Brazen Edwards is a dynamic artist hailing from the vibrant city of Vancouver, Canada and has carved her path through art with unyielding determination and passion. Born and raised in the prairie landscape, Brazen’s journey began amidst the rich cultural tapestry of her hometown of Edmonton where her formative years were shaped by attending the prestigious Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts. There she honed her creative instincts and discovered the profound connection between art and self-expression.
However, despite her early affinity for the arts, she embarked on a different academic trajectory, pursuing a BA in Criminology at the University of Alberta. She joined the ranks of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and eventually relocated to the Okanagan region in 2009. Surrounded by the breathtaking landscapes of British Columbia, she found herself captivated and inspired, prompting her to devote herself wholeheartedly to the pursuit of her true calling.
Although now based in the bustling metropolis of Vancouver, Brazen’s wanderlust knows no bounds as she spends a significant portion of her year traversing the globe, drawing inspiration from diverse cultures and landscapes. Her latest endeavour is an art residency in Tokyo, Japan.
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Which ’hood are you in?
I live in East Van not far from Trout Lake but split my time in Kelowna as I opened Ellis Art Studios, a 5000 square foot multi-disciplinary art centre on the cusp of the cultural district in 2015. The studio is a haven for emerging and established artists alike, offering professional studio accommodations and world-class educational programming. I also travel quite extensively and have committed to exploring the world since my children left home.
What do you do?
I’m primarily a watercolour painter but my work is vibrant and bold as I love to experiment with contemporary substrates like Yupo and Terraskin that allow a more spontaneous and abstracted work. I rarely sketch beforehand as I don’t like to mar the surface with pencil marks so painting is a meditative practice where an emphasis is placed on the beauty of each individual stroke. The challenge is to capture the essence of the subject and evoke poetry in nature, so there is no forgiveness once a brush stroke is placed on the paper.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve been exploring South East Asia for the last year, painting small studies in watercolour and collecting reference photos and inspiration for a series of abstracted landscapes drawn from real locales in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand where I hope to provide an emotional escape from the challenges of urban life. My next adventure is a month-long exploration of Japan and residency to learn traditional block printing and Sumi-e (Japanese ink painting).
Where can we find your work?
My work can be found on my website as well as the Hong Kong gallery, Bosco Hong and bG Gallery in Santa Monica, CA. I also have my paintings on various online galleries such as Saatchi and Wescover, and have a successful Etsy Store since 2010 called Brazen Design Studio.
