 28, 2020

Quebec loves Brandy Saturley

Corporate Art Collections

Collected in Mont-Royal: Quebec Loves Paintings by Brandy Saturley

For a Canadian Artist, finding an audience among the numerous traditional landscape painters in Canada, is daunting. Quebec collectors love paintings by Brandy Saturley, where the artist has gained an audience, with many works in public and private collections in Mont-Royal and Montreal.

As a painter, to eschew the tradition of landscape painting in Canadian Art and create a new direction by confronting the enormity of the landscape, is a bold undertaking. This new direction means cultivating a new audience, through the creation of a new perspective on landscape painting in Canada. British Columbia based artist, Brandy Saturley, has been cultivating a new audience under the moniker, #iconiccanuck, a title which the artist created for an exhibition in 2013, which has now become a persona and brand of sorts for the work the artist has been producing for over a decade.

Referred to as ‘Pop Canadianisms’, the artist has sold work to provinces across Canada, and often without ever speaking in person or by phone, with her clients. As a full-time self representing artist, Saturley proudly talks about her journey to #iconiccanuck in a documentary film created in 2019.

Saturley is known for painting themes of hockey, along with her love for the Montreal Canadiens hockey club. Perhaps this is why she has gained a loyal following and many collectors in the Mount-Royal area of Quebec. Paintings collected by art collectors in Quebec include; iceberg landscapes, figurative landscapes, hockey landscapes and narrative paintings that celebrate Canadian popular culture, The Montreal Canadiens hockey club and the love of the ODR. (hockey played on the outdoor rink among friends)

Here are five paintings that have been collected by art collectors in Mount-Royal;

Enjoy these paintings? Discover more paintings to love and collect, from Brandy Saturley

September 24, 2020

Becoming An Artist

Inspiration

Becoming An Artist – Talking Art, Passion and Hockey

When does someone become an Artist? What drives the creation of a painting? How many hours are spent making Art? People are attracted to passion, and those who pursue their passions relentlessly, putting it all on the line. Talking with Canadian documentary filmmaker Randy Frykas, about becoming an Artist and the influence of hockey.

In October 2019, a few months before COVID-19 started changing how we navigate our worlds, I invited a Winnipeg filmmaker into my haven, my Art studio. As I stated in a blog post from 2018, art studios “are places typically reserved for artists to create, serious art collectors to view the work privately, and curators to visit and consider works for future art exhibitions.” After a few emails back and fourth, and a telephone conversation, I agreed to the visit and I also agreed to let the filmmaker ask questions without pre-screening. He came to learn and film and arrived with a professional audio engineer, James Humberstone, also originally hailing from Manitoba. I accepted their visit and interest purely on the portfolio Frykas produced when I began asking questions. There seemed to be a common ground in the topic of hockey and my paintings about hockey, so the focus became mostly these works from my oeuvre of the past decade. I had recently returned home from a month studying and making work at the Royal College of Art in London, England, and was in the process of making a new work, a large landscape on loose canvas.

Over the course of two separate days, Frykas asked questions and recorded digital video. Over the course of the coming months the team of The Passion Projects, led by director Frykas, began editing while flying to other locations to film with other talented people driven by their passions. With Frykas and Humberstone also creating their own soundtrack for each short documentary film produced for the project. This truly was becoming a collaborative effort, filled with passion and experience, bringing together film, editing, sound, music and visual art.

As this series began shooting before COVID hit, and was being developed as the filmmakers’ own passion project on the side while he is working full-time TV and freelance gigs, the series is developing organically and is quickly becoming a record of life and attitudes before, during and eventually post COVID.

I don’t invite many people into my studio, it really is my workplace, and a sacred place I go to escape into my work. I was moved by the enthusiasm exuding from the voice on the other end of the phone line, which was as palpable in person. Vulnerability is another important facet of making great Art, and those days we were filming, we were at our most vulnerable, and I am proud of the film that came from this experience.

Sincere thanks to Randy Frykas and James Humberstone, I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley a.k.a #iconiccanuck

September 16, 2020

Tofino Is a Place for Artists

Inspiration

A truly West Coast experience, Tofino is a place for Artists.

When I break from the studio, I do so in search of adventure, and connection with nature. When I am looking to immerse myself in a truly west coast experience, the most ideal representation, can be found in Tofino. A place for Artists and art lovers alike.

