Our latest Stick Of The Week! is Holly Trostle Brigham. Holly is in the NOW as a talented easel painter who shows her work with ACA Galleries in Chelsea, NY.
Holly Trostle Brigham
Holly Trostle Brigham lives in Historic Overbrook Farms in a part of Philadelphia. She lives in an 1895 Gothic gray stone house with her husband, David Brigham and her two children, Noble (10) and Flora (6). Though she would love an Airdale, her son is allergic to dogs so they have all settled for a turtle named George III.
Holly, Noble and Flora
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On the Wall)
I am a painter. No. Not a house painter, an easel painter. People sometimes need clarification. I don’t think of my noodles as thrown on the wall, but rather arranged carefully like the installation art of fellow Smith College alum, Sandy Skogland. I am preparing for a solo exhibition at the Berman Museum at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA in September 2013. Twenty or so of my paintings will be arranged carefully on the wall.
My watercolor paintings are life-size portraits of women throughout history. I paint myself as these historical women. I completed a series of seven paintings last year called, “The Seven Sisters." It includes seven women artists who I felt a connection to and about whom I wanted to tell more of their stories. When I first studied Art History in college, we were taught only a few women artists. I therefore, try to correct history and create women’s history, by giving them more of a story and voice. Here are just a few of my paintings....
I am a painter. No. Not a house painter, an easel painter. People sometimes need clarification. I don’t think of my noodles as thrown on the wall, but rather arranged carefully like the installation art of fellow Smith College alum, Sandy Skogland. I am preparing for a solo exhibition at the Berman Museum at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA in September 2013. Twenty or so of my paintings will be arranged carefully on the wall.
My watercolor paintings are life-size portraits of women throughout history. I paint myself as these historical women. I completed a series of seven paintings last year called, “The Seven Sisters." It includes seven women artists who I felt a connection to and about whom I wanted to tell more of their stories. When I first studied Art History in college, we were taught only a few women artists. I therefore, try to correct history and create women’s history, by giving them more of a story and voice. Here are just a few of my paintings....
Artemesia:Blood for Blood, 2000
Italian Baroque artist, Artemisia Gentilleschi right after she was raped.
Freeing the Frieda in Me, 2003
20th Century Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo celebrating the Day of the Dead.
Maria Sibylla Merian: Metamorphosis, 2010
17th century German naturalist, Maria Sibylla Merian discovering and recording metamorphosis.
My current series, "Seven Sisters II," is based on nuns who were also artists. I am now finishing up the painting of Sister Plautilla Nelli who painted in Florence, Italy during the Italian Renaissance.
Is your NOW simmering, al dente or fully cooked and why?
My NOW is simmering and occasionally boiling over. When I’m in my studio and I have a clear week without commitments, the work simmers and all is happy and calm. Then there are weeks when I have evening commitments, show art work to get framed and delivered and gallery talks to prepare for. This and the added outside career things like school projects, tests to help my children prepare for and evening social obligations at my husband’s museum.....Not to mention other volunteer obligations. That’s when the pasta boils over and makes a huge mess!
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
You can never give up! There are moments when I have many opportunites overlapping, but I keep plowing forward because every event, leads to something else. That's why networking is so important!
Other important things to remember is to always surround yourself with supporters, avoid the naysayers and challenge yourself. Each time I had a baby, my pasta pot would go on the back burner for a short while. Then things would start to happen again. I did not compromise my subject matter in order to sell more easily because I understood that if I was pleased with the work, others would be too.
Most importantly, know your audience and who to market to. I found my niche--women's art. So, I reached out to the Institute for Women and Art at Rutgers and the two co-directors, Ferris Olin and Judy Brodsky, who are now friends and huge supporters of my work. They featured me in an Art W Salon evening in New York City back in May and are going to write about my work for my upcoming museum catalog. They've also given me a solo show at Rutgers University in 2014!
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a painter. As I got older, I fought it and skirted around the idea by studying Art History. My husband David, who is now the president of an art school and art museum, encouraged me in graduate school to change my course and follow my dream. I needed to make up undergraduate credits in studio art in order to get into an MFA program in painting, but then I was on my way! I use the Art History degree work constantly in researching and developing my work.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
My inspirations are pulled from many sources. I am crazy about the early Venetian Renaissance artist, Carlo Crivelli. Also, I often look at artists who worked in egg tempera like George Tooker and Thomas Hart Benton. Recently, I have been exploring Peter Blume’s work. I have been inspired by Cindy Sherman, Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, and Kathe Kollwitz. Also, nature inspires me....especially butterflies, birds and flowers. Walking into a museum inspires me. I love symbolism and iconography! I am also attracted to good biographies on interesting women.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
It is very hard to juggle my career with my two children, Noble and Flora. I wear many hats…
• The Mom Hat, a medieval helmet with flowers growing out of it.
