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Journey of Art

The Journey of Art: creating an oversized contemporary Canadian landscape painting

How long does it take an artist to create an oversized contemporary painting of the Canadian landscape? It is not an easy question to answer, especially when a painting unfolds during a transitional period in the world. This painting of the iconic Princess Louisa Inlet began after an artist journey to London, England. The painting was created in the last few months of 2019 on loose un-finished cotton canvas duck. The piece appeared in a short documentary film and then went into storage until 2020. Then COVID took over the world and the artist turned her focus back to her work at hand, painting her visual stories of Canada. As the world came to level out again, an opportunity to stretch and finish the canvas for sale. Really GREAT ART, takes time, and a pandemic delivered this gift of time. Chronicling the journey of art, a behind the scenes recap.

Initial painting of the Landscape on un-stretched cotton duck canvas.

Stretching the canvas at Presentation Framing in Sidney, BC

Now that the painting is stretched to it’s final size, it asks for more details, it is not quite finished yet. A red canoe, a new sky, and some added details throughout.

Viewing the painting in the golden light outside, partially due to BC Forest fires and a hazy sky.

Another look in the light after a UV protective varnish is applied.

Temporary hang on wall to sign, examine, and prepare for final documentation of the painting through photography.

Final photo of the piece and installation example. This piece needs a large feature wall in a home or in a corporate office or hotel lobby.

This is the journey of Art and it takes time to create a lasting visual story on canvas. This piece is both contemporary but also has a modern art feel in it’s execution. Experimenting with brush strokes and the actual staining of this canvas in order to produce soft background effects. While the piece is a bit of a departure from my more figurative works, I still managed to retain my ‘pop art style’ and palette. This piece certainly reflects my affinity for Canadian landscapes and the iconic red canoe, which acts as the focal point of the piece. It is a gem that deserves a great big feature wall.

See more detailed photos of this painting.

August 19, 2021/by Brandy Saturley

Best Paintings 2020

Canadian Pop Art, The Year in Art

Best Paintings of 2020 – My Top Nine in Art

Every year comes with review. In this year filled with quarantines, masks, and limited travel; my best paintings of 2020 reflect the times. In total, I made 26 new paintings this year, a pretty prolific year in visual art. A typical year finds me on the road every few months. My year usually comes with time to explore new landscapes, take in Art Fairs and Shows in North America, and an annual vacation to a relaxing destination to rejuvenate my perspective. This year was a very different year, and it came with much more time concentrating on studio work and work on my website. as well as cataloguing and photography of Art.

From portraits of Canadians to prairie landscapes, from self-portraits to figurative and symbolic works, here are my are my top nine paintings created in 2020. Acrylic paintings on canvas ranging from large scale works at 3×4 feet, right down to smaller works of 14 inches. My top nine artworks begin small in size, but not in detail.

9. Sunday Sailboats

8. Long and Winding Road

7. Stitched in Canada

6. Contemplating Romance

5. Please Stand By

4. Golden Souls of Salt & Wheat

3. The Barn

2. West Coast Solitudes

1. Spirit of Remembrance

My top nine Canadian paintings in 2020, they are a mixture of all themes I have been creating for the past decade. Rendering my distinctive ICONOGRAPHY of Canada, on canvas. Distinctive Canadian pop art style paintings, with vivid and saturated palettes. The paintings sometimes vibrate with their complimentary and contrasting palettes. Using Kroma and Golden acrylics, and Rosemary handmade paintbrushes. You can see more of the paintings created in 2020 here. Along with more paintings from the past decade.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

December 28, 2020/by Brandy Saturley

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, 2020/0 Comments/by am-330

The Work of Art

Advice for Artists, Uncategorized

The Work of Art is Ever Evolving

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, 2020/0 Comments/by am-330

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

9. The Goalie’s Mask Painting

8. Under A Borealis Sky

7. Canoe View

6. Charity

5. Remember Us

4. Let Your Backbone Rise

3. Feathers Over Blanket

2. Complementary Canoes

1. Face Off

Here’s to Canada!

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

February 13, 2020/0 Comments/by am-330

2019 in Canadian Art

Canadian Art, The Year in Art

2019 in Canadian Art, My Year in Painting.

In 2010 I set a goal for myself, to paint 25 to 35 new paintings every year and to do at least one thing every year in my art career, that I didn’t think I could achieve. For me goals are important motivators, and as a professional artist who lives a life open to all possibilities, a little structure helps to keep the business side of this career moving forward, and not in circles. Circles are important, they are like pauses to swim in the lake of life, soaking up new experiences, where the inception of new ideas begin. But, I cannot languish in the lake for too long, as I would never get beyond the lake, and I like the challenge that comes with riding the waves of the ocean.

