Arts & Entertainment
Artist Profile: Brigit Bize
French artist settles into the Benicia art community.
Brigit Bize was born in Algeria, but her family returned to Southern France when Algeria became independent. “I grew up near the coast,” says Bize. Every summer she returns home to visit family and friends. “I eat all the French foods I that I miss all year while I am there.”
Bize has been painting for 20 years. Her grandmother was a painter with a studio in her living room, so Bize grew up with the familiar smell of paint. As an English major in college, Bize never expected to become an artist.
“I got married and had children right away. When I was home with the children, I picked up the brushes and started to paint.” Bize is mother to five children, her youngest is now 18.
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Although she paints with oils, Bize sometimes make texture with acrylic. “I like to paint on wood panels because they are tough and take abuse. You can scratch and remove layers, uses layers, heavy texture and heavy paint,” explains Bize.
Handy with a miter saw, Bize makes her own wood panel substrates. She is working with cold wax medium as well. “I fell in love with encaustic hot wax paintings, but once I saw how it's done, I just didn't think I was patient enough.”
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Children on the beach have been a common theme for Bize. “When my children began to leave home, somehow I was very nostalgic.” Most paintings from that series have been sold. "It is nice when I do sell painting, to be able to get something out of it.”
More recently, Bize painted a series of self-portraits. She likes using herself as a model because, of course, she is always available. Each series comes from different inspirations. Her self-portraits were a reflection of her own psyche.
Although Bize lives out of town, she has been an arsenal studio artist in Benicia since 2006. She originally shared a studio with Bea Guttman and now shares with Paula Boas.
“I love the people here when I see them, but I come here to work," she said firmly. "I sometimes have a chance to take a lunch break with the girls here. I come here three to four days a week to paint.”
