Bella Wattles: Painting Small Joys
For Bella Wattles, painting begins long before the first brushstroke. It starts with a scene: a carefully folded piece of fabric, a potted plant catching afternoon light, a bird perched unexpectedly among everyday objects. Her paintings are still lifes, but they are also narratives — quiet stories hidden inside ordinary moments.

Raised in West Philadelphia and now based in South Philly, Wattles works from her studio at the Bok Building. She paints in oil and specializes in representational work, creating images that are rooted in reality yet infused with imagination. Birds, flowers, houseplants, disco balls, patterned textiles, and domestic interiors often populate her canvases, transforming familiar spaces into places of wonder.

«I gravitate toward still life because it allows me to build stories», she says. «I like creating scenes that suggest something is happening beyond what you’re seeing»

Before becoming a full-time artist, Wattles worked in the film industry in Los Angeles. Looking back, the transition feels almost inevitable.

«Film is also about building scenes», she explains. «You’re creating environments that tell stories».

For years painting existed alongside her career. Then the pandemic changed everything. During COVID, commissions and gallery opportunities began to grow, eventually allowing her to leave the film industry and focus entirely on painting. When she returned to Philadelphia, she made the leap to working as a full-time artist.


Her work draws inspiration from both contemporary painters and art history. She cites artists such as Hillary Pecis, Jonas Wood, and Sophie Treppendahl as major influences, particularly their use of color and composition. At the same time, she remains deeply interested in the structure of Renaissance and Dutch still-life painting.

«I love traditional still-life compositions», she says. «The question is how do you bring those elements into a contemporary world?»

The process often begins with collecting objects and building scenes inside her home or studio. Wattles describes arranging a painting almost like assembling a puzzle: every object serves a purpose, every detail contributes to the narrative.


What she enjoys most is not only creating the work but also sharing it. Through exhibitions and art fairs, she gets to hear how viewers connect with her paintings and what stories they discover within them.


The practical realities of being an artist are less romantic.

«The administrative side is always the hardest part», she admits. «You have to switch into business mode».

There are technical frustrations too. She loves building stretcher bars and stretching canvases but hates applying gesso. Yet even these challenges are part of a larger commitment to the work.


One piece of advice has stayed with her throughout her career: art is a marathon, not a sprint.

«You just have to keep working», she says. «If you’re interested in something, follow it. Go deeper. Believe wildly in yourself and see what happens».

That faith in intuition shapes the way her ideas emerge. Rather than forcing concepts, she waits for them to surface naturally.

«It almost feels like it’s bubbling up in my mind until it forms», she says. «There isn’t a conscious thought. It’s just something that comes out fluidly».

Many of her paintings contain an element of escapism, though not in the sense of avoiding reality. Instead, they offer a space where joy can still exist despite it.

«The world can feel overwhelming», she says. «I want people to find some portion of happiness and comfort in my work».

Philadelphia plays an important role in that vision. Wattles grew up in West Philly, attended CAPA, and remains deeply connected to the city.

«I love how community-centered Philadelphia is», she says. «If you’re willing to put in the effort, there’s always a community here that’s willing to support you».

After years in Los Angeles, she came to appreciate that quality even more. Philadelphia feels accessible in a way that many larger cities do not. Talent matters, but so does showing up, participating, and contributing.


As for the future, her ambitions remain surprisingly simple. She dreams of illustrating a book cover someday — she’s an avid reader and rarely goes anywhere without an audiobook — but beyond that, her goal is straightforward.

«I just want to keep doing this», she says.

For Wattles, success isn’t a destination. It’s the ability to return to the studio each day and continue building small worlds where beauty, narrative, and joy quietly coexist.