Brenda K. Bredvik, Laguna Beach

See It
Through Nov. 19 as part of  “Abstract” at the Pacific Edge Gallery, 540 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949-494-0491, pacificedgegallery.com. 

Background
“I’ve always made stuff: drawings, paintings, doll furniture, clothing, you name it.” Bredvik earned her bachelor’s degree from the Pratt Institute and worked in advertising and graphic design before pursuing her dream. “Painting suits my temperament because it’s immediate and I’m impatient.”

Creation
“Paradise Cove” is part of Bredvik’s series of Orange County coastal paintings. She blocks out her ideas on canvas and “listens” to the paintings as she fleshes them out. “When the colors and composition work in addition to the expression of the idea, you’re done.”

Inspiration
“The last two years of economic turmoil have had a major impact on my life. I felt it was time to get back to basics, and I felt my work should express this change. It’s more streamlined and feels good-it expresses the things I’m most passionate about, like water, or color, or light. It’s bigger, bolder, and stronger.”

-Anastacia Grenda

This article originally appeared in the November 2010 issue.