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The Art of Winter – at Adele Campbell Fine Art in Whistler, Canada

The 29th annual Art of Winter Exhibition starts this weekend in Whistler, BC showcasing a diverse range of new artworks by Canadian visual artists from across Canada. An eclectic range of new fine art arrivals from painting, to sculpture and photography. Available paintings will continue to be present in the gallery and online from November 26th-January 1st, 2023.

Works by Brandy Saturley featured in this art exhibition tell visual stories on canvas, set in winter landscapes. These paintings of love in the mountains, the northern lights and a surreal piece with a figure skater perched atop a tower of Nanaimo bars. Inspired by the snow and ‘winter wonderland’ feeling of being in bright snowy landscapes, these paintings offer collectors an exhilarating and uplifting escape from the everyday. With vivid and textured backgrounds that incorporate abstract elements, shapes and forms. The focal point of these pieces centers around figurative elements and central characters that tell the story of these familiar locations in the Canadian landscape. Winter themed paintings in time for Christmas art collecting and art giving season.

Art of Winter Whistler

The Kiss Acrylic on Gallery Canvas 36 x 48 in $7,500

Art of Winter Whistler

Dreaming Under The Northern Lights Acrylic on Gallery Canvas 36 x 36 in $5,500

Art of Winter Whistler

On Top of Nanaimo Bars Acrylic on Gallery Canvas 40 x 30 in $5,100

You’ll find Whistler in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia just two hours north of Vancouver. This legendary ski destination is an international mountain sports mecca and a down-to-earth mountain town with some of the best art galleries in Western Canada. Two side-by-side mountains spanned by the world-record-breaking Gondola give access to Whistler Blackcomb’s renowned alpine terrain, drawing hikers, skiers and mountain bikers in search of mind-blowing landscapes. Sparkling glacier-fed lakes, towering old-growth forests, waterfalls, beaches, parks and golf courses are linked by a network of paved valley trails. This place teems with life and it is reflected in the Art you will find in the town.

See more paintings by Victoria BC based painter, Brandy Saturley, available through Adele Campbell Fine Art.

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity – Artist Residency November  2022

For two weeks in November I worked in the Leighton Artists Studios on the campus of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta. I was invited to bring my studio and practice to Banff and awarded the Paul D. Fleck Fellowships in the Arts Endowment which paid for my visual artist residency and stay at the Banff Centre. Having spent two weeks in the stunning location on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain, with some of the largest and most distinct of the Canadian Rocky Mountains surrounding the campus, I now refer to Banff Centre as the visual arts Juilliard of Canada. Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. The goal of all who work here is to inspire everyone who attends the campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential. The studios have played host to many important Canadian artist collaborations over the years including K.D Lang, Joni Mitchell, Séan McCann of Great Big Sea, and Canadian Visual Artist Brian Jungen.

Banff Centre Artist Residency

View from Vistas dining room Banff Centre

The project I planned to undertake while in Banff, was to make a very large painting on loose duck canvas in my studio. The painting subject matter to be informed by the immediate area surrounding my studio and around campus. Through capturing the sights, sounds, smells and feeling of the place through video, photography, writing and exploration on foot, I worked to translate the experience of being in this place through the medium of acrylic and gouache paint on canvas. I went in with a loose plan and project proposal, which resulted in two large paintings, a diptych, communicating one visual story on canvas.

Banff Centre Artist Residency

Brandy Saturley standing in front of Thom Studio

I was assigned to the Thom Studio #6, named for the architect of the studio, Ron Thom. One of 10 studios in the forested and secluded areas of the campus known as the Leighton Artists Studios. Within the walls of these studios artists of all genres work away, from writers to musicians and visual artists, this is a small village of remarkably prolific professional creatives. When I arrived to the path that circles the studios I was met with a snowstorm and white out skies. We walked in my supplies for painting, lights, photography equipment and some already finished paintings as I believe it is important to surround yourself with your previous work, if possible. This studio was made for painters with vaulted ceiling and skylights, patio and windows by a desk.

banff centre painting residency

Ron Thom Studio #6 – Leighton Artists Studios – Banff Centre

The skylights were covered in snow and added to the feeling of being in wooded silence in the snowy wilderness. The view out my desk window, a perfect winter wonderland.

