Celebrating Art in Canada

Celebrating 15 years, 400 paintings – Making Art in Canada

Fifteen years ago I committed to my Art career full-time, and I have made over 400 paintings informed by my travels and obsession with my country, Canada. Reflecting the collective Canadian consciousness, filtered through my eyes and ears, and brush to canvas. July 1st marks a very important day in my life and the collective consciousness of Canadians. Celebrating 15 years, making Art in Canada.

In 2019, I spent the summer studying contemporary art practices at the Royal College of Art in London, UK. This year I joined the artist roster at Adele Campbell Fine Art in Whistler, Canada.

Recently I spoke with YAM Magazine Victoria about about my distinctive style of Canadian Pop Art and what original art adds to a home.

The Peninsula News Review Sidney and North Saanich, popped into my studio and I shared some of the paintings I made during 2020, and the initial COVID-19 shutdown.

In support of the annual Art Gallery of Greater Victoria fundraiser, the TD Canada Trust Paint-In, you will find my work in this year’s virtual guide.

For the 35th Anniversary of the Sooke Fine Arts – my hometown, I will be showing two paintings as part of this years’ virtual programming. This show has become a world-class annual exhibition of Vancouver Island and coastal artists of British Columbia.

More to come!

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley (a.k.a #iconiccanuck)

July 2, 2021

NEW Contemporary Landscape Art

Art For Sale

New Contemporary Landscape Art – Capturing the Spirit

As I type this I am listing to Joni Mitchell sing Canadahhhhahhahhhh, intermixed with birdsong coming through the patio door window of my office. I have just finished a new painting, about the spirit of the landscape, something I have been thinking about here in my studio on Vancouver Island where we are surrounded by nature and ocean on all sides. New contemporary landscape art, that captures the spirit of the landscape.

For years now my narrative brand of painting under the persona of #ICONICCANUCK has explored the people, symbols, icons and landscapes of Canada. Over the years I have overheard my work referred to as ‘visual storytelling’ and narrative art. Some have told me the work begs for a story from the viewer. Whatever the case I try not to think about it too much, my intention really comes from my need to communicate, visually, as words have never been my strong suit. Painting, like writing, gives me time to process what it is that I am seeing and my thoughts on these things. I am becoming more and more connected to the work, and less connected to the words, in a verbal sense, writing comes fluidly for me and flows like paint.

I am a human tuning fork, buried into the earth, vibrating outward onto the canvas and the virtual page on this blog and I have a new painting about the spirit of the landscape.

This new painting features an Elk that I met on a trip through Jasper National Park, a hummingbird that sips outside my studio and a Blue Jay. Set against a colourful modern background of sky, mountains, and trees, this is; “Only the Blue Jay Knows”. This original acrylic and gouache painting on canvas measures three feet high by four feet wide, with colours of Yves Klein blue, neon pop art outlines, and gilded gold details. With this painting nature ‘reigns’ and the vivid hues make the painting vibrate with life, like music on canvas.

A few photos and video clip of this new contemporary painting and behind the scenes in the studio;

This painting is available to own, see the full painting with additional photos here.

Feeling the spirit of the landscape and the nature that surrounds.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley a.k.a #iconiccanuck

May 31, 2021

Ice Skating Paintings

New Paintings

Exhilarating ice skating paintings exude feelings of freedom and joy!

Continuing on with a year exploring outdoor sports and pastimes of winter, these active paintings celebrate ice skating on glacial lakes. Beginning in January this year, the celebration kicked off with two new paintings exploring the playful discovery of hockey outdoors. These pond hockey paintings created in the first month of 2021, feature glacial hues and the joy of play, bursting with colour and enthusiasm. Moving through this new body of work, my attention turned to figure skates and the romance, energy, and grace of figure skaters on outdoor ice.

Even though I am tucked away in a basement studio with augmented lighting, I was able to escape to the outdoor skating rinks provided by glacial lakes of the Canadian Rockies, and Lake Louise in particular. It is a place I have visited a few times, both in Winter and Summer, and it continues to command my attention. Perhaps some of the reasons we are continually drawn to this beautiful location, from places all over the globe, are the beautiful color palette, the crisp mountain air, the sounds of nature and the lake. But could we also be drawn to this place for another reason? Recently I did some digging and discovered some very deep ideas about the energy found in this place. There is an energetic geometry found at Lake Louise, which to anyone with a camera, a brush, or a sense of symmetry, you will see immediately. Lake Louise is one of many ‘energy vortex’ locations on Earth which acts as a swirling center of energy, containing more earthly energy than most places. Many believe that energy vortexes exist at the intersections of ley lines or the random lines of natural energy that make up the Earth’s electromagnetic field.

Some other well known energy vortex locations on Earth include Stonehenge, Sedona Cathedral Rock, Haleakala Volcano, Great Pyramid of Giza, Mayan Ruins at Tulum and the Bermuda Triangle. Many vortexes continue to be reported to bring feelings of peace, harmony, balance, and tranquility; while others are believed to promote personal reflection, deep insight, and a clear mind. Others still act as powerful centers of physical or emotional rejuvenation. Some even say they may be the healthiest spots on Earth. It is no wonder that droves of tourists are attracted to Lake Louise annually.

Here are the third and fourth paintings of 2021; filled with scenery, energy, escape and joyful hues. Celebrating ice skating outdoors.

TWIRL: a figure skater twirls and jumps as her blades sketch stories into the glacial lake ice. Aerial views offering a unique abstract perspective.