Recently I escaped to this Vancouver Island surf town known for it’s long sandy beaches, great culinary experiences and rainforest surroundings. For an artist, the visual and aural stimuli sets your mind dreaming. Tofino comes with sounds of crashing waves, ravens, crows and eagles and a random rain storm tapping on your roof. For the very first time I was treated to an escape at The Wickanninish Inn. From top to bottom and inside out, every detail is distinctly west coast and thoughtfully executed. From the large cedar beams to the local art, which is plentiful throughout the resort, you are immersed in a finely crafted cultural experience. If you are a foodie, The Wick (which is how regulars refer to the resort) will set your taste-buds on a wild ride from which they may never recover. I suggest the tasting menu with BC wine pairing, after which you will really understand what makes Vancouver Island a province all it’s own.

A few photos from Tofino.

View from the room on the East wing of the Pointe building.

A glass of Taylor Fladgate Port and a Hudsons Bay Point Blanket by the fireplace with a view

A shower with a view – now feeling fully immersed

Down to Chesterman beach, chairs provided

The lines and the light – a painter and photographers delight!

Stretch and surf!

The job of the Artist, is to make you SEE. Mountains in the tide pools.

Until next time!

You can’t do Tofino without doing sunset at the Pier. Whether in Tofino or Maui, it is a ritual to honour the end of the day.

Symbolically Yours,

Brandy

August 31, 2020

Prairie Landscape Paintings

Landscapes

When the road delivers a story: prairie landscape paintings.

The road to Art is always ‘fluid’ and the nice thing about this job is it lends itself well to periods of isolation, it is a requirement! But I am used to getting out of the studio pretty regularly between paintings, to experience life in the raw and from new vantage points. Shaking up my perspective is important to my work and feeds my soul. I enjoy the aerial perspectives afforded from the window of a jet plane, but more still, I love riding passenger side in an automobile. These paintings of prairie landscapes were inspired by one such road trip. I love the feel of the road under the tires, I love the vistas whipping by my window at time-lapse speeds and I love the reflections off the shiny hood of my drivers car.

Last month when travel opened up again I had the opportunity to collaborate with a photographer from Manitoba, so I took off on my first flight. From Brandon, Manitoba to Victoria BC, we went on an 10 day journey of exploring the prairies to the sea, during COVID. It was mentally good to get out and see how other provinces were ‘doing COVID’ and it was mentally uplifting to inhale deeply in nature. From this trip came a number of photos and video that will continue to feed future paintings about Canada. For now, a start with this ‘Group of Four’ – four little landscapes (when I say little I mean smaller than my usual canvasses) The four paintings feature a distinct prairie palette rendered in custom mixed colours ranging from Big Sky Blue, to Canola Yellow, Barn Red and Glacial Lake Teal. Here are a Group of Four landscape paintings, taken straight from the road across western Canada.

Prairie Flight – this painting comes from an evening, on a dirt road that ran between two crop fields near Brandon, Manitoba.

The Barn – spotted from the highway, this barn and surrounding fields were so vivid that they begged for further investigation in rural Saskatchewan

The Lake – the iconic view from the cliff-side outside the Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton Lakes, Alberta

A Long and Winding Road – the road to Red Rocks in Waterton Lakes affords the road tripper wondrous views from roadside wildflowers to rocky mountains

The painting takes place in my studio, but the journey began with my camera and the road.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

August 28, 2020

The Creative Process

Artist Process

I am living in a constant state of awareness; the creative process.

I live in a constant state of ‘buzz’ and my brain is always working. For me a road trip, a hike or a walk out to my garden, produces endless hours of thought, inception of new ideas, and experimentation; which will result in production of new paintings. What electrifies my brain today, may produce something immediate or something many years down the line. The gathering of stimuli; aurally, visually and manually is cataloged away in my brain and on my computer hard drive for future excavation. It may be a simple as a trip to the grocery store, or time spent washing dishes, but never doubt that I am working. Often I feel like I am living in a constant state of visual orgasm, a marathon of the mind. I am in a committed long term relationship with my work, and she gets jealous when I leave her to take care of everyday life. The creative process behind making a painting, begins long before my brush hits the canvas.