2019 began with a bang, and it took me from my island home of Vancouver Island, across the country, to the USA and even the United Kingdom. When asked the question; “if you could be a famous artist, who would you be?” my answer is always, Brandy Saturley a year from now, as the only one I am chasing is me, and the only one I am competing with, is me.

Here is my 2019 in Art.

January – new work and new ideas

Three paintings into a new series of paintings inspired by my travels across North America, featuring ‘people in the landscape’. The gathering of friends, family and strangers to marvel at the landscape, it is something as familiar as breathing, moments shared contemplating nature.

January also included a new initiative, as we began to work on what would become the first fine art offering of it’s kind, ‘The Box Sets’ original art collections.

In February, we launched the first ‘Box Sets’ original art collection and I traveled to the Okanagan for some snowy mountain inspiration.

In March, I spent my studio days surrounded by snow with a good amount of the white stuff falling on Vancouver Island. The energy is high when it snows here, it is like a late Christmas present that brings brightness to gray winter days.

in March a new painting inspired by sunrise on Salt Spring Island, in Ganges Harbour was completed. The painting not being quite enough to satisfy, I continued on with painting the crate that would house the painting, adding skateboard wheels for mobility.

Then I hit the road again, this time headed to Edmonton for art business.

Coming home through Calgary, with a stop at Fairmont Lake Louise…

an iconic beacon on the continental divide, Mount Robson.

April showers bring, more art. New paintings completed for the Mountain Forms Collective, painting collaboration with Calgary artist, Gisa Mayer.

A new painting for the People of Canada Portrait Project.

May the force be with you! I don’t mean to be punny. A chance to explore with my camera, the work behind the art. One of my photos, now available to license on Getty images.

A new painting, this time a diptych (two canvasses) inspired by shared experiences in the landscape and the music of the Beatles.

The second round of ‘Box Sets’ art collections were launched to the public.

June! one month to London, you heard that right. Earlier in the year I was invited to join the Contemporary Art Summer Intensive at the Royal College of Art in London, England. in June I was packing and ordering supplies for my month in the UK.

I also completed a new painting for the People of Canada portrait project, this time a self portrait of the artist and her muses.

July, I left on a Dreamliner to London, and set up my studio in the Painting wing of the Royal College of Art, Battersea campus. One month of making, talking, exploring art in the world’s financial centre.

During my time in London I painted four large scale works on loose duck canvas, and a few smaller pieces on paper.

I also toured a number of museums and art galleries including; White Cube, Barbican, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Design Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, British Library, and White Chapel to name a handful.

In August, we were preparing for a solo show at Dyson Gallery – 22 artists from around the world. It was the experience of a lifetime.

Upon returning home from London, I immediately threw myself into new large landscape paintings, influenced by my time working at the Royal College of Art over the early summer.

In September, while I was painting this large landscape I also began a smaller work on stretched canvas. Two red muskoka chairs, by the light of the silvery full moon.

By the time October rolled around I was working to finish the paintings above, and I was talking to a documentary film crew from Winnipeg and Victoria. The Passion Project Series is a docuseries being launched in 2020. I spent two days with the crew sharing my process, talking about my career, and showing a bit of the behind the scenes of my process. We talked about hockey, family, influences, challenges and success as a Canadian artist. I can’t wait to see the series and share my episode with you.

November began with another large format landscape painting, seven feet wide and on un-stretched canvas duck. This time my focus was Lake Louise in Banff Alberta.

Production of my annual art magazine/catalogue was completed – you can get yours here.

I set up a private art lounge meeting area outside my studio – for collectors, curators and press visits.

In December, after all the paintings were shipped, gifts wrapped and mail sent out, I jetted off to Las Vegas for a re-charge and to take in some of the best art exhibits in the world. Ate too much, drank too much, and celebrated too much. What happens in Vegas…

Tim Burton – Lost Vegas at the Neon Boneyard, 2019

The year included the production and sale of 21 new paintings, travel to Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Banff, Las Vegas and London, England. One exhibition in London, the launch of the Box Sets, a documentary film crew and mountains of snow almost covering my studio windows. There was inventory, newsletters, website updates, and a move of my art vault to my home. I set up a lounge for private meetings and worked on the largest paintings of my career. There were a couple magazine features, but can’t even remember what those were now. I had the privilege of seeing many great art exhibitions, learning new things from talented people and teaching things to eager young artists. I think one of the reasons I write a year in review is so that I can recall what actually happened in a year, and so I can plan for the coming years. I am thankful to those who collaborated with me and to those who continue to collaborate, I am enjoying the journey, what a ride! There were challenging days, and big moves. There was rejection and the sweetest of rewards. What will 2020 hold? for one, there will be limited edition art prints.

