etté studios

Unconventional Dwellings Talk at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philly

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:19:00 +0000

If you're in the Philadelphia area, please join me this Thursday, May 23rd at the Academy of Natural Sciences where I'll be giving a lecture! I will be discussing housing options in the context of natural disasters, climate change and how we can prepare our housing stock for upcoming challenges. With me, will be Jonah Reynolds, who is a world-renowned Earthship builder and educator and who will also be speaking. The free event is open to the public and there will even be drinks and snacks! Please RSVP here!

Gardening With 4 Feet of Snow in my Yard

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:50:00 +0000

There's still 4 feet of snow in my yard. We won't be driving home for at least another month and the aspens aren't even close to blooming. It may still be winter here, but it's spring everywhere else, and I have a strong desire to be planting, tending and working in the yard. Since that isn't possible, I filled that urge with some small indoor plantings. I have a small obsession with terrariums and while I don't have a particularly green thumb, I certainly wish I did. Maybe if I keep practicing, I'll develop a green thumb.

I am incredibly jealous of those people who just understand plants, who know the perfect amount to water them, understand their need for sun and can by some crazy magic, will a plan to grow just by talking with them. Gardening is not a talent I have and living in snow for 6+ months out of the year is not a conducive environment to nurture that interest.

So the best I can do is plant little mini gardens with succulents and pray to the plant gods that I can keep them alive. My husband just shakes his head in dismay when I bring home new plants, wondering when I'll kill the next one. But when you live in snow for so long, it's nice to have a little bit of something living to remind you that it will soon melt, it will soon be summer and it will soon be warm.

Atmospheric Intentions Show

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 16:13:00 +0000

Last night's show at Gallery MAR was fantastic. It was a beautiful show and a great crowd filtered through the gallery. I was honored to have my work hung next to Shawna Moore's. Here's some pictures from the show. If you missed it last night, please stop by and see it in person!

Atmospheric Intentions at Gallery MAR This Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:45:00 +0000

After working hard all winter, the fruits of my labor will be on display at Gallery MAR for my shared show "Atmospheric Intentions" with fellow encaustic artist Shawna Moore. We've both been working with the wax as a way to create space, air, depth, light and movement and the show is definitely some of our best work to date. When Shawna and I named the show, we wanted to literally create an intention that would guide us through our process, and 'Atmosphere' was our preferred ideal. Please stop by the public reception on Friday, March 29th from 6-9 to say hi and see our new work!

Urgent Architecture Interview on Park City TV

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:14:00 +0000

Yesterday was the 2nd year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, so it was an appropriate day to talk about designing for disasters and my new book, Urgent Architecture. I was on both the local radio station - KPCW and our local Park City TV.

Making of Space in Between

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:48:00 +0000

I have a small studio - it's only 150 sq ft. This last week I completed the biggest painting I've ever done - a 60 x 40 inch megalith called Space In Between. The painting was completed in advance for my upcoming show at Gallery MAR, "Atmospheric Intentions" in conjunction with my mentor's work, Shawna Moore. The painting itself is 16 sq ft, meaning while I was working on it, it took up 10% of my studio. I am thrilled with how it came out, but am also happy to see it hanging on the wall in the gallery ready for the show and out of my studio.

cutting the top board requires a special set of skills

Building the frame was a two person job which required lots of space, ladders and being careful. I had to clear all my working spaces in order to make room. Once we started on this painting, there was no more space for anything else.

the reclaimed wood frame waiting for the top board

Working on the painting in the studio was it's own special experience. As an encaustic painter, I work with my paintings flat on a table. This is so my wax doesn't drip when I heat it and so my painting layers dry flat. So when an encaustic painter works big, it's a really BIG deal. Moving, scraping, and painting become more complicated and often involve acrobatic maneuvers, feats of strength and delicate balance.

mixing colors to create the sky

half way done

Getting it out of the studio and into the gallery is an entirely different affair. As our home is snowed in during the winter, paintings are often taken out in the back of a toboggan that is pulled behind our snowmobile. This painting was a bit too big to fit in the toboggan though, so I enlisted the help of my husband and pro frame builder to help me carry it out to the car. It's not a super long walk - but it's long enough to feel the burn from carrying it.

