How Monica Bergquist Finds Space to Create in the Middle of Daily Life
In this interview for the Arts to Hearts Project, we sat down with Monica Bergquist, a Montana-based abstract painter whose work combines science, structure, emotion, and spontaneity. Monica shares how her background in nutritional science, motherhood, and the loss of her mother have all shaped the way she creates.
She talks about balancing chaos and control, working with a wide range of materials, and the idea of duality—how two seemingly opposite things can exist simultaneously in life and art. From Monica’s journey, we learn that creativity often lives in the in-between spaces, where structure meets flow and routine makes room for play.
Monica Bergquist is a featured artist in our book, “101 ArtBook – Abstract Edition” You can explore her journey and the stories of other artists by purchasing the book here:
https://shop.artstoheartsproject.com/products/the-creative-process-book
US-based artist Monica Bergquist creates dynamic abstract paintings that blend fluid processes with traditional techniques, inspired by her surroundings in Montana. Her mixed media works incorporate various materials, including latex, acrylic, aerosol, oil paints, solvents, charcoal, graphite, ink, and paint markers. Themes of complexity, duality, and emotional healing are central to her art. Monica holds a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Montana and an MS in Nutritional Science from the University of Utah, and is a Registered Dietitian. After her Mom passed away, Monica recognised the need to refocus on her passion for creating art.
1. How has your nutritional science background shaped how you approach painting and the process?
Nutritional science blends art and science, and I approach painting in much the same way. Each piece begins like a chemistry experiment in selecting a palette, following recipes, mixing paints, testing consistencies, and observing the interactions of chemistry and physics at play. But once I begin painting, the process shifts. The alchemy of art takes over, and I start to see the work as its living ecosystem. I consider how each element interacts to seek harmony or deliberately create imbalance, depending on the emotional or visual tension I strive to convey. Like cooking, I ask myself, does it need more seasoning? More time? A splash of acid to brighten or balance the whole? This creative process continues to teach me to trust my instincts and stay fully present in each moment.
I often try to disengage mentally to be fully present, yet I still set alarms so I don’t forget school pickups.
Monica Bergquist
2. What changed for you after your mother passed? Was it a shift in perspective, urgency, or something else?
This is a difficult question to answer. After the initial shock of grieving, a sense of urgency emerged. I felt a pressing need to rediscover myself before my own time ran out. However, something shifted as I returned to painting in my early 40s in a new and more intuitive way. It became less about chasing something than honouring the present and finding my equilibrium again. I began to paint with gratitude, finding meaning in making the most of my time and enjoying the process. Alongside this personal shift, it’s become imperative to model what it means for my kids to follow their true North. In our brief time, I want them to understand that living with authenticity and purpose is essential. In watching me, I hope they learn to lead with meaningful alignment.
3. You talk about duality often—how do you personally experience it daily and reflect it in your work?
I used to struggle holding two truths simultaneously, as though one truth could cancel the other out. When my Mom died, I began to understand what it means to live in duality. Even with the intensity of grief, I also felt joy daily through my young children. Both emotions were real, and both demanded space. That lesson carried into my art practice, which wouldn’t exist without embracing duality. I often try to disengage mentally to be fully present, yet I still set alarms so I don’t forget school pickups.
There’s a constant tension between flow and structure – between losing myself in the moment and managing the responsibilities of daily life. My work often starts with a sense of construction or compositional control. I might use straight lines, grids, or textured layers to symbolise the order required of me as a Mom, or from my past work in Dietetics. Sometimes the structure comes first, and other times, it’s layered in later, as a response. In my latest series, I’ve been collecting water from local rivers, mapping their paths onto canvas, painting over them, then removing layers to reveal the waterlines.
I’m fascinated by how rivers divide and connect, and the juxtaposition of abstract organic shapes next to these clean, meandering lines. At my core, my artist within craves organic forms, loose gestures, natural patterns, and freedom from structure. But my day-to-day “mom-self” relies on routine, planning, and structure to get through. I find it fascinating that my life and art live on the same tight-rope of contradiction and coexistence.
4. Your materials span from traditional to experimental—how do you know when a piece has found its equilibrium?
A painting feels complete when my eyes can travel through its patterns, colours, and lines without hesitation. When nothing jars or asks for more repeatedly, that’s when I know it’s done.
Like cooking, I ask myself, does it need more seasoning? More time? A splash of acid to brighten or balance the whole?
Monica Bergquist
5. How do you balance life as an artist with being a mom to three kids and a house full of animals?
Some days are better than others. I dedicate time to family and creativity daily, but I don’t always meet that goal. Instead, I’ve learned to set broader intentions, like seasonal or yearly goals, to better recognise progress and evolution, even through life’s inevitable changes and obstacles. My family always comes first, but I’ve also understood that I struggle when not creating. The adage, “you can’t pour from an empty cup,” rings true. I have to care for myself to care for others. Making space for authenticity and creativity is part of staying grounded, present, and whole.
6. When you’re deep in the painting process, does it feel more like discovery, construction, or something in between?
The process often feels like building a home, layer by layer. From stretching canvas and applying gesso to making compositional decisions and mixing paint, there’s a structural rhythm. But curiosity and experimentation keep the work alive and ever-changing, like an unknown excavation. I experiment with materials, techniques, and scale in seeking the space where structure and spontaneity meet to spark joy. That’s where my unique visual language begins to reveal itself.
Monica Bergquist’s work is about finding balance in the middle of contrast—between chaos and structure, science and feeling, stillness and movement. Her paintings are layered with energy and intention, shaped by careful planning and spontaneous discovery.
Her story teaches us that creativity doesn’t have to follow a straight line. It can change direction, pause, speed up, and even start over. Monica shows us that art can be a way to process life—grief, joy, motherhood, and curiosity—and a tool for staying present. Her journey reminds us that making time to create, even in the middle of a whole life, matters.
To learn more about Monica, click the following links to visit her profile.
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