Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Weiser.
Bridget, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I moved to Los Angeles from Chicago in 2004 to pursue music and acting. I have been playing guitar since I was a kid and decided to live my life as a full time artist. Before I left Chicago I won a contest for Washburn Guitars. They put me on a billboard and gave me free press along with a free guitar. I was an unknown songwriter and somehow I got their attention and won! It gave me the confidence to start a new life in California where the rest of the dreamers seem to exist. I started to change a lot of things in my life in 2010. I had a blog and I was carving out what I wanted to become through the message I was spreading daily. I got sober and my soul seemed more awake than ever before. I started to become more and more curious about life. I embraced my spirituality and began to experiment with painting. I was mesmerized by abstract artwork. I couldn’t get enough of it. I started to study the greatest painters that seemed to embrace the same ideals I had. Philosophy and poetry seemed to lead the way. I fell in love with Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and my favorite Gerard Richter. They taught me so many things in just the attempt alone. I felt like I was channeling their energy considering most of them were deceased.
I never knew that I was good at painting in the beginning but I knew I was allowed to do it. I started to gain attention from my friends and before I could even take score of what was happening, I landed myself in my first art show. It was an incredible feeling to have a purpose and a message. I couldn’t stop myself. I loved painting at night with music blasting in my ears. It was alchemy. Painting taught me so many valuable things that I never really understood with time. Like knowing when to walk away, having faith that something powerful could happen, having the awareness of when I am overworking it, and above all else that great things are born out of enthusiasm. Timing is everything.
My paintings not only got better but they got bigger. I wanted to create a sensory experience for the viewer. I felt that if they looked at my painting and allowed themselves to quiet their mind they would recognize something in themselves that was never there before. Music plays a vital role in creating my creative process. I am so deliberate about what’s floating in the background. The music had to take me somewhere so I can forget where I am and pull something from nothing. I had my first solo exhibition in December 2018 and it was a huge success. It gave me a feeling that I can barely put into words. Art means nothing if you don’t share it. It gave me the guts to make connections with gallery owners outside of LA. I am currently working with Georges Berges in New York. He is a wonderful person and mentor. I’m in love with my ideas. I will follow them wherever they shall take me. Great things can happen when you trust yourself.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been many challenges in my life. The side effect of being an artist is being extremely sensitive. You can live in a bubble so easily and you can convince yourself of so many pretty lies. You can feel an immense amount of self doubt and you can feel stuck if you don’t get outside and allow yourself to feel connections. The trick is to meditate and write things down. I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for most of my adult life. The only way to overcome these emotions is to design new habits and learn to speak myself in better ways. I knew when I was renewing negative thoughts and I was gaining momentum in a direction that I didn’t want to go. I am a huge believer in the Law of Attraction. If you care about how you feel then life will show you the path to manifesting your heart’s desires.
Please tell us about your art.
I make paintings for spaces that want to make people feel something. Most of our days are spent in the mind…solving problems, thinking about our future, and not paying attention to our inner beings. My Artwork is unrecognizable. It won’t remind people of anything that they have already seen or experienced. Therefore, my artwork can inspire people to get quiet and relax. Whatever you do relaxed, you do best.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t do anything differently. I don’t believe in looking at life that way. Everything led me here and I don’t want to judge myself while I’m still learning. If there is anything that I’m constantly working on it’s my self image. You can always improve your self image. I believe that there are things that you should want to change but you don’t need to go back in time to start doing that. I want my life to be my greatest work of art. That’s an impossible task. I am not afraid of failure and I’m certainly not trying to please anyone. As long as you are doing what you love there is no wrong you can’t make right again.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 3104986291
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Britt Arnett
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