Here we go!

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

January 7, 2020/0 Comments/by am-330

New Contemporary Paintings

London Art Scene, New Paintings

Experimentation and Growth: New Art Made in London at The Royal College of Art Summer Intensive

I recently returned home from a month of art making, art talking, and art education experience in London, England. In my previous blog posts I talk about this compressed and intensive art experience in detail. I also explain the impetus for the works created during my time at the Royal College of Art, on the beautiful Battersea campus, just outside central London in the borough of Wandsworth. Known as the ‘brighter borough’ the roadway sign and symbol for this area of London includes the iconic Battersea Power Station, which in outline looks somewhat like the city of Oz, with a rainbow arc above the outline of the city. My previous posts discuss in detail my timeline while at the RCA as well as the detailed stories behind the art.

For this post I am sharing more photos of my studio and the work produced while in London. Please scroll on for photos of these works that I refer to as the ‘Mirrors’ series. These are mirrors of my London experiences and the feelings being pulled from within, while I worked through my three weeks of this intensive contemporary art making experience.

Somewhere over the rainbow, and under the towering skyscrapers of London, these are the ‘MIRRORS’ paintings.

Painting I: Topsy Turvy (Rorschach for the UK)

acrylic on raw canvas, poured and brushed,

72 inches high by 53 inches wide,

Brandy Saturley 2019

Painting II: Mirror for a Queen (Victoria)

acrylic on primed canvas, poured and brushed,

added paper collage

72 inches high by 53 inches wide,

Brandy Saturley 2019

Painting III: The Countess (mirror)

acrylic on primed canvas, poured and brushed,

added paper collage

72 inches high by 53 inches wide,

Brandy Saturley 2019

Painting IV: The Metamorphosis (mirror)

acrylic on primed canvas, poured and brushed,

added paper collage

72 inches high by 53 inches wide,

Brandy Saturley 2019

Painting V: The Internal (mirror) diptych

acrylic on sanded arches paper

added pen details

2 – 13.5″ high x 10 inches wide

Brandy Saturley 2019

A view inside my studio at Royal College of Art, Sackler Painting studios, on the Battersea campus.

For more in depth descriptions of the artists’ process and meaning behind these paintings, please read the previous blog post.

August 21, 2019/0 Comments/by am-330

Figurative Art

Artist Process

Sharing The View – Figurative Art

When I am not in the studio, I am outside exploring with my Nikon camera. I have always enjoyed observing life, appreciating the details, and looking for the connections. One thing I have noticed over the years is how the immense beauty of our natural landscapes and events, do not go unappreciated. Whether at the base of a great Rocky Mountain in Banff, or sitting on a dock with a seaside view; nature’s marvelous events cause us to gather, stop, and take notice. They offer a backdrop to a special occasion and a place to return to for celebrations. Sometimes these grand backdrops are simply a place to pause, to gather our thoughts, to process our day, and even help find solutions. Whether you practice yoga, meditation or mindfulness; nature grounds us. It may be a place to enjoy a glass of vino and a good conversation, a place to fall in love, or enjoy that first coffee drink of the day with friends. No matter the reason for seeking a moment in nature, it is something that will always be there as a silent witness, no pressure, just awe-inspiring beauty. Figurative art of nature, these paintings celebrate sharing the view.

Here are three new paintings that speak to these moments of pause, in three distinct landscapes.

A Sunset Between Us – painting of sunset on BC Ferries Boat

Here Comes The Sunset – painting of sunset in Tofino harbour

Stare Time at Lake Louise – enjoying the view at Lake Louise

Canadian Artist Brandy Saturley in her studio

February 5, 2019/0 Comments/by am-330

Celebrating 2017 In Canadian Art

Art and The City, Art Business

The Work Behind The Artist – Looking Back at A Year Celebrating Art in Canada

Every year I look back at the work behind the artist, meaning I celebrate the work behind the final product that is art. It is a behind the scenes view for my readers and a reminder that much goes into an art career, beyond the art itself. With 2017, also celebrated as Canada150 here in Canada, it was a celebratory year for my art career, and an opportunity to present my work of the past half-decade to art lovers across the country. Here is my month-by-month highlight reel from the year of ‘Canadianisms’, which continues to bring opportunities and feed my work in 2018.

