Peony and Parakeet

Fly to Your Inner World and Color the Emotion

Color the Emotion

Pick a few colors and create without stiffness.

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Love for Flowers by Painting and Using Colored Pencils

Posted on Posted in Flowers & PlantsTagged , 16 Comments on Love for Flowers by Painting and Using Colored Pencils

This week has been rainy, but I still want to talk about the love for flowers!

Art for the love for flowers. Painting with watercolors and finishing with colored pencils. By the artist Paivi Eerola, Finland.
Watercolors and colored pencils, size: A3

Over the years, my husband and I have become more and more interested in plants. This summer we have renovated our backyard garden and reduced the amount of grass. The garden now has a large pond, a pergola, new trees and shrubs, deep perennial beds, and natural slate paving. It takes time for the plants to take root, but it’s already looking better than before.

The renovation has strengthened my inspiration for flowers and plants. In August, there are still flowers in Finland, but when fall comes, I am comforted by grasses and mosses. In winter, I focus on houseplants. The presence of plants puts my life in perspective, but in such a way that there is room for play and imagination.

Coloring with colored pencils over watercolor painting. By Paivi Eerola, Finland.

I feel my core unit is a flower and everything else is born from that.

Growing Love for Flowers

When I look at flowers in the wind and rain, the bending of their petals and stems in different directions creates an endless number of abstract compositions. I find it artistically inspiring, but I’m also inspired by the spiritual connection I feel with flowers. Flowers have expressions and gestures just like people have. Any big theme can be expressed through them.

Oil painting in progess. Love for flowers by the artists Päivi Eerola.
A new oil painting in progress. The theme is liberty – will share more pics later!

Already in 2017, I wrote about the secret language of flowers and now six years later, I feel I don’t only understand it but can use it myself. This ability has made my art more expressive, and there’s a lot I want to share with you too.

Coming Up! – Freely Grown

Last month I started to feel the urge to do a new online course. I toyed with many ideas, but again, flowers were the only ones that inspired me. So I have now been building a flower painting course called Freely Grown. It declares love for flowers and explains how to catch their free spirit.

The course is a bit different than many of my other courses, as this one focuses on one project instead of many different ones. The project is first painted with watercolors and then finished with colored pencils.

A sneak peek to an upcoming online course Freely Grown, instructor Paivi Eerola.
A sneak peek of the course project!

Painting with watercolors is fun and colored pencils make it easier to finish the painting. It’s much easier and faster than working in oil, but I share many tips that can be used with any supplies. We will paint freely without any photos but aim for a natural impression.

A detail of a watercolor painting that has been finished with colored pencils.
This closeup shows how colored pencils can enhance watercolor painting. Notice the thin lines and strengthening of colors!

My plan is to start the sale in September and the actual course in October. I hope you will come and paint!

Start with Something – Following Picasso and Edelfelt

Posted on Posted in Flowers & Plants, History, Processing IdeasTagged , 10 Comments on Start with Something – Following Picasso and Edelfelt

This week, we are using inspirational art as fuel for our own art. I show how I created my own version of Albert Edelfelt’s masterpiece by following the advice given by Pablo Picasso.

Paivi Eerola, Kohtalotoverit - Friends by Fate, oil on canvas, 2023. Inspired by Albert Edelfelt's painting Ruokolahden eukkoja kirkonmäellä - Women of Ruokolahti on the Church Hill.
Kohtalotoverit – Friends by Fate, 30 x 40 cm, oil on canvas.

“Friends by Fate” is a small painting, but one of my favorites from the series that I made for the current exhibition. Because the title of the exhibition is Taiteilijat Edelfeltin tunnelmissa – Artists in the Mood of Edelfelt, I wanted to make my versions of some of Albert Edelfelt’s (1854-1905) artworks. For example, I made this one, and this one. “Friends by Fate” uses Albert Edelfelt’s painting “Women of Ruokolahti on the Church Hill” as inspiration.

Albert Edelfelt, Ruokolahden eukkoja kirkonmäellä - Women of Ruokolahti on the Church Hill,129 × 158 cm, oil on canvas, 1887. Owned by Finnish National Gallery.
Albert Edelfelt, Ruokolahden eukkoja kirkonmäellä – Women of Ruokolahti on the Church Hill, 129 × 158 cm, oil on canvas, 1887. Owned by Finnish National Gallery.

This is a very famous painting in Finland. Even if Albert Edelfelt painted a lot of portraits of wealthy people to finance his profession, he became known for pieces like this that depict ordinary folk.