VORTEX: twin skaters with long auburn hair and a lone hockey puck. Dreamy in Canada.

These paintings celebrating outdoor ice skating are alive with vivid colours of teal, lime, violet, red and orange against a range of blues. With the palette of each my goal was to capture the electricity and energy of skating outdoors in Winter and specifically the energy found at Lake Louise. To create my signature smoothness and texture, I utilized a myriad of painting techniques I have developed over the last twenty years as an artist. These pieces were created using my handmade Rosemary paintbrushes from England, my gloved hands blending with fingers on canvas, as well as random household bristle brushes to produce the snow and ice effects.

All over the planet humans know how to celebrate long Winters, through making the outdoors our indoors. I hope these paintings transport you to these locations, much like they did during my process of painting them on canvas. These paintings are for sale; add them to your art collection today.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley (a.k.a #iconiccanuck )

March 3, 2021

Six Most Expensive Paintings

Art For Sale

The Six Most Expensive Paintings from Brandy Saturley

With a distinctive ‘pop art style’ and a uniquely Canadian perspective, the celebratory paintings of Canadian fine artist, Brandy Saturley have garnered the painter International attention. For over two decades the contemporary works of Saturley have been added to collections which include the works of Lawren Harris and the Group of Seven, Lee Henderson, Aaron Wiesenfeld, Riopelle, and even Emily Carr. Currently available to purchase and add to your art collection. Starting at $10,000 CAD up to 91,000 CAD, here are the most expensive paintings created by Canadian painter, Brandy Saturley.

Remember Us: portrait of a CWAC member in front of the union jack, with Flanders fields red poppies

Habitant: painting of Ken Dryden’s Target goal tenders mask on a background of gold with hand prints

HBC Skull: painting of a black bear skull on Hudson’s Bay Stripes with red maple leaf on frontal lobe

Saint Kanata: exuberant painting of woman in the rocky mountains with Canada Geese and polar bears

Canadiens Gothic: painting of a Canadian couple wearing everyday clothing and Canadiens hockey jersey, in front of the old Montreal Forum

and the most expensive painting about Canada and hockey, the ‘Goalie’s Mask Painting’ an iconic work featuring a goal tenders mask on a split Canadian flag

Confronting the enormity of the landscape has become a crucial aspect in Canadian identity, and a thread that is woven throughout these paintings. Saturley’s artworks not only have a sense of humour, but reference famous works of art. These quirky and symbolic paintings, create an open dialogue of what it means to be Canadian. They are informed by our iconography, our passion, our humour, our tolerance and kindness. These paintings tell a story, encompassing themes related to Canadian popular culture, symbolism, people and the landscapes of Canada. An internationally exhibited Canadian Artist, Brandy Saturley’s ‘POP Canadianisms’ series of paintings have garnered the Victoria, BC born painter notoriety as ‘The Voice of Canadian Pop Art’. Celebrating 13 years as an independent full-time professional artist.

January 28, 2021

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

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

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

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

Canadian Flag Art

Canadian Art

O Canada! Eleven Paintings for Flag Day in Canada.

Eleven paintings celebrating the Canadian Flag in Art for flag day in Canada. I began painting ‘Pop Canadianisms’ in 2010, these paintings inspired by Canada’s popular culture, symbols, landscapes and icons have taken me on an unforgettable journey, as sweet as maple syrup! As a result, the iconic Canadian Flag of red, white and maple leaf appear throughout my paintings of the past decade. Whether using the composition of the Canadian flag, the maple leaf emblem or painting the flag waving in the landscape, I have the Maple Leaf flag imprinted on my temporal lobe. National Flag of Canada Day is observed annually on February 15th across Canada, to commemorate the inauguration of the maple leaf flag in 1965. Amid much controversy, the Maple Leaf flag replaced the Canadian Red Ensign, which had been in conventional use as a Canadian national flag since 1868. In 2022, with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, I found myself painting the Canadian and UK flags at half staff signifying the end of an era. Because I love Canada, that is why I am obsessed with her iconography.

The maple leaf flag, and use of the composition, have appeared in my paintings dozens of times over the past decade, here are 11 of my favourite paintings that feature the Canadian flag from the past decade.

1. End of An Era, 2022

2. Stitched in Canada, 2020

3. Under A Borealis Sky, 2011

4. From the Forest to The See, 2016

5. Goalie’s Mask; red, white & Dryden, 2011

6. Poppies For Louise, 2011

7. On Guard, 2013

8. Canoe View, 2016

9. Rubber & Bone (Canadian still life), 2012

10. West Coast View, 2011

11. Lovers in a Dangerous Time, 2015

Confronting the Enormity of Canada has become an obsession. I began life on an island on the western-most point in Canada, called Vancouver Island. As a consequence, my preoccupation became everything that existed in my country, but not my island home. My paintings encompass themes related to Canadian popular culture, symbolism, and the landscape; distinctly rendered in my signature pop realism aesthetic. Now over 70 paintings in this collection, view featured artworks from this distinctive Canadian Art collection now.

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley

February 12, 2020

Posts

Celebrating 15 years, 400 paintings – Making Art in Canada

New Contemporary Landscape Art – Capturing the Spirit

Exhilarating ice skating paintings exude feelings of freedom and joy!

The Six Most Expensive Paintings from Brandy Saturley

Best Paintings of 2020 – My Top Nine in Art

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

13 Years Making Art as a Professional Canadian Artist.

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

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

O Canada! Eleven Paintings for Flag Day in Canada.