JANUARY Edmonton/Victoria

2017 began with the grand opening of ‘Canadianisms: A Half Decade Inspired by Canada’ at Strathcona County Gallery @501 in Sherwood Park, just outside Alberta’s capital, Edmonton. Thank you to Brenda Barry Byrne and her team at Gallery @501 for a successful event which included me delivering an artist talk about the work created over the past five years, inspired by my travels across Canada.

Canadianisms kicks off 2017 at Gallery @501

FEBRUARY Edmonton/Vancouver

‘Canadianisms’ continues at Gallery @501 an interview with Sherwood Park News and a special event final week of the show as the gallery hosted Salvi Group (Homes). The end of the month offered an art trip to Vancouver to see the truly remarkable and inspiring, ‘Spindle Whorl’ exhibit featuring a retrospective of the career of Susan Point.

Interview with Sherwood Park News about Canadianisms exhibit

MARCH – Edmonton/Vancouver

On the heels of the closing of the first ‘Canadianisms’ exhibition in 2017, I head to Edmonton in March to present a Professional Development Talk at Visual Arts Alberta/CARFAC about building my career as a Canadian artist. My ‘Poppies For Lousie’ painting inspired by Lake Louise, and my ‘Canoe View’ painting, graces the cover and interior of the 2017-2018 brochure for Music In The Morning Concert Series in Vancouver, BC.

Presentation at Visual Arts Alberta/CARFAC in Edmonton

Music in the Morning is a distinctive morning concert series that inspires its audiences with masterpieces of the past, while challenging them with music of our time performed by the finest local, national and international talent – all at affordable ticket prices. In its 30th season, Music in the Morning is known for uncompromised quality, intimate setting and friendly rapport between artist and audience. With sell-out crowds, Music in the Morning fills a unique niche in the city of Vancouver appealing to people who prefer their cultural events with coffee in the morning.

Art Licensing – Music In The Morning Vancouver, BC

APRIL – across Canada
My exhibitions in 2017 offered a chance to talk about the People of Canada portrait project. A crowdsourcing, collaborative portrait project between myself and Canadians. Many more photos received, and more portraits painted. This project began in 2014 and I will be painting more portraits in 2018 with a planned 2018/19 exhibition. Accepting photos until year-end! www.peopleofcanada.ca

Portrait painting from People of Canada Portrait Project 2017

MAY – Victoria/Calgary

Preparing for the second solo exhibition of ‘Canadianisms’ in 2017 – creating and printing a second exhibition catalogue, selecting artwork to ship, preparing the crates for shipping.

Canadianisms exhibition catalogues 2017

JUNE – Victoria/Edmonton

As I was preparing for my second solo exhibit in 2017, a few opportunities came my way to talk about art, the current climate of the Arts in Canada, collaboration, and the future of Art in Canada. SHAW TV came to the studio and interviewed me about The People of Canada Portrait Project – The Canadian Art Junkie featured my work as part of their 150 artists for Canada150 – I joined the CARFAC AGM hosted by Visual Arts Alberta/CARFAC at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta.

Brandy Saturley – talking People of Canada with SHAW TV

JUNE/JULY – Calgary/Okotoks

Art on tour, second showing in 2017 for ‘Canadianisms: A Half Decade Inspired by Canada’ @ the OAG in Okotoks, Alberta, just outside the metropolis of Calgary. Thank you to Okotoks Culture & Heritage, and to all who came out to the opening, and to see the show over it’s three month run at the gallery which offered visitors worldwide the opportunity to experience a Canadian artists’ perspective on her own country.

JULY – Calgary/Okotoks/Yellowknife

Interview with the Okotoks Western Wheel about the show and my journey of the past half decade.

Brandy Saturley talks with the Okotoks Western Wheel

A painting featured in the exhibition, ‘The Getaway’ also appears on the cover of Reader’s Digest More Our Canada magazine for the July 2017/Canada150 issue – with an article I penned about my time exploring the landscapes and art of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
This experience inspired many a painting when I returned home to my studio on Vancouver Island. These people have heart and grit and talent beyond whatever expectations I had going in. I love you, Yellowknife—see you for the freeze!

On the cover of More Our Canada – The Getaway, Brandy Saturley

AUGUST – Seattle Art Fair/ Seattle, Washington USA

August found me on another art trip, destinations; Seattle Art Fair, Mt. Baker, Seattle Art Museum & Paul G. Allen Institute for Brain Sciences, which presented Allen’s private art collection at Pivot Art & Culture. It was a remarkable and eye-opening art trip. I love Seattle. The Art, Tech, Food, Kitsch…it all feels like home to me.

