The Creative Life - Barbara Trovillo

Patience is a subject many find painful. In general, we do not like to Wait for Anything.   When I think of my journey as an artist, Patience comes to mind.   I did not realize my love for painting until I was in my late 30s, married, with four kids. Shortly after my discovery, my marriage failed, making a "real" job necessary. I became an Esthetician and went to work.   I continued to paint in my spare time. I was heartbroken. I finally knew what I wanted "to be" and I had to do it on the side. It was difficult to progress as a painter [...]

    I definitely am an introvert. I enjoy interaction with people in small groups or one to one. I never knew there was a name for that...."Extroverted Introvert". Definitely a contradiction!   I am uncomfortable in large groups of people and work best alone.     Fortunately, most artwork is done in solitude. Unfortunately, marketing and networking is done in groups.   To be honest, this has been an obstacle for me.   For many years, I ignored the issue. I painted as if under a rock for a long time. I wasn't overly concerned about getting more exposure. I had a nice social media following. I did a yearly solo [...]

“No matter how strong or strong-willed you are, you cannot live a stressful, maxed-out life without that pace eventually biting you in the butt. It is necessary to take breaks, set parameters, and be kind to yourself if you want to continue making an impact in your little corner of the world.” ? Cynthia Mendenhall, author     Some of us are more goal driven than others. I am one of those...always planning, problem solving, dreaming up dreams that require us to reach beyond our comfort zone. It can catch up to all of us, that's for sure. This past couple of years have [...]

"I will take the Rejection like someone is blowing a bugle in my ear to wake me up and get me going rather than retreat." Sylvester Stallone     Let's face it, what we like to talk about on social media are our Triumphs. Failures, though normal and a part of any endeavour are not usually discussed. I think that is a mistake as what we learn from rejection can benefit us and others.   Recently, I submitted to a gallery and was rejected.   Ugh.   First some positive words..."Interesting Texture, Artistic Voice",  blah, blah, blah....   Then, the very constructive criticism (no sarcasm here, truly constructive). Do value sketches and work on composition, [...]

A few days ago, I had a terrible experience in the studio.   I am working on a 30 x 36 landscape. The scene is of the drive with fence row that leads to the back of our house. The composition is complex but nicely constructed. There is a very dramatic sky, lots of green; trees, grass, shrubbery, and interesting shadows.   I began as I often do by toning the canvas with bits of orange and yellow blended together with paper towels. Then, using a palette knife, I put in the shapes, establishing the bright and dark areas, not worrying about details. As usual, [...]

They say "Showing up" is the most important thing. I agree, and so, it is my goal to paint daily.     Normally, I can zone out the distractions of regular life and get into that creative space. Recently, though, my husband and I were involved in an stressful renovation project. Most of the artwork I did during that period had to be fixed. One painting was bad enough I considered throwing it away. Instead I decided to set it aside for a bit. It may be salvageable still.      I think the work itself was good therapy but definitely not productive! I am wondering if [...]

  Do you "feel heard"? To be heard is one of the most basic of human needs. What does it mean, "to be heard"? It means to feel like someone sees you, really sees you, Understands who you really are and what is important to you.   Many of us who grew up in homes where "children were to be seen and not heard" had a tough go of it in the "being heard" department. If we are fortunate, there is a teacher or a neighbor or a grandparent who takes the time to listen and encourage us in the formation of our self concept. [...]

  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 [...]

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and talk; Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Winston Churchill   Today I would like to talk about a pivotal experience I had recently.   Going through my studio, I decided to discard some paintings I felt just did not measure up. No need to waste the canvases. Instead of disposing of the works, I decided to paint out the previous work and begin again. I did not cover up all the under painting. At the end of the session, I had a painting with which I was quite pleased. It was [...]

Wipe out!   (Hard to think those words without hearing the opening to the song in your mind? I’m sorry. ) It’s an apropos title for today’s post since it seems that everything I am painting, I am either throwing away or wiping out!   Why?   Good question! The water color attempts were not good. They had to go. The oil painting starts were probably OK. I needed to stop to allow them to dry before I continued painting into them. To be honest, I had too many outside distractions needing my attention. I couldn't get into that creative space in which I can work intuitively. [...]