carrying the painting out through the snow

Once to the car, we loaded it flat into the bed of our truck and drove very carefully down the mountain and into Old Town Park City. After unwrapping, it took 2 people to hang on the wall. It was a relief to see it in the gallery and be able to stand back and enjoy it from a distance.

hanging Space in Between at Gallery MAR

Space in Between will be hanging throughout March (or until it sells) as part of my shared show "Atmospheric Intentions" at Gallery MAR. The show opens on March 29th in a public reception from 7-9 pm. If you're around, please stop by and say hi. Shawna Moore will also be there to show off her new work.

Urgent Architecture Book Launch in NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:28:00 +0000

If you're in the NYC area this week, please join me in celebration of the launch of my book, Urgent Architecture: 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World. Published by W.W. Norton, the book covers a wide range of housing solutions that address natural disasters. If you're interested in humanitarian design, emergency shelters, sustainable housing, self-sufficient design or resilient architecture, I think you'll like it. We're holding a book signing party in Manhattan at Van Alen Books on Thursday, March 7th from 7-9 pm. Please RSVP to npb@wwnorton.com if you want to come.

Donation for National Ability Center Gala & Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:13:00 +0000

Splendors of a Good Day, encaustic painting, 20 x 18 in

The National Ability Center is an amazing organization in Park City that gives people with disabilities the chance to enjoy the outdoors and learn new skills. Whether it's rock climbing, horse back riding, skiing, or playing sports, there's a lot of opportunities. The NAC is having their annual gala benefit and auction this weekend - Red White & Snow. In support of their efforts, I've donated a painting to the auction. If you happen to be attending, you have a chance to get one of my paintings and support this great non-profit.

Mapmaking & GIS Flashback

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:22:00 +0000

Long before I ever started painting with encaustics or writing about sustainable architecture, I was in grad school at Stanford. I took a couple classes in GIS and was completely enamored. Had I realized when I was younger that I could make maps for a living, I'm certain my professional life would look a lot different. Regardless, my love for maps runs strong. I'm very excited to be taking an online class through Skillshare - Map Design by Anne Ditmeyer. Can't wait to immerse myself once again in the world of maps and I hope to figure out a way to incorporate them into my artwork. But here's a picture of a map I made using GIS to determine the wind resources in the ski resorts in Park City, UT and in Big Cottonwood Canyon. If you know the area, maybe you can figure out which resorts are which.

In Process: Atmospheric Intentions

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:36:00 +0000

March is a big month for me. My book, Urgent Architecture published by W.W. Norton, will be released and I'm going to NYC for the book launch. At the end of the month, I'll be part of a two-person show called Atmospheric Intentions at Gallery Mar with my mentor Shawna Moore. The month will be the culmination of a long project and the expansion of my work as an artist. I'm excited to say the least. I've put a lot of hard work and a bit of my heart into both. And that's what it's all about, I guess - heart, soul and a lot of hard work.

I started this blog a long time ago to use it as a way to share the things that inspired me, projects that I was working on, and in all honesty, as a way to help promote my work. Sometimes I get a bit disillusioned with the whole internets of things and I just want to throw the computer away and go play in the woods. But to tell the truth, I spend a lot of time on the internet and draw a great deal of inspiration from what I find and see other people doing. As I roll through my feeds and images on pinterest, I am often blown away and I think, I want to be one of those people creating all the time - making awesome incredible stuff.

But you see, I am one of those creating people. I paint almost every day. My husband and I do quirky little DIY projects for our house. I bake whenever there's an excuse and I am constantly taking pictures. Every year it seems like I loose interest in my blog and then something gets me motivated and I start up again. Lately, I've been thinking about how I need to write and share more. There are so many thoughts caught up in my head and it would be better for me to just let them out - and this seems like as good of a place as any.

The point is, if I'm gonna have a blog, I should freaking use it. I should be open, honest, brave and share a little bit of my soul.

