The Creative Life - Barbara Trovillo

An artist is supposed to be creative, right?   Being creative suggests being playful, experimenting, trying this and that. Perhaps, even, being silly.   Up til now, I have been a very "serious" painter, looking hard at things, working hard, with very little play involved. Not much risk taking going on.    "A Change is gonna Come."   This painting called Festive Fare is one I began a year ago after fishing with my brother. We cleaned the fish and threw the carcasses to the seagulls. I took photos that day and did this painting I originally called Free Lunch. My favorite part of the initial piece was the [...]

    This weekend, at a "Meet the Artist" event, I was asked if I paint from photos. The technical answer is no, although photos can be involved.       I paint what I see. My portfolio is akin to a visual diary. Generally speaking, what is catching my eye wherever I am, is what ends up on the canvas. Most recently, I have been watching the goldfinch devour the seeds off the volunteer sunflowers that sprang up in my raised bed! This delightful experience has inspired 3 very different paintings so far.   Every Painting begins at a real life moment when I witness something that [...]

There is a very spiritual aspect to creativity that I am loathe to speak about. It is difficult to express though others have done it. I am a person of faith. I converse with God regularly, about everything, and nothing. I know God has big fish to fry but believe He is available to little old me also.   I have been given a measure of talent and I am a disciplined artist. I show up and do the work. Even so, I believe all inspired work comes when I am able to get out of the way and allow the Great Creator [...]

In my painting practice, I am always learning. This year, I have been trying to create better composition and value variation.    As always, I feel the best way to improve is to work. Paint, paint, paint. Don't expect them all to be masterpieces. I still believe this emphatically. The more you paint, the better the work.   I am studying again though. Recently, I listened to a talk by Kevin MacPherson and also, one by Colley Whisson. Both were incredibly helpful and inspiring.    This led me to the idea of doing a series of small paintings, using a big brush, palette knives and thick paint. [...]

  Do you struggle with the need for Space of your Own? I don't just mean literal, physical space but also the time and aloneness required for creativity?   I have battled with this all my creative life. I married and had children young. I did not even realize my love of painting until I was in my late thirties. By then, my house (and life) was full of responsibility. Through the years, I stole time and space to do art. I would set up in the kitchen or in the corner of my bedroom. I worked late at night or on a weekend [...]