The Creative Life - Barbara Trovillo

I am always happy at the arrival of February. It is my birthday month and the last full month of winter. March is the month of transition. We begin in winter and finish in Spring. Here in rural Virginia, it is cold at night but the daytime temps vary.  The sun is always welcome, though, it is not always warming. One afternoon, a week or so ago, I was struck by the dramatic sun and shadows on the old wicker  settee on the porch. It is the place where I take my morning coffee when the air is warm. On this day, [...]

Do you like to read?   I have been an avid reader since a small child. I read anything I could get my hands on, whatever was lying around. My mother subscribed to the Readers' Digest Condensed Book Club. I read them all......"Mommy, what is a concubine?" .......Asked, after reading The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck, at the ripe age of maybe 7?    One of the joys in life is reading to children. I read mountains of books to my kids and now, have the pleasure, on occasion, to read to our grandchildren. I love these books and the illustrations they contain that help [...]

I have had the best week ever in the studio! I have two paintings in progress on two easels and a watercolor on the drawing table. My house is a mess........I have not done the shopping.....It's been divine.   One of my intentions for the new year is to keep regular hours in my studio. Most often, I allow the many other demands to interfere with my resolve. It's amazing how much you can accomplish if you show up!   This week, it seems, I have been obsessed with pears. My son, Joel, is very fond of them. At Christmastime, I like to send he [...]

It's hard to be motivated on a rainy day in winter. We had a particularly dark, dreary week without much natural light. I was feeling a bit blue. I purposefully went to Trader Joe's to find some floral inspiration. It never fails. This day I found a bunch of happy Gerber daisies.      In the dining room, at home, I had a row of pears ripening on a windowsill. (Maybe a future painting?)     I placed the flowers in a cobalt glass and added them to the row.                           . I started this in watercolor [...]

If you are following this blog, you know I am concentrating on watercolor for a period of time. It is always a struggle to switch from the process of painting with oil to that of painting with watercolor. The first couple of paintings can be difficult. Quickly, though, my mind remembers and it becomes more intuitive again.   Today, I am offering two new paintings both done this week.    The first (above) is a view found on Pleasant Hill Farm where Albert Henry and I live. One of the biggest surprises we got when we bought this 87 year old house and surrounding land [...]

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 [...]