Sometimes, you just have to follow the ebb and flow of life’s tide and see where it takes you. For Ottawa-based landscape artist Sarah Bradfield, this is her motto. The Canadian contemporary artist who lives in Manotick with her two sons and Maltese terrier, Tater Tot, has been into art since age six.
Growing up in Southampton, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Huron, Sarah was bitten by the art bug early, thanks to her artistic mother, who dabbled in craft and had over 170 art pieces all over the house. Her natural surroundings and rural upbringing instilled in her an everlasting love for nature and landscapes, which is reflected in her work. However, while art was always part of her identity, she didn’t become a professional artist until much later in life.
After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and English with a minor in Fine Arts from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, she went on to pursue a Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts from the University of Ottawa. A series of short-term contracts as an Art and English teacher across Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories followed. This included teaching gigs on cruise ships during the summer, as well as a brief stint as an Arts and Entertainment Editor for local Northwest publications Yellowknifer, News North NWT and News North NU (Nunavut).
Sarah reflects on the pivotal role teaching has played in her artistic journey, stating, “Apart from the chance to travel around Canada and get inspired by diverse landscapes, my experience as a teacher helped me in teaching art to youth and adults at workshops, kids’ parties, paint nights, and community events where I’ve partnered with local churches and senior residences.”
ABOVE: Sarah’s painting Black Rapids View demonstrates her love and inspiration of the Rideau River and is the first painting where she began exploring linework and movement in water.
The Northwest Territories, where Sarah spent six years of her life, will always hold a special place in Sarah’s heart as the birthplace of her journey as a professional artist. Her first show was in Fort Simpson as part of the NWT Arts Association. This was also where she painted her first large-scale mural on the hangar doors of Simpson Air in 2012, followed by a second one in 2013 – which turned out to be amongst the largest in the Northwest Territories. She also worked on a 288-square-foot mural in 2016 depicting the four seasons outside Yellowknife’s Mildred Hall School, where she was the Communications Officer on the school’s board. The same year, she was involved in a community-led initiative to paint utility boxes as part of Yellowknife’s Transformer Utility Box & Street Light Box Public Art Program. “I feel like the North West really propelled me to paint and I felt the freedom to do anything I wanted, which was really exhilarating,” avers Sarah.
ABOVE: In 2012, Sarah painted her first large-scale mural on the hangar doors of Simpson Air.
In 2017, Sarah moved to Ottawa when her partner got a job transfer, marking a new chapter in her artistic journey. “After returning to Ottawa, I got into communications, and there was a really long period till 2022 when I didn’t paint at all . . . But then, in November 2022, I suddenly felt this very strong urge to paint, so I picked up a new canvas, and did this birch tree painting; after that, I started painting in earnest, with a new piece every couple of days. I even sold some paintings to friends. Since then, painting has occupied all of my time, and there’s nothing else I’d rather do,” shares Sarah.
For Sarah, painting is meditative, satisfying and helps her unwind, while also providing an outlet to express herself. “Even if I’m working on a commissioned piece, it doesn’t feel like work because I enjoy the process so much. It’s like a kid with a colouring book and all the crayons in the world,” she laughs.
ABOVE: Private commission of the Mississippi River in Carleton Place
Although she has taught oil and watercolour painting, Sarah’s preferred medium is acrylic for the sharp outlines, bold contours, vivid colours and contrasts, the play of light and shadow and the detailed effect it gives her paintings. Of her artistic mentors, Sarah says, “I’m inspired by Emily Carr’s use of colours, Albrecht Dürer’s intricate line work and Rosa Bonheur’s animal paintings.”
In 2023, Sarah launched a website to display and sell her art, including original paintings and a slew of other products such as prints, notebooks, calendars, magnets, greeting cards and puzzles. Most can also be purchased from Tag Along Toys, Motif! Boutique and DC Canada Education Publishing.
She also has original art on display at the Ottawa Art Galerie Annexe. Additionally, Sarah offers commissioned paintings and hosts private paint nights and kids’ birthday painting parties. She has also done live painting at events such as the International Women’s Day luncheon, Purple Tie Gala and Father-Daughter Ball. Sarah conducts live painting at corporate and private events such as weddings or parties as well, where guests can watch her paint and later get to keep the piece of art, personally signed by her.
Sarah has had her art displayed at the Ottawa Art Gallery, Kanata Civic Art Gallery, Galerie Old Chelsea and Shenkman Arts Centre. She also had a solo show at Galerie Old Chelsea last March. Sarah is a member of the West Carleton Arts Society, Arts Carleton Place, ArtEast Ottawa, Art Lending of Ottawa and Manotick Art Association.
Sarah’s painting of Ottawa’s Rideau Canal is her most memorable one. “This was my first commissioned painting in Ottawa that I completed in December 2022, and it really propelled me into the Ottawa art scene because, after that, I applied for multiple art shows and got accepted. So this piece was like the bridge to my next phase of painting and helped reignite my passion for it,” she reveals.
Shedding light on how Ottawa inspires her as an artist, Sarah says, “I really love the waterways and the trifecta of the Rideau Canal, Rideau River and Ottawa River, all of which appear in several of my paintings. I also love the fact that Ottawa has so much natural beauty with all its green spaces and bike trails, which is a lovely contrast to the beautiful old architecture and picturesque downtown area. Together, all this makes for such a charming city.” Sarah’s paintings feature a funky and mystical take on many prominent Ottawa landmarks, which she feels lends an aspect of vibrancy and excitement to them.
ABOVE: Parliament Glow (March 2024) signified a shift to the “magical landscapes” Sarah is now painting. The original piece was sold at the Ottawa Art Gallery and graces the cover of her book, Ottawa ABC Landscapes.
Her fondness for Ottawa inspired her to assemble a series of paintings into a 32-page paperback children’s book titled “Ottawa ABC Landscapes,” showcasing the capital’s hidden treasures. “My kids and I really love ABC books, and I thought this was a great way to celebrate the city’s spaces, which Ottawans can connect with. It’s an educational and interactive book with colouring pages for kids, alongside stories about each landmark,” explains Sarah. The book was designed by OneFish Creative and is currently available on her website, Amazon, and will be available soon in local bookstores. Sarah is also in the process of planning workshops with local schools to promote the book.
The busy bee that she is, Sarah is constantly participating in pop-up art fairs around the city. Currently, she is co-organizer of the ongoing Capital Art Fair pop-up gallery on 71 Sparks Street that began on November 25 and will run till the end of this year, with 30 artists displaying their work and hosting workshops for the public to promote art. Sarah is showcasing her paintings and other products at the exhibition and will also be conducting a free colouring workshop to promote her book.
When asked what’s next, Sarah says she’s excited about what the year ahead holds in terms of book tours, more live painting events and shows, as well as the upcoming release of colouring books and colouring sets on her website. “I’m looking forward to new opportunities in the coming year, and I will be pushing myself with renewed energy to keep painting and creating,” she says.
To view Sarah’s artwork and products, visit her website or connect with her by email at sarahbradfieldart@gmail.com and follow her on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Header Image: Sarah’s 2022 canvas painting of the Rideau Canal rekindled her love for painting and opened doors for her in the Ottawa art community.