This week I was rejected AGAIN.   Please, let me explain. I am submitting to art shows and competitions. This is a new experience for me. In the past, I did not have time to participate in this aspect of the art world. Yes, I had small, local shows and sold to individuals but wasn't involved in competitions farther afield.   I have entered into 3, maybe 4, okay, maybe 6? so far with no success. I decided to start a record of the rejections so as to make the inevitable ACCEPTANCE that much sweeter! I know if I keep studying, practicing, and submitting, eventually, [...]

Last week I shared a painting failure with you. This week I worked hard to put into practice some of what I learned.    I followed the advice I set out for myself:                                     My Reference Photo                                                     A Notan Sketch                                                    [...]

Abstract painting intrigues me. When I began painting, the painters who inspired me were the Dutch Masters and also illustrators like Beatrix Potter. I thought maybe I would become an illustrator of children's books or perhaps specialize in botanical paintings. I was very detail oriented and the work was almost photographic. As I progressed, I began to loosen up, to suggest rather than replicate. In general, I continue to be representational but more impressionistic in style.    My first, and until now, only, abstract painting was done when my husband and I began our relationship. I admired abstract paintings done by others and [...]

Caffe Bocce  Watercolor on Paper   I got my start in painting late. My Mother was an artist. She was self taught and had a natural talent. She suffered with mental illness. Otherwise, I think she might have been very successful as a painter. I was not encouraged artistically growing up. The girls in the family were expected to learn more traditional skills like sewing, knitting, crochet, and embroidery. I was always creative and tried my hand at many crafts as I matured. Nothing held my attention, though. I would produce one piece in a particular craft then move on to the next. So [...]

What makes up your ideal studio?   I have given much thought to this subject. Here are a few aspects I think are important:   SPACE:  Ideally, I want enough room for a drafting table, a couple of easels, surfaces on which to place my paint and brushes, computer, and a table for putting work together. Oh, and yes, a stool to sit on, plus, a chair for a visitor or model.   STORAGE: A Cupboard or shelves for painting materials: canvas, board, paper, brushes, paints, and framing tools, frames, glass and matting. Finally, there must be a safe, clean way to store finished work.    LIGHT: Natural light [...]

November is my least favorite month.    October is a great month! The humidity is gone and the light is glorious. There is color everywhere! The grass is still green and the leaves are turning.... red, orange, and yellow! The days are cooler than summer but still warm. A beautiful month....   Then there is November.   November is dreary. It is often wet and the cold begins to get serious. The frost kills the flowers and everything turns from green to brown. To make matters worse, the hours of daylight decrease and night comes earlier. It sounds depressing, doesn't it?   It can be. In years past, I have [...]

Anybody tired out there?   I don't mean physically tired, but emotionally tired, mentally tired? During this terrible time in our history, many of us are hanging on by a thread. Oh, we look ok on a day to day basis, but every now and then, we realize we are holding our breath. Let's take a moment to exhale deeply...... Ah, that feels better.   Now for today's topic:   There is an artist I follow who does online painting demos. He is very productive and does beautiful work effortlessly. While he paints, he talks. He appears to be rambling, but actually he is spilling gems as [...]

My husband and I were away for almost 2 weeks. We went to Folly Beach outside of Charleston, SC for some much needed R and R. We drove home last night. First, I want to say, What a difference 7 hours north makes! It is FALL here. Yes, I know September 22 is the official first day of autumn, but it was still summer in SC. I liked it better. Okay...... enough pouting.    It is GREAT to be back in the studio. I have lots of ideas for new work. I came home to a painting in progress on the easel that [...]

I think there is a life lesson here. When we face a dilemma or a goal in our lives, our view of the task is often distorted. The emotions and experiences that get in the way of seeing a situation clearly are many. Fatigue, past disappointment, fear of rejection, lack of confidence and fear of failure are just a few that can keep us from seeing the possibilities. Our imaginations often magnify a task or a problem. Consequently, we hesitate to begin the creative process needed to find a solution. If we will take these thoughts captive and proceed, we will often find the actual problem will be smaller than we imagine. [...]