Banff Centre Painting Residency

I arrived on the Sunday before my residency start date and was graciously offered the opportunity to set up my studio a day early, this way Monday morning I could get to what I came for, making new work inspired by the location.

Banff Centre Painting Residency

Inside Thom Studio – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity

On the Monday I began two weeks in my studio. A total of 12 days in residence on campus. It was a short stay and a lot of work to make, but luckily my studio was open to me 24hrs a day. During my residency I made two large paintings each measuring 58” x 52”, also known as a diptych. These paintings are inspired by my experience of exploring the woods around my studio and the wildlife that surrounds.

Banff Centre Artist Residency

Painting in progress – making art at Banff Centre

I spent 7 hours a day in my studio and we took some time on the weekend to get photos at Lake Minnewanka, Two Jack Lake, North Saskatchewan River Crossing, Vermillion Lakes, Mount Norquay and Bow Lake. It was very cold, lots of snow, and I fell in love with it! Safe to say I am a snow person now.

Brandy Saturley Lake Minnewanka

Brandy Saturley at Lake Minnewanka.

During this residency I was taken by the silence of the forest and sounds of squirrel, raven and deer outside my door.

Banff Centre Leighton Studios

Squirrel!

Banff Centre Leighton Studios

Stag! mule deer.

Banff Centre Leighton Studios

I see you!

My studio practice includes working through my ideas using video, photography, writing and observation. As I work through my thoughts for a painting, and lay down the blueprint on canvas, I am working on telling a story about my experience and my observations. I have always felt myself an observer in a big beautiful world, letting experiences flow over me and into my brain, processing in the frontal lobe and coming out through my brush on canvas. In a larger sense I am looking to tell the stories of my Canadian experiences, each painting or series of paintings is a new chapter in this journey.

Banff Centre artist residency

Brandy Saturley in Thom Studio at Banff Centre

The paintings, photos, video and writing I have created during this residency will feed future work and series of paintings. Beginning with this diptych painting, titled ‘Symphony of the Forest’, I am excited to see where the material developed and gathered on this trip will affect future work.

Banff Centre of Arts and Creativity

Chair of contemplation – Banff Centre – November 2022

I have created a time-lapse video of my painting process while in the Leighton Studios at Banff Centre. Watch how the paintings developed.

See more paintings by Canadian Contemporary Artist Brandy Saturley. Learn more about the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. A little known fact about the Banff Centre, the conferences hosted by the centre pay for artist residencies, along with donors, the conferences are an integral part of keeping this gem of the Canadian Art World moving forward. Now celebrating 90 years!

My time at Banff Centre exceeded my expectations from the people, to the facilities, studio and hotel. I will look forward to returning again, soon!

Top 10 Best Paintings 2022 – Art in Canada

Every year we review the top 10 paintings of the year, highlighting the best artworks created by Brandy Saturley. This year was a year filled with figurative paintings reflecting Canadian culture, landscapes, outdoor pastimes and icons. There were many portraits painted in 2022, northern skies, wildlife and paintings with canoes. With realistic foregrounds and focal points, set against vividly vibrating abstract backgrounds of form and colour. These modern pop art style paintings, sometimes feature kitschy elements of Canadian culture. With hard edged compositions and representational elements, these paintings tell visual stories of the subjects contained within. Please enjoy these top 10 best paintings created in 2022.

Imagine Canoe: A spiritual landscape at Lake Louise. A Blackfoot tribal chief in regalia and headdress stands at the head vantage point of Lake Louise, towards the glacier. A canoe of red with name inscribed ‘Imagine’. A stack of rocks that resembles a person in the foreground, another red canoe in the distance. Two eagles fly high in the sky above the vortex point of the glacier. The lake is depicted in summer, with tropical turquoise colours and uncovered mountains and trees. Imagine Lake Louise, imagine Peace.

Original Canadian Art

Imagine Canoe, original acrylic painting on canvas, 48×60, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Golden Hour in The Heart of Canoeland: Two scarlet red canoes meet at sunset, on a lake in Canada. In the distance two snow peaked mountain ranges, and a swoosh of clouds. The tree line bordering the lake sparkles with shades of emerald and lime green. Reflections on a perfect moment shared in nature. Perhaps a skinny dip? where are those canoe lovers.