Recently I took my mistress on the road through the prairies of western Canada. My Nikon D810 and my iPhone by my side; we were recording, experimenting and capturing future food for my paintings. This is my artist process, this is my work, behind the work, of being an Artist.

With neon yellow canola, hues of flax and sky blue, early wheat and soybean green and old barn or rusty engine red, these photos provide the food to feed future paintings.

#GOWESTROADTRIP2020 – my vision of the prairies.

Part I of this road trip is available to view and license on 500px here.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

July 28, 2020

13 Years Making Art

The Year in Art

13 Years Making Art as a Professional Canadian Artist.

It is true that in some cultures, the number 13 is lucky. Last year I entered my 13th year of making Art and working as a professional Canadian Artist, full-time. July 1st every year, which coincidentally is Canada Day, always marks the anniversary of my Art business. Every year, I write a new blog post celebrating the day and reflecting on the year that was. Last year I gave each year a ‘period or theme’ to represent the year. From paintings of trees to Las Vegas and The Beatles to the Big C, there have been many thematic transitions in my work over the years. Year 5 marked the beginning of #ICONICCANUCK and shortly after my ‘Pop Canadianisms’ took over right up until year 13. Consistency found in the theme of ‘Canada’ and in year 13, I decided to ‘disrupt’ my practice to grow as an artist by jetting off to London for a month, a big gamble for an artist who has developed an identity as ‘the Voice of Canadian Pop Art’.

As we are now in the COVID-19 era, I am even more convinced that year 13 was indeed lucky, because if it happened this year, it would not have happened. Year 13 included an invitation to join the summer contemporary art intensive at the world’s number one postgraduate art school, the Royal College of Art in London, England – I spent a month making art, talking art and showing art in a school that includes alumnus such as David Hockney and Tracey Emin, two of the biggest artist names in the world, and one of the oldest art institutions. It was an EPIC experience and am so grateful to all the artists, educators and art lovers who helped make it one of the most enriching experiences of my career, so far. Wow, I am still basking in the warm glow of that experience. Rather than recap the past 13 years, this year I want to recap the past 12 months, because these last few have been LONGGGG, so here we go!

Here are, twelve images for 12 months of my 13th year as a full-time professional Canadian Artist.

July 2019 – The Pack and Tidy

Tidying up studio before leaving for London.

August 2019 – The London Studio

Brandy Saturley in painting studios at RCA Battersea London, UK and final exhibition at the Dyson Gallery.

September 2019 – Blending New Concepts with Existing Projects

Brandy Saturley painting on large landscapes un-stretched cotton duck canvas in her Victoria BC Studio

October 2019: Documentary – The Iconic Canuck

Brandy Saturley talking with Winnipeg filmmaker Randy Frykas, in her North Saanich studio.

November 2019 – painting REALLY BIG Landscapes

December 2019 – Christmas Catalgoue

Annual Christmas catalogue mailed out to collectors.

January 2020 – People of Canada

Portrait painting by Brandy Saturley for the People of Canada Portrait series.

February 2020 – Different Strokes

New painting technique post London is developing in a new landscape painting.

March 2020 – Print Run

20 paintings offered as digital reproduction prints on paper for 2020.

April 2020 – First Virtual Exhibition

First exhibition of Mountain Forms Collective – collaborative mountain paintings by Brandy Saturley & Gisa Mayer.

May 2020 – Second Virtual Exhibition & Underwater

First Exhibition of The People of Canada Portrait Project by Brandy Saturley – collaboration with everyday Canadians across the country.

Pipe burst in my studio and the restoration crew had to be called in during a pandemic!

June 2020 – A Modern Romance

With my studio temporarily moved to a small bedroom, my work began to focus on the romance of the small apartment studio as it brought back memories from my early days painting and living in my 600 SqFt condo. Always keep your old easel!

July 2020 – Third Virtual Exhibition – The BIG ONE

With Canada Day in the air and a new painting inspired by the need for HUGS across the country, I opened my third virtual exhibition experience, this time featuring 51 paintings from the past decade of painting Pop Canadianisms.

It has been quite the year! ‘before times’ is a term that is quickly identifying a different time in or culture, as things start to open up here again in Canada I am excited to be going out on the road, haven’t left the island since the end of February and this time I will be driving through Saskatchewan, a prairie province I have never visited.