Seattle Art Museum – Andy Warhol Inkblot painting – Brandy Saturley

SEPTEMBER – Victoria/Calgary/Montreal

In September, I finished two commissioned paintings and penned an article for ArtInCanada.com, the first of a four-part series with Alberta Artists for Canada150, beginning with Chris Cran. I take on very few commissions, however I was delighted to take on these two commissions after hearing the clients ideas – one being 4 ft high by 7.5 feet and the other, a very special piece using a reference photo from an iceberg loving photographer, Doreen Dalley, who has been shooting these lovely moving landscapes for over 30 years. It was a delight and a privilege to interview celebrated

OCTOBER – Victoria/Winnipeg

October was all about in studio as I began working a new body of work, began upgrading my studio to include two new wall easels and got ready to launch a new website. After hosting with another provider for years I moved my website to a Canadian company in Winnipeg, Art Moi and am thrilled with the new and improved website, my online portfolio for a worldwide art collecting audience.

In the artists’ studio – Brandy Saturley 2017

NOVEMBER – Victoria/Vancouver/California

In November, I was back in Vancouver checking out the members opening at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Portraits of Artists, a show from the collection of the Royal Gallery in London, Queen Elizabeth II private portrait collection. From the 1700’s onward an immense show of some of the most detailed and highly skilled classical mezzotints, etchings and paintings, an ode to the old fashioned ‘selfie’. I also had the opportunity to see the beautiful, custom, Fazioli Piano at The Fairmont Pacific Rim at the #fightforbeauty exhibit.

Fight For Beauty – custom Fazioli piano Fairmont Pacific Rim

Art Licensing: From time to time I license my work to great organizations, who make exceptional products. I was approached by a US company called ThinOptics – a company who makes a great product that fits in a case on the back of your mobile phone, offering portable reading glasses. You can now find three of my most popular paintings from ‘Canadianisms’, including the hockey themed painting sold to the Colart Collection in Montreal, on the cases of these great specs-to-go. Now I can see myself taking a selfie and see the details of my paintings much clearer!

Art Licensing – ThinOptics Canada collection – On Guard by Brandy Saturley

DECEMBER – Hawaii/Alberta/Victoria

In December, I took off to Maui, Hawaii for a couple weeks. I was eager to read a book about American painter Georgia O’ Keeffe and her time in Maui and subsequent 20+ paintings that came from her trip, which were later exhibited at American Place Gallery, owned by Alfred Stieglitz.

Current Inspiration – Georgia O’ Keeffe’s Hawaii

The trip offered the chance to explore by foot, helicopter and car. I had some time to write, sketch, take photos and capture digital video. Returning home, I was in the thick of Christmas mail-outs and on the receiving end of many new things for my studio. Gratitude!
Art Licensing: From time to time I license my work to great organizations, who make exceptional products. I was approached by an Alberta art publisher, Island Art Publishers, with interest in re-producing my ‘Rocky Mountains’ series of paintings created back in 2011. You will find these beautiful reproductions through Island Art in early 2018.

Island Art Publishers – I See Mountains series by Brandy Saturley

That’s it! Some of the highlights from my year. It was incendiary! Thank you to everyone for the incredible support during 2017. Wishing you all a remarkable 2018, filled with great adventures, and beautiful moments. Cheers to 2018, and all the new work to come!

Canadian Painter, Brandy Saturley on her hand painted art crates, 2017.

January 11, 2018/0 Comments/by am-330

Canadianisms Art Exhibition Opens in Alberta – Canada150

Art Opening

CELEBRATING CANADA: ‘CANADIANISMS’ opens at Okotoks Art Gallery

Originally published June 15, 2017

Calgary Artist Gordon Milne with Victoria Artist Brandy Saturley at the opening of Saturley’s ‘Canadianisms’ at Okotoks Art Gallery, June 2017. | photo: Penny Rogers

A celebratory and intimate art opening at Okotoks Art Gallery on June 9. Housed inside an old CP Railway station, CANADIANISMS brought a patriotic and vibrant vibe to the main gallery just in time for Canada150 celebrations. A big thank you to the town of Okotoks and Okotoks Culture and Heritage, as well as the gallery staff for producing a spirited event. This past weekend also included an unveiling of the Canada150 Community Mosaic and the OAG members show inspired by the railway, From Cow-Catcher to Caboose.