10 canoe paintings

Canoeland, original acrylic on canvas, 36×60, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Wanderlust: A family carry a canoe named ‘Wanderlust’ a grand portage across dried creek beds to a lake. On top of the canoe a polar bear and a snow goose accept the offer of carriage to a cooler locale. As with many of my polar bear pieces they are joyful visual stories but also carry deeper more serious meaning.

Paintings Confronting Global Warming

Wanderlust, original acrylic on canvas, 36×60, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Dreaming Under Northern Lights: Crisp northern air, standing under the aurora borealis. A girl in a fur trimmed parka gazes up at the northern sky and watches the dance of light. Dreaming under the night sky and the magical dance of the Northern lights.

tax refund buy art

Dreaming Under Northern Lights, original acrylic on canvas, 36×36, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Modern Canadian Elk: A mystical elk. A dreamy modern pop art take on a Canadian nature paint. Can you feel the spirit of the elk? Abstract forms an colour, along with a Northern lights sky create a dreamy scene.

top 10 best paintings

Modern Canadian Elk, original acrylic on canvas, 36×36, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

On Top of Nanaimo Bars: all covered in winter. A figure skater wearing a toque and red sweater, blowing a bubble is perched on top of a stack of Nanaimo bars, with Candy colours below. She holds a string of ice that flows into a vase or vessel, from which daffodil flowers burst. An icy lake and bridge behind with sky of violet blue peering through the trees. Painted around the time of the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. A dreamy confectionary Canadian landscape.

top 10 best paintings 2022

On Top of Nanaimo Bars, original acrylic on canvas, 40×30, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Surfing Rainbows: A west coast beach under dramatic skies of golden hour, post rain shower and rainbow. Surfers and beachcombers explore the beach, looking for the next wave or beach treasure. Symbolic of a west coast Vancouver Island day on the beaches of Tofino.

Top Vancouver Island Artist

Surfing Rainbows, original acrylic on canvas, 30×48, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

A Handful of Polar Bear: This little handful of fluffy white polar bear, sleeping silently, is surrounded by modern flora and fauna. He is perched in a dreamy slumber, on a bed of ice and has a tiny heart in his paw. Has almost an art deco feel – pop art deco.

top 10 best paintings 2022

Handful of Polar Bear, original acrylic on canvas, 48×36, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Ukraine Strong: Portrait of the artist in Ukrainian headdress, honouring her heritage and in support of Ukraine. She wears a blue collar flannel of red and black check, the quintessential Canadian business shirt. A Canadian Ukrainian with a pysanka egg of Ukraine flag yellow and blue resting between bicep and forearm. Against a background of wheat fields and blue sky.

top 10 best paintings 2022

Ukraine Strong, original acrylic on canvas, 40×30, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

Royal Gaze: “It has been women who have breathed gentleness and care into the harsh progress of mankind.”
Painted during the month of Queen Elizabeth II passing and funeral. I wanted to honour The Queen in a portrait that captured her gaze, her warmth and her strength. This painting of The Queen features an undulating Union Jack flag in the background, her majesty is wearing the Diamond Diadem crown.

top paintings 2022

Royal Gaze, original acrylic on canvas, 48×36, 2022 – Brandy Saturley

There you have it, our top 10 picks for best paintings of 2022 by Canadian Artist, Brandy Saturley. See more artworks by this Canadian painter here. You can also purchase the annual art catalogue featuring these works and more.

NEW Art Book Studio Image Project

A new art book arrived to my studio this week. The Art Studio Image Project published by Friend of The Artist, featuring artist’s studios, worldwide. The Studio Image Project aims to uncover some of the hidden stories behind these studio spaces and their role in their inhabitants’ artistic practices. As more images were received for the project, an overarching theme emerged: artists see their studios as a sanctuary.

Art Book Studio Image Project

The Studio Image Project, 2022 published by Friend of The Artist created by Ty Bishop

Pleased to participate in this project with a photo from the sanctuary of my studio. Over the years I have come to photograph my final moments before completing a painting, these moments have become known as, ‘The Chair of Contemplation’, where I sit in my orange studio chair and review my paintings and decide on final touches. These moments have become performance art as I inhabit a persona that relates to the tone of the painting.