• The Artist Hat, made of Arches French 500 lb. paper, watercolor tubes and a clock.
• The Brownie Scout Leader Hat, made out of moss, bird’s nest with eggs and homemade brownies.
• The First Lady of the PA Academy of the Fine Arts Hat, think very proper hat......like a British Fascinator.
• The Various Volunteer Organizations Hats that fill up a hat tree!!!!
I try to always find time to paint a little each day, but sometimes the children's school events or volunteering prevents it. I then have to refocus and put more time into painting. I am practicing saying "no" to any more outside projects, unless it specifically relates to my career.
My NOW is simmering and occasionally boiling over. When I’m in my studio and I have a clear week without commitments, the work simmers and all is happy and calm. Then there are weeks when I have evening commitments, show art work to get framed and delivered and gallery talks to prepare for. This and the added outside career things like school projects, tests to help my children prepare for and evening social obligations at my husband’s museum.....Not to mention other volunteer obligations. That’s when the pasta boils over and makes a huge mess!
What recipes can you give other Creative Moms Taking On The Creative?
You can never give up! There are moments when I have many opportunites overlapping, but I keep plowing forward because every event, leads to something else. That's why networking is so important!
Other important things to remember is to always surround yourself with supporters, avoid the naysayers and challenge yourself. Each time I had a baby, my pasta pot would go on the back burner for a short while. Then things would start to happen again. I did not compromise my subject matter in order to sell more easily because I understood that if I was pleased with the work, others would be too.
Most importantly, know your audience and who to market to. I found my niche--women's art. So, I reached out to the Institute for Women and Art at Rutgers and the two co-directors, Ferris Olin and Judy Brodsky, who are now friends and huge supporters of my work. They featured me in an Art W Salon evening in New York City back in May and are going to write about my work for my upcoming museum catalog. They've also given me a solo show at Rutgers University in 2014!
What motivated you to throw your noodle?
Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a painter. As I got older, I fought it and skirted around the idea by studying Art History. My husband David, who is now the president of an art school and art museum, encouraged me in graduate school to change my course and follow my dream. I needed to make up undergraduate credits in studio art in order to get into an MFA program in painting, but then I was on my way! I use the Art History degree work constantly in researching and developing my work.
What inspires you as a Mom and as a creative person?
My inspirations are pulled from many sources. I am crazy about the early Venetian Renaissance artist, Carlo Crivelli. Also, I often look at artists who worked in egg tempera like George Tooker and Thomas Hart Benton. Recently, I have been exploring Peter Blume’s work. I have been inspired by Cindy Sherman, Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, and Kathe Kollwitz. Also, nature inspires me....especially butterflies, birds and flowers. Walking into a museum inspires me. I love symbolism and iconography! I am also attracted to good biographies on interesting women.
How do you juggle Mamahood and your NOW?
It is very hard to juggle my career with my two children, Noble and Flora. I wear many hats…
• The Mom Hat, a medieval helmet with flowers growing out of it.
• The Artist Hat, made of Arches French 500 lb. paper, watercolor tubes and a clock.
• The Brownie Scout Leader Hat, made out of moss, bird’s nest with eggs and homemade brownies.
• The First Lady of the PA Academy of the Fine Arts Hat, think very proper hat......like a British Fascinator.
• The Various Volunteer Organizations Hats that fill up a hat tree!!!!
I try to always find time to paint a little each day, but sometimes the children's school events or volunteering prevents it. I then have to refocus and put more time into painting. I am practicing saying "no" to any more outside projects, unless it specifically relates to my career.
I tend to work best when the children are not around….when they are at camp, out with a babysitter or at school. I need to devote my time and energy to them when they are home, and my art work when they are not. I think as they get older I will be able to work more when they are around and reading or doing independent work. We are attempting this change this summer!
Building the city of Lionelville
My children are very creative as well! My son Noble is an architectural buff! This summer, both Noble and Flora are making a paper city called, Lionelville. They use up a lot of tape and paper, but they are happy for a long time and work well together. Noble is teaching Flora all of his tricks! They are starting to cook their own noodles!
Noble and Flora's Paper House
What is your ultimate pasta dish?
My perfect pasta dish is spaghetti alla carbonara, but I would gladly invent a special type of ravioli filled with either nutella or marzipan! The spaghetti would be cooked al dente by my AFS exchange sister, Emanuela in Brescia, Italy. Then it will be perfetto!
My perfect pasta dish is spaghetti alla carbonara, but I would gladly invent a special type of ravioli filled with either nutella or marzipan! The spaghetti would be cooked al dente by my AFS exchange sister, Emanuela in Brescia, Italy. Then it will be perfetto!
Sorella Plautilla Nelli's Lamentation, 2012
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