Meredith Knox Barineau paints whimsical abstractions in watercolor, ink, and beeswax inspired by the American South. With a predilection for marine, botanical, and zoomorphic motifs, the artist plays with the intersection of shapes and spatial depth, interweaving layers of translucency into striking chromatic visuals. The sophistication and elegance of Barineau’s paintings betray her extensive background in jewelry design. Although sourced from direct observation, the natural elements and everyday objects that serve as inspiration for her paintings combine and intertwine into exquisite ornamentation. Pebbles glimmer in the sun like opal gemstones; droplets on a car windshield transform into luminous quartz crystals; rusted metal plates take on the luxuriant striations of jasper. A beautiful parure, a string of sapphires, a lavish amber brooch: Barineau’s paintings offer a splendid sublimation of reality. The preciousness of the natural world is highlighted and treasured, as the faithful artist invites us to love and respect our earthly home while being in continuous awe of the divine. “My work delights in God’s creation,” she says. The beauty shines through.

Meredith Knox Barineau received a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Spanish Literature from Vanderbilt University. She has participated in numerous exhibitions in Texas and Louisiana and has won several awards. She loves to travel and shares her time between Houston, Texas, and Bluffton, South Carolina.