Right now the focus is to keep on making Art, making paintings, selling paintings, showing art, re-building my studio and maybe even finding an art advisor, dealer or salesperson that loves my Art and shares my values. For me it is important to keep on investing in myself. I have been doing it all for 13 years and I could use an art advisor on my side, the right gallery in my corner or perhaps simply a sales person to help push the work out further than I have already done on my own.

Be well out there and keep on pushing forward.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

July 2, 2020

Symbolically Yours From Canada

Art Opening

Symbolically Yours From Canada – through the eyes of a Canadian Artist

I began life on an island on the western-most point in Canada, like a puzzle piece that was never placed in the final map of Canada. As a consequence, my preoccupation became everything that existed in my country, but not my island home. What informed my work began with ‘popular culture’ and stereotype.

Over the years I became more interested in authentic experiences. I began to travel to gain a true understanding of my country, and in returning to my island home, a better understanding of the culture in which I was raised.

By boat, plane, train, cab, Uber, Jeep, canoe, and on foot; I explored my country of Canada. Along the way the voices of the people, places, sounds and smells were absorbed into my subconscious. Through conversation, photography, video and writing; I recorded my journey for future excavation.

The work I developed because of this journey began with an exhibition titled #ICONICCANUCK, a hashtag I created for use on Twitter to connect with people across the country. My persona became #ICONICCANUCK and I developed my own painting genre known as ‘Pop Canadianisms’ my own brand of ‘Canadian’ pop realism.

As my explorations into the Canadian consciousness deepened, my work began to focus on my thoughts about a balance with nature, other cultures, and women in Canadian Art. I began repeatedly painting myself into the landscapes of Canadian Art history, as if to say, “I’m here, I’m a female Canadian Artist, and I have something important to say.”

Featuring 51 paintings created over the past decade, creating an open dialogue of what it means to be Canadian. These paintings are informed by our iconography, our passion, our humour, our tolerance and kindness.

Paintings with red dots are SOLD. All paintings in the exhibition are original acrylic on canvas and ready to hang on your wall!

UPDATED March 2021: THIS EXHIBITION IS NOW CLOSED. DETAILS ABOUT ALL EXHIBITIONS HERE.

TO see all ARTWORKS from Brandy Saturley, please visit the online gallery.

June 29, 2020

The Work of Art

Advice for Artists, Uncategorized

The Work of Art is Ever Evolving

The work of Art is ever-evolving and so is the job of the Artist. This is a fluid career, where multi-tasking is a pre-requisite and if juggling isn’t your thing, you should stick with a 9-5. Now that is not to say that you can’t work a 9-5 and make art in your downtime, you absolutely can and it is much easier to do this than work as a full-time artist. Better yet, wait until you have retired from your 9-5, then make art your hobby, sell a few paintings here and there, maybe even find a gallery to represent your work, no pressure. Most who make art shouldn’t quit their day jobs, it’s a tough road and one that is not for most. For me, it is a ‘requirement’ like oxygen, if I were not doing it, I could not breath.

If you do decide to put it all on the line, and go full tilt at an art career full-time, you will need a support network that is SOLID. Your spouse or significant other, should be your BIGGEST FAN, if they are not, then don’t pursue your art full-time. The times when you need a shoulder to lean on, or someone to kick you in the butt and out of the ‘I must be crazy to think I can do this’ mode, you will need your ‘superfan’ at your side.

Thankfully I have a ‘superfan’ and a solid circle of supporters who’ve got me when the going gets tough, and it does, oddly enough it in fact is what keeps me moving forward. When you hit a certain stage in your career as a visual artist, you will find yourself being chased by many who want a piece and will grab at your ankles, pulling you back down. This is when you have to cut yourself loose from past relationships.

As a self representing full-time visual artist, I have carved a career that is unique to me and my brand of Art. Any given week/month/year is lined with hurdles and wins that only I can make happen. It is a truly wonderful thing.

So, what does a week or month in my world look like? Here is a rundown of things I am juggling currently;

I am working on two collaborative series of paintings; the Mountain Forms Collective and The People of Canada Portrait Project. In the first I am painting mountainscapes with an artist in Calgary, shipping canvasses back and forth between two provinces. The Portrait Project is a series of paintings from photos submitted by everyday Canadians.

