Bibby Gignilliat
Sausalito, CA
Website
BibbyArt.Com
ICB Artists
How would you describe your work?
I am a San Francisco Bay Area mixed media collage artist whose large abstract art brings life and joy and to homes, corporate offices, hotels, restaurants, and health care facilities. My work encompasses a range of styles and techniques, including painting, drawing, and printmaking. It is characterized by vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, and a playful, spontaneous approach to composition. The work has been described as expressionistic, with elements of abstract expressionism, pop art, and surrealism. The use of color and form creates a dynamic visual impact, capturing the energy and movement of the world around me.
What inspires you?
A childhood letter to the tooth fairy, a One-Way Road sign found on the ground, or a billboard scrap foraged in Mexico City, all make their way into the work and reflect my life. Scraps and color usually provide the inspiration for my work.
Can you speak about your process?
The first step starts with a layer of collage. Then paint is applied using a trowel (mason tool). Next an orbital sander is used to distress the surface. More scraps, paint and marks are applied to create the design. Lastly, a few layers of UV varnish are applied to give the work an encaustic look.
How did you become interested in art?
When I was age 10, I loved painting. Every Saturday. My art was colorful and free. At age 12, I had a critical teacher and I stopped painting, and my creativity went into hiding. To paraphrase Julia Cameron from her book The Artist's Way, if you really want to know what you are supposed to do in life, look at what you loved as a child.
After 20 years running a successful cooking business, I sold it in 2017 to focus full-time on my art practice. I took an art class and was the worst one in the class, but committed to getting better and got an art studio in the ICB Building. I wanted to reclaim something that had been dormant my whole life. It has been a true homecoming.
Do you have any favorite artists, movies, books, or quotes?
Favorite quotes:
What advice do you have for younger artists?
Find teachers you love and continually sharpen your saw by practicing and stretching yourself. It takes time and practice.
Any more thoughts about art, creativity, or anything else you would like to share?
A business thought. If you want to make a living as an artist, you must do the business side or find someone to do it for you. Just like if you want to be healthy, you must exercise. Many artists don’t want to do the business side yet complain when they don’t have sales.