Art Book Studio Image Project

The Studio Image Project, 2022 featuring Brandy Saturley Studio, Victoria BC

My studio is a sanctuary, it is a place to disappear into, with music pumping, it is time to enter the flow. It is a place where artist’s play, practice, work and make Art. A place where ideas, dreams, writings, photos and sketches take flight and become real tangible things. It where we begin technically, and as we move beyond our blueprints, the world melts away around us, and it becomes nothing but us and the Art. When I can hear nothing but the sound of my paintbrush scratching on the canvas, I am where I need to be to make the best and purest Art I want. It is where I move beyond the point of me and the artwork, and the painting and I become one, and we move together. It is much like a dance, only this dance is of colour, light, form, tone and texture. It is where I begin in the shadows and finish with the light. It is all about reaching the light and coming up for air. This is what happens in my art studio.

Brandy Saturley in her Vancouver Island Art studio.

See more of my finished artwork here.

Canadian Art Catalogues – The Annuals of Brandy Saturley

What Is an Art Catalogue? An art catalogue or annual magazine is simply a book of images and details about a specific series of paintings, body of work or collection of art. Canadian Art Catalogues by The Art of Brandy Saturley have become an annual celebration and reminder of artworks produced in a given year. These catalogues have been gifted to collectors that have purchased original artwork from the artist, attended an art opening or have worked to collaborate with Saturley during the year. Every year these annuals are designed and created by the artist and mailed throughout North America and the UK.

If you are fortunate enough to own one of these art collectibles, signed by the artist, you are a lucky art lover. These magazines are limited editions and lovingly created, including photography, writings about the artwork and a personal letter from the artist. These magazines offer a peak behind the scenes and into the world of this Canadian painter, based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Canadian Art Catalogues

These annuals include collections from exhibitions and sometimes annotations and photography from associates of the artist.

Canadian Art Catalogues

These catalogues include paintings and photography from the artist covering a time period starting in 2010, to present day.

Canadian Art Catalogues

For the first time Saturley is now making these unique art publications available for you to purchase. These are not signed copies, but they are beautiful conversation pieces and keepsakes for fans of the Artist.

Canadian Art Catalogues

A coveted edition, this magazine features works from Saturley’s solo exhibitions in 2017.

Art Magazine

As the first annual created, this magazine became a Staff Pick at Blurb.

Artist Annual

The only cover that shows the artist in her studio, the other covers show favourite paintings.

Browse all available publications from The Art of Brandy Saturley now.

Leighton Studios – Banff Centre For Arts & Creativity Painting Residency

In November 2022, I will be spending two weeks at the Banff Centre For Arts & Creativity. An independent self-guided painting residency (on scholarship) in the Leighton Artists Studios, home to ten distinct studios, appealing to a variety of disciplines: writing for stage and screen, composing and songwriting, visual arts including painting, photography, curating, and art theory.  I am looking forward to immersing myself in the pristine natural surroundings and mountain fresh air, letting all my senses soak it up and then push it out onto the canvas. I will be capturing my time in Banff through photography, video and paint. Banff is a place I have visited, but never had the time to pause and soak it up for two full weeks.

Banff Centre Painting Residency

Thom Studio at Banff Centre, Leighton Studios Residency

The studios have played host to many important Canadian artist collaborations over the years including K.D Lang, Joni Mitchell, and Jean Grand-Maître of Alberta Ballet. Séan McCann of Great Big Sea and Canadian Visual Artist Brian Jungen. Banff Centre exists for the advancement of creative potential that enriches our world, and I am ready for this new opportunity to go deep into my painting practice. To experience the power of the mountains, particularly our home on Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain and let it flow through me and out to the world.

Banff Centre Painting Residency

My last experience painting in a faraway place was in 2019 when I spent the summer at the Royal College of Art in London, England, painting in the Sackler studios. It will be quite the contrast making work in the mountains as opposed to the big city. I will be painting in the Thom Studio, named after the studio’s designer, Ron Thom, the configuration for this visual art studio is simple and open to allow the greatest degree of flexibility in the arrangement of working components.