I am painting new landscapes inspired by my travels across North America, photography and writing.

I just released my first edition of fine art prints, celebrating a decade of the ‘Canadianisms’ body of work, a series of paintings inspired by Canada (now over 90 original paintings)

I manage three websites for my Art; along with my social media channels of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – yes, I use LinkedIn

I just finished writing a newsletter to clients and also stay in touch with numerous clients over email and social media

I just prepared several prints for shipping – sales management and bookkeeping

I am working to book solo and collaborative exhibitions of my work for the 2021/22 exhibition season

I am planning my next art trip, last year was a month in London at the Royal College of Art, the year before I was on Maui for a month

I am looking at presentation/teaching session at a local Arts School

Oh, and I am writing this blog.

These are just a few things I can tell you about.

I do sleep, and I do take the weekend off from my studio, but during the week I am working constantly.

I just painted the shit out this last piece, and am working on three new pieces that will be done by next week.

Damn I love my work, it comes with the deepest depths of self exploration and self-awareness. It comes with a deep intuitive understanding of the world and what is needed. It is deeply empathetic, with my fingers on the pulse of the world. I am incredibly disciplined and self-motivated, and I am here to learn, to teach, to do more than I did yesterday.

Pep talk, sure.

Around we go again.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy

March 2, 2020

Vancouver 2010 Olympics Inspires

Artist Process

How the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Influenced A Decade of Painting.

The year was 2010, and I had been working as a full-time professional Canadian artist for 3 years. Before that I was doing what many do in my profession, work a side job to pay the bills, while making Art in my off hours. During the Vancouver 2010 Olympics the city of Vancouver was punctuated with Canadian stereotype, and the air thick with smells of maple syrup pride. I came home from the experience with visions of red, maple leaves, and hockey. All these experiences zipping across my temporal lobe.

I attended a Canucks game shortly after the Vancouver Olympic Games, Roberto Luongo in goal, the energy from the Games still in the arena. The chanting still strong, the singing of the Canadian National Anthem louder than ever before. I am pretty sure if you were walking outside the stadium, you could hear the voices ringing out within!

Up until this point in my career as an artist, the sport of Hockey had yet to appear in my work. This year was different. On the tail of our Canadian hockey gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, hockey fever was stronger than ever, and it was hard to ignore the buzz. I could not ignore the energy and enthusiasm of everyone around me, and Hockey found its way into my brain, and onto my canvas.

On my travels across Canada I have taken thousands of photos for reference, and as I scoured I came across the rookie mask of Hockey Great, Ken Dryden, whose mask resides at the Hockey Hall of Fame. I was taken with the character of the mask, as in Dryden’s day the mold of the mask actually resembled the shape of the players face very distinctly, so that even though it is beaten up with nicks and dents, you can still see his face whenever you see the mask. I developed a deep appreciation of how dangerous the game was for him back then, with the mask as proof, it is pitted so badly that it is a wonder his face survived the game. Impressive and inspiring.

The painting now affectionately known across Canada as, ‘The Goalie’s Mask Painting‘ marks the first in a series that began as ‘Iconic’. Later Growing into a body of work known as ‘Pop Canadianisms’, under my social media persona and hashtag #ICONICCANUCK. The first solo exhibition of the work, which took place in Edmonton Alberta, was titled, #ICONICCANUCK. THe name coming to me after promoting my work, and engaging through the use of social media and Twitter. I spent a week as curator of the @peopleofcanada Twitter account in 2013, the rest is history.

A decade in, and my pop visions of Canada continue to evolve. Now with approximately 90 paintings in the series, this series just keeps on growing. My touring solo exhibitions in 2017, featured 30 of the paintings from the first 5 years of the series.

It has been a fascinating, interactive, productive, and reflective decade of learning on all fronts. In many ways the enthusiasm and feedback from collectors, fans, and friends have provided additional fuel to keep going. With every photograph I take, and every contemplative moment shared on social media. Whether it is my process as an artist, my space, the work, or the journey; if it touches even one person, I feel my contributions to the collective consciousness are a celebration of Canada.

Below are 10 of my favourite paintings from the past 10 years of painting Pop Canadianisms;

10. Poppies For Louise