Urgent Architecture: 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:35:00 +0000

After 2 years in the making, my book is almost out! I spent the first half of 2010 writing my first book, Urgent Architecture: 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World and it will soon be published through W.W. Norton. If there's one thing I'm passionate about within the world of architecture - it's sustainable housing. And with more and more natural disasters happening far too often, housing is one of the first lines of defense. Crappy houses get destroyed, but well built ones stay strong.

I wrote this book to help encourage the world to build strong, resistant and sustainable homes that can withstand disasters. The book showcases 40 solutions ranging from emergency shelters, temporary housing, prefab housing, affordable housing and adaptable homes that can help us build correctly to minimize death and destruction. There is an urgent need for sustainable, durable, disaster proof homes. While the book won't come out until March, you can request it at your local bookstore or pre-order it through your favorite online retailer.

Success at Affordable Art Fair in Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:40:00 +0000

This Thanksgiving I'd like to especially thank Gallery Mar, without whom I would not be the artist I am today. At the beginning of this month Maren Mullin and her husband Matt of Gallery Mar loaded up the trailer and took off to Seattle to wield their wares at the Affordable Art Fair in Seattle. For me it was a great success as I sold a number of paintings and some of my new monotype prints. Based on the pictures, not only did it look like a ton of fun, but all of the other art was amazing. Thanks again to Maren & Gallery Mar! Click on to see more pictures from Gallery Mar at the fair.

Images ©Gallery Mar

DIY Knitted Boot Cuff Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Knit Topper Boot Pattern by Made and Do Girl

Whether you call them boot toppers, boot cuffs or even boot candy, whatever they are - they're cute. It's snowing today, and I'm pulling out my boots in preparation for the next 6 months of winter. I'm thinking a fun pair of boot toppers will help relieve the doldrums of wearing boots for so long. And then they can double as ankle warmers for those of use who hate socks. There are a ton of DIY knit and crochet patterns out there. Now, which ones should I make?

Cable boot cuff knitting pattern by Addiesma Designs on Etsy. ($4.00)

Annie Boot Cuff by BlueDogWoolies on Etsy ($2.50)

Boho Knits Boot Topper by bysol on Etsy ($5.00)

Knit Boot Topper Pattern by Make and Do Girl (Free)

Boot Candy Knitting Pattern by Sara Gresbach on Ravelry ($2.50)

Sexy Boot Topper Knitting Pattern by The Blue Brick ($4.50)

Reclaimed Sweater Boot Socks Tutorial by My Covered Bridge (Free)

Too Cute Boot Cuffs Crochet Pattern by Polkadot Squirrel on Etsy ($4.50)

Stripped Knitted Boot Topper Tutorial by Sharsum's Kniche (Free)

Printing Instagram Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:08:00 +0000

Arriving yesterday in the mail was this charming brown paper package with foreign lettering all over it. I wasn't expecting anything from Taiwan, but was delighted when I opened it to find my printed Instagram pictures. I take delight in my Instagram pics and was excited to see how they would actually print. I used the very easy Printstagr.am website and bought 24 5x5-in prints for some ridiculous cheap price (probably because it was printed in Taiwan). You let Printsagr.am access your photos, you click which ones you want and then hit purchase. Super easy. You can also print mini books and larger prints. Anyways. I love them. I keep flipping through them. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them, but if you're curious about printing Instagram pictures, it's pretty great.

Encaustic Monotypes - Old Style, New Technique

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:29:00 +0000

Ok, new plan. I've been dabbling with my new R+F palette to create some encaustic monotypes. As with any new medium, technique or style, you have to give yourself time to play and experience it. Rather than putting pressure on myself to create something AMAZING, I have just been having fun. But this morning - there was a breakthrough. I'm a big believer in using the skills you have rather than reinventing the wheel and I rely on small incremental changes rather than huge leaps. And today, I went back to a style from a couple years ago - abstract backgrounds with drawings trees. I'm excited.

Vote For Park Record's Best Fall Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:31:00 +0000

After last week's glorious fall day and our first snow, I entered one of my favorite pictures in our local paper's Best Fall Photo Competition. Would you please be a dear and vote for it on Facebook?! Just click this link and hit "Like". You're the best. Thanks.

