We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Barbara Bova. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Barbara below.
Barbara, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
As with many other things in life, as I’m sure many can relate to, emphatically YES! I do wish that things had been different. I do wish that I could have spent more of my life learning and growing skills and experiencing the incredible joy I feel when creating, however I was there for the whole thing and I know what happened. And what happened was that I chose to put a halt on things during my undergraduate college years. I chose to pursue studies that would lead me along a few different paths and which ultimately prepared me for now.
I began drawing as a pre-teen. I have a distinct memory of my mother drawing a face as we sat at our kitchen table in Fair Haven, CT and I was impressed! I suppose something in me wanted to be like her. So I used my spare time to draw faces from my mind at my desk after school. Interestingly, I never really excelled or was captivated by art instruction in my schooling. The instruction typically involved looking at an artist’s work and then trying to do what they did but “with your own spin”. I recall failing spectacularly at designing a masquerade mask and creating batik designed eggs modeled after the faberge sort; my colors were “meh” and my design wasn’t anything to write home about. It wasn’t until a new art teacher in 11th grade came and taught a bit more classically did I really recognize that I might have an eye for drawing and painting. She set up a still life and started to teach about perspective and values. She thought I should go to art school after high school and was encouraging in that direction. But then we moved to a new school and I had encouragement in other directions. In college, it was clear that my lack of mentorship, general naïveté and very little training meant that I probably could not support myself as an artist; I had maybe one or two drawings to put in my portfolio. By that time, I knew enough of myself to know that I probably just wanted to draw and paint forever, I didn’t really want to use art in industry or commerce.
Looking back, it did not occur to me or I did not have the resources and strength of mind or will to ask people outside my family for help move forward with art. I went to school, studied the German Language and History. I studied abroad and availed myself of opportunities to a life drawing class and visit museums. I came back and graduated and joined a law firm to work and save money for graduate school. I decided to pursue speech and language pathology as a way to spend my “thinking life” pondering language and cognitive science while channeling that knowledge to a practical skill to help other people. I got married. I went to graduate school and transitioned to working in a hospital setting providing rehabilitation for those with neurologically based injuries and illnesses. I left the hospital to work with children. And then I had my own child.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started drawing again in 2023 when I began taking art classes with a local artist. I quickly recognized that the time in between to ” do my homework” was soul-nourishing and enjoyable and I began to draw as much as I could. Now that I’ve started painting and showing some of my works at my local church, people have begun to ask me for portraits of their family members or in memoriam of those passed away. I love to draw with charcoal on toned paper. I am still learning about figure drawing so drawings of the head and shoulders are what I prefer. Painting takes much longer but is extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Since I work part time and somewhat sporadically I have time in between sessions to review, observe and think about next steps. I’ve found that while initially frustrating, this tends to help me end up with a better creation in the end; it also helps me grow my skills and curb impulsivity. With a painting commission, it’s very important for me to understand the person I’m painting and the story behind the reason for the commission. It takes me time to digest the information and meditate on it, thinking about the person and what they mean to the person who wants the painting. I have been told by some that capturing the range of emotional expression and personality is a strength, and in truth, it seems to be the thing I want to convey the most. One person has said that my drawing has ” conveyed the soul”; a comment which I really appreciate.
One thing that may be helpful to know is that while most people can generally tell which paintings I have done from others, I don’t believe that I have yet come to possess a style; and like other artists before me, it is not a definitive prospect for me. Since I wish to consider each piece individually, there may be some works that are made in a completely different way, and that aspect of craftsmanship, while still a lofty goal of mine and perhaps far off, seems to be the way I am made to create.
I am inspired by first and foremost, the artists in my church, Kim Newgass, Naomi Hoffman, Kirsten Walker and Samuel Walter and many others, who have brought their art into our place of worship and faith community and helped to encourage the growth of the arts in this space as we contemplate our humanity and spiritual formation; they have been an enormous encouragement.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
There are so many ways that being an artist is rewarding; I enjoy sharing art with people, learning as I attempt a new work, and taking classes and reading books about my chosen mediums. Perhaps the most rewarding part is that even though I am introverted and somewhat timid, I love people and I appreciate the possibility of bringing someone joy with one of my works. It’s also extremely rewarding to have an idea, experience a moment, or see a person and mentally book mark it only to follow thru with the inspiration and see it come to life in a tangible and visible way in the world and to see how that idea affects others.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Since I am so new to making art, I would have to say that my mission right now is to learn, be who I am and grow, and to attempt, with all my might to glorify God in my discipline, subjects and the anticipated impact my work has on others. So far, this mission seems to be leading me away from some things and towards other things. I would love to move to full time professional work in the field, but only time will tell. I’m open to whatever may be and excited to see what comes next.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @babsartagain
- Facebook: Barbara Bova
