Derek Trillo, Author at The Open College of the Arts

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Derek Trillo

What have I learnt from 18 years at the OCA, tutoring hundreds of students?

Posted: 04/04/25 10:04 | 7 Comments

Like many of OCA’s students, I studied late in life. I didn’t do a degree after school, working for 16 years in computing. However, I increasingly felt drawn to the arts. I got absorbed in thought through creative projects, partly as an antidote to work and everyday life.

Has the last year been a delay, distraction, or an inspiration?

sustaining practice

Posted: 23/04/21 09:40 | 0 Comments

As the lockdowns are (hopefully) drawing to an end, it’s worth looking at examples of how some students have channelled their experiences into their student work. For many people this historic period has provided the opportunity of ready-made subjects for creativity. Not only artists, but the public in general have been getting very creative. Much of this is part of a community spirit to entertain, to lift the mood of others and to brighten up homes that seem increasingly like a scene from Groundhog Day.

A (virtual) study visit with interview and Q&A

climacteric Photography student work students

Posted: 13/02/21 09:15 | 0 Comments

A tour of the project Climacteric with OCA student Jane Weinmann In a live discussion, final year photography student Jane Weinman and OCA tutor Derek Trillo will talk about the strategies and approaches Jane used to develop her major project. The focus will be on topics that students at any level might encounter, with specific […]

How to make research writing easier!

cross discipline research sustaining practice

Posted: 21/10/20 09:10 | 10 Comments

A Win-Win situation: citation software… What would you say if you were offered less work, better-focused research, easier and quicker writing, better accuracy of citations and bibliography and everything as neatly organised as a series of music playlists? Okay, who wouldn’t say yes? However, this is a post about one of the most boring topics […]

To creatively focus on the present

Arts & Environment creativity cross discipline sustaining practice

Posted: 21/04/20 11:20 | 4 Comments

We may not all have access to outdoor spaces with the chance to nurture and grow, but our creative endeavours – even simply the planning of, or reflection on them, facilitate a state of mindfulness: ‘to still a busy mind, settle into a new activity and refocus on the present’

Study event: Format19 festival

fine art Photography study events

Posted: 20/02/19 03:29 | 0 Comments

Join OCA tutors Derek Trillo and Helen Warburton in Derby 15-17 March 2019. Spread over three days you could choose one or two days, but would get more from the weekend and a greater sense of community and cohesion with fellow students the more days you can attend.