First Snow of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Today was heartachingly beautiful. Show stopping in fact. I awoke to rain pounding on our roof and snuggled back into the covers to enjoy it. I knew that if it was raining at my house, it would be snowing up higher. So I bid my time and waited for the rain to stop. And when it did, the fog rolled it. And that's when I knew it was time to head out to enjoy it.

Anyone can see the beauty in a glorious blue bird day, but I seem to find inclement weather a thing of wonder. Clouds, atmosphere, drizzle, filtered lighting - to me that's so much more interesting than a blue sky and green grass any time.

Today was especially glorious because the aspens in my neighborhood are peaking - they're hitting the height of their switch from summer to winter. And it just so happened it was the first snow of the year here in the Wasatch Mountains. While I can't say I'm thrilled about the snow, it does create a stunning contrast against the mustard yellow leaves.

Is it possible to overload on beauty? Probably not, but for awhile there, I thought I was going to come close. Around every turn was some breathtaking scene ever more stunning than the last. I was oohing and awing like it was the finale of a 4th of July fireworks show.

Wish you had been there to see it.

[photos ©bridgette meinhold via instagram]

National Weather Center Biennale

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 19:10:00 +0000

Last night there was an epic thunderstorm - our house was in the mix for at least 2 hours. I loved it and it reminded me of being home in Oklahoma where I grew up with rolling thunderstorms frequently. We don't get them all the time here in Utah, but when we do - they're pretty amazing. This morning, I woke up to a blanket of fog, so I jumped out of bed, grabbed a cup of coffee, loaded the dog in the car and went on a photo reconnaissance mission. See I'm preparing for a competition - the National Weather Center Biennale. I'm gonna paint fog.

The Biennale is focussed on weather related art and while my forte may not be on clouds, epic storms, lighting or other events, I do know me some fog. I've been painting foggy mountain scenes and landscapes for a couple years now and I'm gaining more and more control over the wax and my materials to create the dreamy scapes I see in my head. I've also been playing around with Instagram and to try out compositions. The results are promising.

Flora Grubb Gardens Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:34:00 +0000

While on our trip out to the Bay Area last month, we made a stop to the green gardening mecca of Flora Grubb Gardens. I have long admired Flora Grubb's living decor, her vertical gardens, and use of succulents. Any time I see a project that Flora has been involved in, I know it's an excellent project. So we spent about 2 hours wandering her garden center in San Francisco soaking up the plant goodness and getting ideas for our own house and garden. Click on to see some of my favorite things.

Flora Grubb Gardens features an abundance of gorgeous plants, landscaping and indoor decor ideas.

Awesome curved concrete loungers that could go practically anywhere.

Take one broken down car, fill it with dirt and plants and you have a funky installation for your yard.

An old bike with a basket also makes for a super fun new planter.

Recycled steel welded into a flower shape planter.

Love these bright poppy planters. Wish I could have brought some home with me.

An old table gets a new life with a planter inserted in the middle.

Air plants, moss and twigs ready to be made into Aeriums.

Wall mounted globe aeriums.

Vertical garden full of air plants.

A beautiful display of air plants in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Air plants can also be grouped into large clusters and hung. In the background is the gourmet coffee shop so you can caffeinate while you shop.

We loved this hand poured concrete table set on a large wedge of wood. We could definitely make this ourselves.

Concrete planters and a beautiful succulent arrangement.

I also wrote up an article on Inhabitat about some other awesome ideas we picked up from the gardening center.

My Favorite Place Opening & Encaustic Demo

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:59:00 +0000

"Virgin, Springdale, Zion" encaustic + milk paint, 11 x 11 each

What are you doing this weekend?! Be sure to hit up Gallery Mar in Park City for their Grand Re-Opening party to celebrate the new space. In conjunction, a new show called "My Favorite Place" featuring a series of three paintings by moi will be included! ALSO hit me up on Sunday at the gallery to see a live encaustic demo from 11-2pm. I won't be giving away all my secrets, but if you've ever been curious so see what encaustic painting is all about, this is a great chance! Even City Weekly highly recommends going.