Start with Something!

I have always been intrigued by this Pablo Picasso’s (1881-1973) quote:

“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward, you can remove all traces of reality.”

In my opinion, this applies to any art, not just abstract. You can always start with something and then make your own version.

For example, even if there are people in Albert Edelfelt’s painting, it doesn’t mean that my version has to have them.

Oil painting in progress. Creating an abstract composition inspired by Albert Edelfelt's work and getting inspired by Picasso when he says: You must start with something.

Start the painting with a similar composition, but then slowly let it grow in its own direction.

Oil painting in progress. Inspire by Albert Edelfelt's artwork and the sayings of Pablo Picasso.

In my version, the flowers and plants replace the women, and the location is different too. I was thinking about the area where I live and how people gather together on a summer evening.

Oil painting in progress. Finishing the details.

There was quite a lot of work in the details. Albert’s work is not clumsy, so I wanted mine to be well-finished too.

Following Picasso and Edelfelt

I love to paint so that flowers and plants are the characters of the painting. I feel I can combine my sense of humor with my yearning for beauty.

A detail of an oil painting called Kohtalotoverit (Friends by Fate). By the artist Paivi Eerola, Finland.

Flowers have given me a secret language that I can use to express anything. With this realization, I feel more and more drawn to the boldness of Pablo Picasso, the re-creator of Diego Velázquez’s 1656 masterpiece “Las Meninas”.

Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.

Albert Edelfelt was also appreciated in his lifetime, but he didn’t have the confidence that Picasso had. He wrote to his mother:

” I fear nothing else than that I become a raté – a half-talent and an unhappy person.”
(Free translation from Finnish)

This kind of seriousness is what I recognize too: puolilahjakkuus – half-talent – who would like to be that! But still – or maybe because of that, it’s good to embrace playfulness when creating art.

Päivi Eerola and her painting inspired by Albert Edelfelt's work.

Like Edelfelt, you can recognize the fears and set the bar high.
But then, act like Picasso – Start with something and then ask: what could be and why not!

From Artist’s Focus to Artist’s Between

Posted on Posted in Abstracts, Artistic Identity, Flowers & Plants, History, Visual Voice / StyleTagged , 8 Comments on From Artist’s Focus to Artist’s Between

This week, I challenge you to question what the word “focus” means to you as an artist.

Paivi Eerola, Kahden maailman välissä - Between Two Worlds, 40 x 30 cm, oil on canvas
Kahden maailman välissä – Between Two Worlds, 40 x 30 cm, oil on canvas

I thought a lot about the artist’s focus when painting this piece. This was one of the last paintings to be finished for my exhibition.

Artist’s Focus

Have you ever said this:
“I want to find my focus in art.”

Although I want to direct my energy wisely as an artist, something in that statement has always bothered me.

For me, the essence of art is not narrowing, but expanding – not isolating but inviting. The artist expresses not only herself but humanity in general. And as humans, we are rarely completely serene or focused. We seldom belong to only one group, one era, or one world. We are often one foot in one field, one foot in another.

Painting the first strokes. Artist's focus comes to mind when starting a new painting.

When we create, could the inspiring word be more like “between” than “focus?”

Oil painting in progress

Focus is nice and pretty, but is it art?

Inspiration from Albert Edelfelt

In this series of paintings, my inspiration was the Finnish master painter Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905). For the painting of this post, I took ideas for the color scheme from this pastel work by Edelfelt. This piece is currently displayed at the Albert Edelfelt Exhibition in the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki.

Albert Edelfelt, Parisian Model in a Dressing Gown (Parisian Model in Robe), 1885
Albert Edelfelt, Parisian Model in a Dressing Gown (Parisian Model in Robe), 1885

While studying the colors, I thought about the end of the 19th century and the intelligent look of the woman. Wasn’t this also “between” rather than “focus?” Between a man and a woman, if you think about the relationship between the model and Albert. Between being a model and having her own thoughts, if you study a woman’s gaze. Between representation and abstraction, if you observe lines and shapes.

Abstract art began shortly after Edelfelt’s death. He probably already felt its presence, felt that he was between two worlds.

From Artist’s Focus to Artist’s Between

I decided to throw myself fully into being between two worlds in this painting.

An abstract floral painting in progress. Read more about finding artist's focus and what to think when you are creating.


“Between” is an uncomfortable state of being, so this painting couldn’t contain only easy and beautiful. “Between” is a bit like walking in nature and then bumping into apartment buildings. Or when you’re admiring clear water in a pond and your eyes fall on the filters. Focus can then only exist if you close your eyes. Not very eye-opening, eh?

