All images © Barbara Della Peruta and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
The late Barbara Della Peruta was a formidable woman and a talented artist whose dedication to the Blackwells Mills Canal House Association was superseded only by her love for the Canal House itself. As secretary of the Association and later President, Barbara worked enthusiastically on keeping the House and its past relevant in today’s world. With a boundless love for life and a curious, imaginative mind, Barbara was always on the lookout for fun, engaging activities to host at the Canal House. As a result, we’ve enjoyed everything from Santa Claus arriving on a canoe for one memorable Holiday Celebration to visiting alpacas on the front porch!
As a talented self-taught painter, Barbara brought a lot of that same inquisitive curiosity and attentive detail to her work. Her subjects range from nautical scenes to still life, historic sites and local landscapes, and include beautiful flowers and animals. With great gusto, she’d immerse herself into the creative process, sometimes focused on subjects she’d call her “latest obsession.” “I’m painting lots of pheasants,” she once shared, ending with her trademark laugh. Another time it was Geishas, an elegant collection of work that charmed attendees at her art show. No matter the subject or choice of media, Barbara’s command of light and line produced beautiful, uplifting renderings of the world around her and of the many things that touched her.
Vivian S. Bedoya
As a talented self-taught painter, Barbara brought a lot of that same inquisitive curiosity and attentive detail to her work. Her subjects range from nautical scenes to still life, historic sites and local landscapes, and include beautiful flowers and animals. With great gusto, she’d immerse herself into the creative process, sometimes focused on subjects she’d call her “latest obsession.” “I’m painting lots of pheasants,” she once shared, ending with her trademark laugh. Another time it was Geishas, an elegant collection of work that charmed attendees at her art show. No matter the subject or choice of media, Barbara’s command of light and line produced beautiful, uplifting renderings of the world around her and of the many things that touched her.
Vivian S. Bedoya