Posts

Famous Self-Taught Artists

Embracing the Journey: Celebrating Famous Self-Taught Artists

In the quiet moments of my childhood, amidst the rustle of leaves and the scent of creativity, I found solace in art alongside my mother. Each day brought forth a new creation, a testament to our shared passion for expression. From pressed maple leaves to wax crayon masterpieces, our bond grew stronger with every stroke. Though my mother wasn’t a renowned artist, her self-taught spirit ignited a flame within me, urging me to pursue the path of creation. Celebrating the path of famous self-taught artists.

Pencil Portrait on paper, 1992, Brandy Saturley

My journey as an artist took an unconventional route, guided by intuition and fueled by exploration. While I dabbled in formal art education, it was the lessons learned outside the classroom that truly shaped my artistic identity. Through travels and encounters with seasoned painters, I gleaned insights that transcended traditional teachings. Two such mentors, a self-taught luminary from Winnipeg, and one in Toronto, imparted wisdom that resonated deeply, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of self-discovery in art.

Brandy Saturley and Charles Pachter, 2016, MOFO Moose Factory Toronto

As a Canadian Artist who thrives on experimentation, I’ve come to cherish the freedom that self-teaching affords. While technique and history certainly hold their place, there’s a raw authenticity to self-taught art that speaks volumes. It’s a realm where emotion reigns supreme, untouched by the constraints of formal instruction. And while some may seek to replicate my style, my greatest desire is to inspire others to tread their own path, fearlessly embracing the unknown.

Andrew Valko, Brandy Saturley and Jennifer Luckay at Art Toronto, 2016

The history of self-taught artists is as rich and diverse as the art they create. From iconic figures like Frida Kahlo, The Beatles, and Vincent Van Gogh to modern-day trailblazers like Jack White, David Bowie and Kurt Cobain, their stories inspire us to defy convention and forge our own destiny. In a world where artistic prowess is often equated with formal training, they stand as living testaments to the boundless power of self-expression.

Gordon Milne and Brandy Saturley, 2017 Okotoks Art Gallery, photo courtesy Penny Rogers

A Modern Autodidact I AM – Famous Self-Taught Artists

Today, being self-taught is not merely a label, but a badge of honor worn proudly by those who dare to challenge the status quo. It’s a declaration of independence, a refusal to conform to the rigid confines of the art establishment. And as we celebrate the mavericks and innovators who have carved their own paths, let us raise a toast to the enduring spirit of self-discovery in art.

In the history of creativity, each thread tells a story of resilience, passion, and unwavering determination. So here’s to the self-taught artists who dare to dream, who dare to defy, and who dare to create against all odds. May their legacy inspire generations to come, reminding us that true art knows no boundaries, no limitations, only the boundless expanse of the human spirit.

Brandy Saturley in studio with Winnipeg Filmmaker Randy Frykas, 2019

February 29, 2024

Canada’s Outdoor Hockey Club

Canadian Art, Outdoor Hockey Rink

We Are All Members of Canada’s Outdoor Hockey Club

If you grew up in a cold place where the ponds, lakes and rivers froze over in winter, you are likely part of the outdoor hockey club. Even if you didn’t love hockey, but liked to skate or even just observe from the edges, filling you full of sights, sounds and smells of the ODR, you are an outdoor hockey club member. Building rinks on farm fields of the prairies or in Northern locations on the lakes, cheering on the players and helping them create a safe place to get out and get active, having fun with friends and breathing in the air of the crisp outdoors. You are part of this club if you don’t let cold winter days take hold, but instead create a place that you can escape to and forget the everyday and immerse yourself in the joy and passion, the energy of the great outdoors. I for one never experienced the ODR in winter, as it so rarely gets cold enough in my hometown in the winter. But that doesn’t stop us from enjoying ball hockey in the cul-de-sac and dead end streets of Victoria. In Canada, and beyond, we are all members of Canada’s Outdoor Hockey Club.

Game On! – Pouch Cove, Newfoundland – courtesy Brandy Saturley

Personally, I am a HUGE fan of a particular Outdoor Hockey Club born in Winnipeg during the pandemic. When so many kids lost the connection with friends through sporting activities, Winnipeg filmmaker Randy Frykas took note and his lifelong passion for hockey and documentary filmmaking came together in the most beautiful and authentic way. From Moosomin, Saskatchewan to Whitehorse Yukon, Ontario and back to Winnipeg, Manitoba and with six episodes in the can, the word is spreading quickly and now across the border.

Canadian documentary filmmaker, Randy Frykas.

After winning the ‘Purpose’ Category for the 2023 Outside Awards, the 5-minute OHC short film joined the Warren Miller film tour for a chance to win the People’s Choice award and $10,000. The awards were hosted by Outside Magazine and the tour hit 200+ cities in Canada, US, and UK. Well, the votes are in and OHC came out on top. Not too bad for a hockey film, up against two skiing films on a ski film tour!

Eric Reder and his amazing rinks in Winnipeg – courtesy Randy Frykas

The film has been added to Outside TV’s streaming service and it is available to buy (link below). Two dollars from each sale will be donated to Save Pond Hockey and their ongoing climate action efforts. Most of us had an unpredictable winter when it came to playing outdoor hockey, so we feel this is a good way to share the film and help spread Save Pond Hockey’s message.

For more information on Save Pond Hockey, check them out here: https://savepondhockey.org/

On the ODR at Hillcrest Whitehorse – courtesy Randy Frykas

So, what’s next for OHC? Filming continues as Frykas works towards producing a longer film that will include more outdoor hockey sounds, sights, and stories from rinks everywhere.

You can follow along on Instagram and YouTube:

https://www.instagram.com/outdoorhockeyclub/

https://www.youtube.com/@outdoorhockeyclub

And the 5-min OHC documentary short is available here:

https://outdoorhockeyclub.sellfy.store/p/outdoor-hockey-club-documentary-short-2023/

The Outdoor Hockey Club in Canadian Art

There is a rich history of outdoor hockey paintings in Canadian Art, where the frozen lakes and ponds have served as both canvas and stage for the game’s timeless beauty.

From its humble origins in the 19th century to its modern-day prominence, hockey has evolved into more than just a sport—it’s a cultural phenomenon ingrained in the fabric of Canadian identity.

As the game’s rules refined over the decades, hockey’s essence remained rooted in tradition, spanning millennia of human history. Today, it evokes profound passion among players and fans alike, uniting communities under the banner of shared heritage and national pride.

Explore the artistic expressions inspired by this beloved sport, showcased in exhibitions across Canada and the US. These diverse interpretations shed light on hockey’s complexities, from inclusivity to the delicate balance between athleticism and its toll on individual well-being.

While acknowledging hockey’s inherent physicality and occasional controversies, it’s undeniable that the game fosters a sense of belonging and camaraderie among its participants and supporters.

Step into the world of Canadian hockey through the eyes of five iconic artists, whose paintings vividly capture the essence of playing on outdoor rinks, lakes, streets, and ponds. Experience the beauty, the passion, and the timeless allure of hockey in its purest form.”

Molly Lamb Bobak – La Partie de hockey – courtesy Kilnkhoff Gallery

James Duncan – Canadian Watercolour

Bill Brownridge – Choosing Up (courtesy Heart of Hockey)

Brandy Saturley – A Punch Line and an Unknown (courtesy Artist & Colart Collection)

Richard Brodeur – Kids on The Lake

February 25, 2024

Becoming An Artist

Inspiration

Becoming An Artist – Talking Art, Passion and Hockey

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sincerely Yours,

Brandy Saturley a.k.a #iconiccanuck

September 16, 2020

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

Tag Archive for: Randy Frykas