Banff Centre Painting Residency

They say that In Banff, the mountains are really close to your head, and you will be seeing my head near these mountains soon.

Banff Art

Offering 400 Paintings – Buy My Art Collection

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.

Buy My Art Collection

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.

Buy My Art Collection

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).

Buy My Art Collection

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).

Buy My Art Collection

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.

Buy My Art Collection

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.

Buy My Art Collection

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.

art collection for sale

There are some spectacular and unexpected finds, deep in the collection. Make me an offer,  Browse some of the recent work here.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley (a.k.a The Iconic Canuck)

Queen Elizabeth II Paintings: honouring The Queen in Art

Throughout my life there has always been a portrait of The Queen hanging near me. With Cornish grandparents and Canadian roots, Queen Elizabeth II has been a constant in my life. Growing up in Victoria, British Columbia and being born at The Royal Jubliee hospital the crown’s presence can be felt everywhere. In 2019 my art career took me to London, England and I spent the summer making art and studying at the Royal College of Art. During this visit I had time to really explore the monarchy and it’s relationship with the commonwealth countries and Canada. It was a time to explore my family roots and express my feelings through my art using a very contemporary expression. Over the years I have addressed and celebrated the United Kingdom and the monarchy, in my paintings. Sometimes poking fun, but always sincerely celebrating the influence of the monarchy on Canadians.

From a painting of The Queen wearing a toque with the Rocky Mountains in the distance, to the Union Jack flag, these five paintings feature expressions of an artist under the influence of the Commonwealth. Featuring collage and painted using acrylics on various substrates, these artworks celebrate what it means to be a Canadian with British roots.

In September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed after reigning for 70 years. As a moment of great sadness blanketed the world, I retreated to my studio to paint away the sadness and celebrate a great life.

Here are a few images of paintings from over the years that celebrate Queen Elizabeth II and the monarchy. All seven paintings feature the Union Jack flag.

End of An Era, 2022, Brandy Saturley – painting of Union Jack and Canadian flags at half mast.

Royal Gaze, 2022, Brandy Saturley – painting of Queen Elizabeth II wearing Diamond Diadem crown

Queen Elizabeth II paintings

When The Queen Came to Canada, acrylic, pennies and pence on Union Jack flag, 2012, Brandy Saturley

Queen Elizabeth II Paintings

Remember Us, acrylic on canvas, 2014, Brandy Saturley (Union Jack & Canadian flags)

In my Splendorous Kingdom, acrylic, collage on canvas, 2014, Brandy Saturley (BC flag)

Queen Elizabeth II

Brexit, acrylic on raw canvas, 2019, Brandy Saturley (Union Jack flag)

Splendor Sine Occasu, acrylic pour painting on canvas, 2007, Brandy Saturley (British Columbia flag)

See more iconic Canadian paintings by Canadian artist Brandy Saturley.

The Chair of Contemplation: those final looks before a painting is complete

When is a painting finished? Picasso stated a work of art is finished when you have been through with it, to rid a painting of it’s soul, to kill it and give it it’s final blow. Those final looks at a piece from a chair of contemplation are something every painter knows, it is perhaps the most important part of the artist process. Da Vinci once wrote that “art is never finished, only abandoned”, a romantic statement about the relationship between artist and art. When Warhol was asked this question his response was famously, “when the cheque clears”, which certainly refers to the economy of art and getting paid.

Over the years I have come to document and celebrate these final moments of applying paint to canvas. Yes, I do believe that I must abandon the work like Da Vinci, but for me it comes from the perspective of leaving a journey behind. For me each painting I create is a journey, it begins long before brush hits the canvas, and ends once the painting leaves my studio easels. A finished painting is a painting that has been signed, edges painted and finishing varnish applied and dried. Once all of these steps are completed the painting is truly finished and ready to sell to a collector or send to a gallery.