My Week In Plein Air

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:45:00 +0000

Phew. Last week, I completed 9 paintings - 4 encaustic and 5 in plein air. I haven't picked a brush up all week. I competed in both the Wasatch Plein Air Paradise festival in Midway and I painted out at Glenwild Country Club for their annual member's golf tournament. I've really only been painting en plein air for a year now, so I still feel like a total newbie, but it was a fun experience and a good excuse to do so many paintings.

I paint in plein air mostly for the excuse to be outside, but it's also a great way to practice. I met a ton of other artists during the week and got a lot of great tips and advise. One of the artists, George Handrahan, told me that he paints in plein air because it's really good training. Being outdoors, he said, "hones your skills". It's harder to paint out in the elements, with the wind blowing, the light shifting and the other distractions that when you get back in your studio, it's so much easier.

Meeting so many talented artists and seeing their amazing works left me feeling a bit sheepish to be honest, so I have to keep reminding myself that I'm still really new at all this. So the practice is the important part - doing is the key, not the finished product. I may not have the skill that I would like to have, but maybe some day I will. But I really did enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors with a brush in my hand and trying to figure out how to take what I see and put it into a two-dimensional space.

Also. Trees are really flipping hard. Mountains are much easier.

I was really pleased with the paintings I did for Glenwild and I was happy they both sold. I also exhibited three paintings down in Midway until the 4th. None of them sold, but I was still honored to show amongst so many talented artists.

Making New Friends at the Midway Plein Air Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:51:00 +0000

The Midway Plein Air Festival is going on right now, and last minute I decided to enter. So I'm working hard this week to do a lot of painting outdoors. Last night after registering I was down in Midway enjoying the beautiful evening and painting a gorgeous scene of Mt. Timpanogos and a cool rusty horse trailer. As I was setting up the horses in the field saw me and bolted for me, literally galloping at full speed towards me. The stopped just short of the barbed-wire fence and asked "Do you have any snacks?"

It's fun to make new friends, especially funny horses, who came to check on me periodically throughout the evening. It took me three hours to paint my scene, which is a little longer than I hoped it would take. I was pretty tired by the time I finished, so I hope I can speed up with tonight's painting.

The boundary for the festival includes all of Wasatch County, a small portion in Utah County called Aspen Grove, Park City proper and the Kamas Valley. I don't know Kamas all that well, and I feel that the Heber Valley has probably been overpainted, but I do know my valley and Park City really well, so for my next two paintings I'll focus my efforts up here.

Tonight I'll probably be painting up at Guardsman Pass. Tomorrow, I'll be out at Glenwild to paint for their annual tournament. This event isn't part of the Midway Art Association plein air festival, but it will be super fun and my paintings will be auctioned off at the member's annual party. Then on Saturday, I'll do one more painting in the morning, but I don't know where. Any suggestions?!

R Nelson Parrish Interview on Inhabitat

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:17:00 +0000

Earlier this month I attended the opening of R Nelson Parrish's Color/Fast installation at the Kimball Art Center. I completely fell in love with his work and even bought one! After attending his artist lecture and learning more about his process and background, I had a chance to interview him for an article on Inhabitat. His works are full of color, light and energy and it also doesn't hurt that he uses bio-resin. Click on to read the full interview.

Glenwild Plein Aire Event

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:47:00 +0000

This Friday I'll be hitting up Glenwild Country Club in Park City, UT. Nope - I'm not much of a golfer, but I will be there with my plein aire setup doing my best to capture the view. Located on the North side of Park City, the neighborhood and golf course look back at the ski resorts and offer up some spectacular vistas. I toured the club today with 8 other artists to get an idea of what we were up against. Each of us will draw a hole number and will go paint it. Afterwards, we get to hob nob it with the guests and our paintings go up for action. Wish me luck! I'm a little nervous going up against all the talented artists I met today.

Road To Zion

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgette Meinhold) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 17:08:00 +0000

While encaustic painting is technically "my thing" I do still paint with oils. It's a good way to practice, develop my skills and test out compositions. It's also much quicker (and sometimes more satisfying) to finish a little painting in one sitting too rather than having to wait for layers to dry. Here's a little landscape I did last week to test out a composition for an encaustic painting that's headed to Gallery Mar soon - it's the road to Zion.