Bridgette Meinhold
After a two degrees and years in engineering school, I came into my own and allowed myself to be the artist I always wanted to be. The realization that I really truly had a passion and desire to create art purely for the sake of creating has been like dropping a load of bricks I had been carrying around on my shoulders. I am free to do what I want and follow my dreams. After my realization, I experienced encaustic painting for the first time, and I felt like I had found my way home. The transformation was complete – I am an artist.
My art is an attempt to express the beauty I find in the world. I am fascinated by textures and up close intimate views of things, but I also dream of being able to capture the essence of expansive views and landscapes. My work is deeply rooted in nature and sustainability with the hope of showing that we are all connected – to each other, to our roots, to the air, the water, the wind and the sun. Forgetting that we are Nature means forgetting our own selves.
I work largely with encaustic, milk paint, charcoal drawings and occasionally oil and water color. I draw inspiration from aerial photography, wood block prints, the human form, and the wind whispering through leaves. I grow stronger from trying, more experienced from mistakes, and more joyful with each new piece I create. My hope is that my artwork brings others as much enjoyment as I receive while creating them. Each day, whether working in my studio, hiking in the woods or writing, my goal is to have fun.
Encaustic painting is a very old painting technique using beeswax, and damar resin to create rich, organic and beautiful works of art. To paint with encaustic, I heat the wax+pigment+resin compound to a liquid phase and then paint on a hard surface. Afterwards, the wax is fused with high heat to bond it to the other layers. Many of my paintings also feature milk paint, which is a non-toxic, casein based paint, which bonds well with the encaustic.
All my wood panels are made by my talented woodworking husband from his leftover scraps, reclaimed wood or standing dead trees. My studio is built from a used shipping container and we buy renewable energy from our power company. I minimize waste wherever possible, and strive for sustainability.
Long lasting in normal conditions, encaustic works can be expected to survive untarnished for many, many years. While encaustic paintings are durable, you should avoid putting them near places that get hot – i.e. stove, exhaust fans, direct sunlight or near heaters. They won’t melt, but they may get tacky. Once a month you can take a soft rag and shine the surface to bring the luster back.
[exhibitions]
Kimball Art Center Members Pin Up Show: Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT 2011
Locals December Show: Pheonix Gallery, Park City, UT, 2009
The Human Form Exhibition for Spiro Arts Life Drawing Group; Spiro Arts, Park City, UT, 2009
[writing]
Inhabitat (www.inhabitat.com) – Architecture Editor and Contributing Writer since 2008
Ecouterre (www.ecouterre.com) – Contributing Writer since 2009
eVolo Magazine (www.evolo.us) – Contributing Writer for both print magazing and online
etté studios (www.ettestudios.com) – Personal weblog on art and sustainability since 2009
Low Impact Living (www.lowimpactliving.com) – Contributing Writer from 2008-2009
[education]
Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering (Spring 2007)
Atmosphere & Energy Program, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (May 2003)
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Previous: The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