These final moments in the journey of a painting happen through intense examination of the piece. From my studio chair, a rusty orange old velour chair passed down over generations of family, this chair has become known as the ‘Chair of Contemplation’. In 2016, I was sitting in my chair reviewing the final details of a painting and it came to me, I realized that this integral part of the artist process should in fact have it’s own moment, giving my viewers a peek inside the world of an artist. Every single painting I have made since has been documented in this manner, and these moments have become art themselves, performance art. With each chair of contemplation photo I have come to delve deep into the what I am saying with the work and the moment, what I am wearing, how I am posing, the moment, each moment has become a statement about the work I am contemplating.

At some point I hope to compile these moments and photographs into a book and exhibition, for now a few #chairofcontemplation photos to enjoy.

chair of contemplation

Chair of Contemplation – Canadian Artist Brandy Saturley

chair of contemplation

Chair of Contemplation – Brandy Saturley with paintings and art crates

chair of contemplation

Brandy Saturley in her Vancouver Island studio

chair of contemplation

Brandy Saturley in her North Saanich studio

chair of contemplation

Brandy Saturley with Canadian prairie paintings

Brandy Saturley in her studio

Brandy Saturley with polar bear paintings

Brandy Saturley wearing bowler hat and HBC point blanket

See the finished paintings.

Art Show Near Me – Addressing Community Through Art

Brentwood Bay, BC – COMMUNITY a Group Art Show near me on Vancouver Island. Staying Creative Gallery is proud to present COMMUNITY, a group exhibition featuring local artists residing in and around the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria. Artists of varied backgrounds and career stages present their thoughts on the theme of community. From collage to acrylic, oil and watercolour, from representational to abstract, this show will feature the artist perspective on their experience with communities in Canada. Featuring the work of 15 contemporary Canadian visual artists, this show brings a ‘fresh’ view and experience to the community of Brentwood Bay.

For this show I will be exhibiting a piece inspired by the community of Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

In 2016, I spent the year travelling across Canada and into the Northern Territories. The purpose of my exploration was to absorb and interact with Canadians and cultures across the country as I built reference material for a body of work inspired by authentic ‘Canadian’ experiences, which would become known as my ‘Pop Canadianisms’. These ‘Pop Canadianisms’ were presented in touring solo shows of my work in 2017. While travelling to and exploring these communities I was welcomed by artists in each area. I spent many days touring and learning about their communities. Time spent hiking, sketching, photographing and writing. This painting, ‘Cottage Royalty’ came from one such visit to a community in the Northern Territories, spending a week in the town of Yellowknife. It was summer, midnight sun time of year. It is a time when darkness never really falls and days are endless. This time of year there is an energy throughout the community as neighbors gather to take advantage of the long days. It is an incredibly creative and celebratory time as we danced from backyard to backyard, circling around fire pits and patios that became stages. In every yard there were storytellers, dancers, singers and artists of all kinds. We were sharing our thoughts, days, projects, ideas, jokes and generally just having a great time under daylight bright skies at the hour of midnight and beyond. Most yards come with canoes, skulls, and brightly coloured Muskoka chairs. This backyard had an elevated patio with one brightly coloured canary yellow chair. A string of red Christmas lights behind the chair as if it were a throne in the center of a backyard stage that would host a storyteller. This is a Canadian community in every sense of the word. For me this chair elevates anyone in the community to royalty as they take the throne and weave a story, tell a joke or sing a song. Northern cottage royalty.

I am obsessed with the iconography of Canada, and in turn I am creating my own. What informed my work began with ‘popular culture’ and stereotype. Over the years I became more interested in ‘authentic experiences’ and I began to travel to gain a true understanding of the collective Canadian consciousness, and in returning home to Vancouver Island, a better understanding of the culture in which I was raised. My practice focuses on acrylic painting on canvas, and over the years has incorporated collage, photography, writing, and video. My paintings encompass themes related to Canadian popular culture, symbolism, and the landscape; distinctly rendered in my signature pop realism aesthetic and vivid palettes.

COMMUNITY – A Group Exhibition runs September 9th to October 23rd, 2022 at Staying Creative Gallery, 103-7162 W. Saanich Rd., Brentwood Bay, BC – www.StayingCreativeGallery.com

 

Art Near Me

Community A Group Exhibition Poster

Community – Staying Creative Gallery – September 2022

Art Show Near Me

Cottage Royalty – Acrylic – 24 x 24 x 1.5 in – Brandy Saturley

See more paintings by Brandy Saturley.