By Dakota Parks for Inweekly
Artist Cameron Dykzeul has always been a nature enthusiast. After moving here from the Pacific Northwest, he found his artistic niche in relief printing, carefully carving intricate designs into linoleum and rubber blocks—often featuring the critters and plants that call Pensacola home. After mastering this new art form, Dykzeul took the leap from a career as an apparel merchandiser to pursue art full-time, launching his business, Saturday Sun, and quickly becoming a regular at local art markets.
“I always loved working with my hands and having a creative outlet, but it was just about finding the right medium,” Dykzeul said. “I saw a few videos from an artist on Instagram and started talking to my dad about it, because he used to do printmaking and etchings on copper plates. He always told me how much he loved it and encouraged me to just give it a try. I loved how hands-on it was, and inking up a block for the first time and seeing my design come to life was magical.”
As a self-taught artist, Dykzeul developed his skills through trial and error, learning to carve sharp, precise edges and mastering the tools of the trade. His process begins with brainstorming ideas, sketching designs on paper or digitally, then transferring them onto blocks. From there, he carves away the negative space, checking his progress with test prints along the way to ensure every detail is just right.
“When I first started, I didn’t even draw out a template. I just learned how the tools felt in my hand and how they cut through the material,” he explained. “From there, I tried out my first true design, my little Smokey Bear, which to this day is still one of my best-selling designs. It was my first-ever stamp. You have to have a lot of patience for this art form because once you carve away an area, there’s no going back. Nothing is worse than ruining a block you spent hours carving.”
Art runs in Dykzeul’s blood. Growing up in a creative household, he was always encouraged by his parents, who own a graphic design business in Bend, Ore. and regularly introduced him to new artistic mediums. Dykzeul brainstorms and bounces new design ideas off fellow creators in the family, and his parents even helped design his business logo and branding.
“My parents met in college doing graphic design then formed their own firm, so they’ve spent their entire careers side by side working together. It’s always been inspiring to me seeing them create and work together,” he said. “Their resilience is also inspiring. They’ve had to relearn so much since learning graphic design in the 80s, back when it was hands-on cutting and layering. It’s always been nice having the space to follow my creative dreams knowing my parents support me and don’t see art as unproductive or unimportant.”
For Dykzeul, art and nature are deeply intertwined. His work celebrates the patterns, textures and organic beauty of the natural world. From armadillos and saw palms to flowers and feathers, his designs are intricately textured and alive with fish scales and butterfly wings so finely detailed they seem to leap off the print.
“I’ve always been very in tune with the natural environment,” Dykzeul shared. “Growing up on the West Coast and going to college in Oregon, this climate is completely new to me. I’m still adjusting to the heat and humidity when I go hiking, but I take a lot of inspiration from the Pensacola environment. My coastal and marine life prints always resonate with people. I love creating pieces that make others happy and help them bring nature into their homes.”
That love for nature and sustainability is central to his art practice. His medium of choice, linocut printing, offers him the flexibility to produce multiple works of art from a single carved block, and linoleum is made from natural, renewable materials. Dykzeul also frequently prints on thrifted or vintage clothing, breathing new life into preloved pieces while reducing waste.
“Whenever I have time, I’ll thrift for pieces that speak to me or that I think will print well; natural fibers like denim are my favorites because they hold the design beautifully,” he said. “I’m very intentional about matching my stamps to each garment, which lets me tap into a different creative side. For my newer prints, I’ve been sourcing high-quality paper from France that lets me create heavier, more detailed prints. I love experimenting with handmade and textured papers that give each piece a unique effect.”
Nature doesn’t just shape his art; it plays a big role in his personal life, too. Dykzeul relocated to Pensacola last year with his partner Nick, who is working on a master’s degree in marine biology at the University of West Florida and shares his passion for the outdoors. Even his business name, Saturday Sun, comes from a Vance Joy song that they bonded over.
“Nature and spending time outdoors has been a big part of our relationship,” Dykzeul said. “Our very first date was a hike, and a large part of our relationship has been outdoor activities. Nick did an internship a few years ago, very early on in our relationship, in Georgia. After only a month of knowing each other, he had to leave Portland and go out there for six months to work at the sea turtle center. When he was done, I flew out there, and we road-tripped across the country back to Portland together for two weeks, stopping at as many national parks as we could.”
As a newcomer to the Pensacola art scene, Dykzeul quickly discovered a welcoming and supportive community through the Pensacola Arts Market. Since starting in June, he’s been busy creating: perfecting his market setup, designing winter greeting cards, brainstorming a special print lineup for PensaPride and gearing up to launch an online store.
“More than anything, I just want to put love and happiness out in the world,” he concluded. “Despite being in a more conservative area, I always fly a Pride flag at the front of my booth. I think that’s paramount to me as an artist—to make sure people know regardless of where you are, there’s always a space for you.”
Saturday Sun
@saturday.sun.art
Saturday Sun December Market Schedule
Friday, Dec. 6: Gary’s Brewery
Saturday, Dec. 7: Holiday Market at the Maritime Park
Saturday, Dec. 14: Pensacola Arts Market
Friday, Dec. 20: Gallery Night
Sunday, Dec. 22: Gary’s Brewery