Before and after finishing touches. An oil painting by Päivi Eerola, Finland.
Before and after finishing. Click the image or here to see it bigger!

This painting has two different styles and although it is small in size, I feel that it reveals the secret between what I do and what I think.

I noticed at the opening of the exhibition that I don’t like to talk about this work, because I find it somehow intrusive. Often when the paintings are created, they are nice characters, a bit shy and sensitive, but fun company. This one is straightforward and doesn’t hide its contradiction.

Paivi Eerola holding the oil painting "Kahden maailman välissä - Between Two Worlds". She claims that "artist's between" is a better concept than artist's focus.

However, there is a lot of power in the contradictions and lack of focus. I want to continue to challenge myself to draw artistic inspiration from it.

Do you also feel that you are between two worlds?
In art-making, could you replace the yearning for “focus” with the embracing of “between?”

Art Exhibition in Villa Albert

Posted on Posted in Artist Friendships, Big Projects, History, News ArchiveTagged , 24 Comments on Art Exhibition in Villa Albert

This week, I have photos from the group exhibition I am currently participating. It’s called Taiteilijat Edelfeltin tunnelmissa – artists in the mood of Edelfelt. And here are four of us from left to right: photographer Niclas Warius, painters Kristina Elo and me, and another photographer Maarit Lehto. The sculptor Kaj Lindgård is also in the exhibition, but missing in the photo.

Photographer Niclas Warius, painters Kristina Elo and Päivi Eerola, and another photographer Maarit Lehto. The artist of the group exhibition in Villa Albert.
Photo by Mika Lindqvist.

The red wooden cottage in the background is a summer studio of the famous Finnish painter Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905). It is in the possession of a private foundation Albert Edelfeltin säätiö that cherishes the memory of Edelfelt. Even if it’s just a small cottage, the location in Southern Finland is beautiful – near the sea and very near Porvoo, which is a small town popular with tourists.

Haikko, Porvoo, Finland. The forest path to Villa Albert.

Albert Edelfelt painted here in summer and then went to France for winters.

Albert Edelfelt's summer studio in Porvoo.

When you look at the studio from the sea, you can see the gallery Villa Albert behind it. The foundation built it in 2019.

Albert Edelfelt's summer studio in Porvoo.

The gallery is a nice space with a small shop as well. All visitors who come to see Edelfelt’s studio, come first to the gallery to buy the tickets.

Villa Albert, museum shop

The head person of the gallery Hanna Kaarina Syrjäläinen is very skilled at hanging the exhibitions. I was so satisfied with how my paintings were displayed. Here an editor of a local magazine interviews me before the opening.

Artist Paivi Eerola's interview at Villa Albert.
Photo by Mika Lindqvist.

The foundation organizes concerts and other cultural events in the gallery. I think my paintings look great behind the grand piano!

I had 12 paintings in this space and four minis in a separate showcase.

Paivi Eerola's paintings at Villa Albert.

The gallery was full in the opening. The gallerist made a lovely speech about the exhibition.

Artists Maarit Lehto, Päivi Eerola, Kristina Elo, Niclas, Warius and the gallerist Hanna Kaarina Syrjäläinen. Opening of the exhibition at Villa Albert. Photo by Tiina Apilo.
Photo by Tiina Apilo.

Unfortunately, I don’t have photos of the other artists’ pieces, but do visit these websites to see their work:

It is an honor to be in the company of these artists!

I had a good time in the opening meeting new people who like this kind of art that has a connection to art history.

The artist Paivi Eerola talks about her work at Villa Albert. Photo by Tiina Apilo.
Photo by Tiina Apilo

After working on the paintings alone for a long time, it’s so nice to hear what others see in them and tell about the creation process that started early this year.

At the opening of an art exhibition. The artist Paivi Eerola talks about her work. Photo by Tiina Apilo.
Photo by Tiina Apilo

My paintings were mostly from this year, but there were some from the last year. I think it is a cohesive collection and as a whole, maybe best what I have presented so far.

Finnish artist Päivi Eerola and her paintings at Villa Albert, Haikko, Porvoo, Finland.
Photo by Mika Lindqvist

The exhibition continues until October 1st, so if you are in Finland this fall, do visit the Albert Edelfelt Studio Museum Villa Albert!

P.S. See the previous posts to see the paintings more closely. I still have a couple of pieces to show you, and now I feel the urge to draw, so more art to come in the next weeks as well!

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