Peony and Parakeet

Fly to Your Inner World and Color the Emotion

Color the Emotion

Pick a few colors and create without stiffness.

Category: Artistic Identity

Romantic Watercolor Florals

Posted on Posted in Artistic Identity, Flowers & Plants, Music & LiteratureTagged 8 Comments on Romantic Watercolor Florals

This week is about red, pink, sugar, and cream – so, romantic watercolor florals!

Talven voittaneet, a floral watercolor painting in reds and pinks by Paivi Eerola.
Talven voittaneet, 29,7 x 42 cm, watercolor

I had a break from watercolor painting for a long time, but in the summer I started again.

Romantic Flowers and Chicklit

In summer, I had all kinds of complicated ideas for a new course, but my inner voice said:

  • – What if we take out the watercolors and do something that hasn’t been done in a long time?
    – Can I be a romantic?” my artist-me asked my educator-me.
    – You can be as romantic as you want, as long as you work systematically and understandably, she said.

When the camera turned on, a short “Yippee!” went up inside me. Freely Grown was born, but watercolor painting didn’t stop there. I had been dreaming for a long time that I could do something lighter – like the writer Rachael Herron, who wanted to start her career with a profound book, but ended up writing a chick-lit novel. He noticed that chick lit is surprisingly challenging and realized that every genre of literature has its own difficulties.

Romantic watercolor florals from an online course Freely grown.
Paintings made for the course Freely Grown. >> Sign up here!

Watercolor Flowers like Sweet Desserts

I’ve learned a lot of painting techniques with watercolors in the past and it can certainly be seen in my oil paintings. But in the summer I started to be interested in what I had learned while painting with oils and whether I could do vice versa – so, use it in watercolors.

Starting new watercolor paintings. Intuitive starts - several at the same time.

Now I didn’t want to do anything hugely abstract, but sweet flowery paintings. The kind that, if they were food, would have a lot of sugar and whipped cream in them.

Painting details in watercolor. A romantic watercolor flower painting in progress.

An artist should probably only do fine dining, but this has started to resonate with me and it has also been nice to notice that there is a demand for it.

Painting flowers using a flat watercolor brush.

Even now, I’m making a small series for a gallery.

Painting romantic watercolor florals

Those Who Won Winter

This red-hued Talven voittaneet is the first for the series of four. The name would be translated into English as “Winners of Winter” but it is not quite the same. The Finnish version is closer to the expression “those who won winter.”

Paivi Eerola's watercolor painting "Talven voittaneet". Watercolor roses.

My favorite part of this painting is unexpectedly the bottom right. I often leave the edges pretty undefined, but here the bottom part plays a key role. It has melting ice from which the flowers rise.

Romantic watercolor florals by päivi Eerola. A detail of a watercolor painting.

Imagine flowers winning the winter with their warmth – isn’t it such a lovely thought! I have really enjoyed making these kinds of romantic watercolor florals.

Flowers and Gala

This week has been busy. I already received a grant from the city of Vantaa in the summer for my early autumn art exhibition, but it was celebrated only last Wednesday when the city organized a cultural gala.

Päivi Eerola and her husband in Vantaa's cultural gala.
My husband is my best supporter.

It was nice to be surrounded by respected colleagues. In the picture, a councilor Lasse Norres representing the city congratulates the visual artists. Päivi Allonen and Satu Laurel also received a grant and are there on the stage with me. They have wonderful paintings and I highly respect them both.

Vantaan kulttuurigaala, a cultural gala of Vantaa, Lasse Norres and visual artists Päivi Allonen, Päivi Eerola, Satu laurel

Have I mentioned that I love flowers? I think if you’ve been following me for even a little while you know that!

Romantic Watercolor Florals

At the moment, my small studio is a flower painter’s heaven and the flowers have free access there, even if I don’t use them directly as models. The flowers of my inner world may resemble the flowers of the outer world, but they have their own romantic life.

Floral watercolor painter's studio
I use a plastic plate on the top of the worktop when painting, and then keep the paintings in progress under the plate between the sessions.

Nice creative moments for your weekend!

Yellow and red rose, a watercolor painting in the background.

Watercolor Flowers in Louisa M. Alcott Style

Posted on Posted in Artistic Identity, Flowers & Plants, Music & LiteratureTagged , 4 Comments on Watercolor Flowers in Louisa M. Alcott Style

This week, I talk about Louisa M. Alcott’s characters and painting flowers in watercolor.

Freely Grown 5, a watercolor painting by the artist Päivi Eerola, Finland.

They say that nature should not be humanized, but when I paint flowers, I do that without hesitation.

Splashes Start an Adventure

I love getting to know my flowers little by little. Their life begins with random splashes and I try to grow them as freely as I can.

Random splashes in watercolor. Beginning of a flower painting.

At its best, a painting is like a good book that hooks you into the atmosphere and cannot be left unfinished. It’s always exciting to see what kind of characters turn out on paper and what happens to them.

Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott

In this painting, the big peony was born first. She is a girl who is sure of her position, but always ready to hug and strengthen others as well. I was reminded of the novel Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott. Could that peony be like Meg, the big sister of the family?

Painting flowers in watercolors. Imagining flowers as characters.

And could there be Amy next to her, a growing beauty and sometimes a bit self-centric too?

Painting watercolor flowers. Expressing characters of the book Little Woman by Louisa M. Alcott as flowers.

Right below white and glamorous Amy, there’s sweetly round Beth who left this world far too soon.

Painting the Atmosphere

When the watercolor wets the thick cotton paper, I would like to invite you to my little studio and give you a thin brush. Together, we would then paint small shapes like writers working on a common story.

Painting the atmosphere. Abstract flowers in watercolor.

However, as everything in flowers does not have to be literal or recognizable, we could just focus on the atmosphere.

Jo the Tulip

The key figure in my painting is the tulip in the background. He is like Jo, unique and more modern than others, ready to create her life joyfully, but without being forced to the center of the painting. I admired Jo as a child, and it has taken me a long time to dare to be like her – step aside and do my own thing.

Finishing a painting that has the characters of Little Women as flowers. Louisa M. Alcott inspired art.

Somehow I also think that when you come to my course, you too want to be like Jo – do your own thing, express the flavor of life, embrace the abundance of nature, and allow unapologetic playfulness.

A detail of a watercolor painting by Paivi Eerola. Painting abstract flowers in watercolors. Getting inspiration from the book Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott.

Freely Grown – Sign Up Now!

The course Freely Grown starts next week. I can hardly wait for it to start – join me!

Freely Grown - online art course by Peony and Parakeet

Freely Grown >> Sign up here!

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?”

Honest Talk About Being Artist

Posted on Posted in Artistic Identity17 Comments on Honest Talk About Being Artist

When people talk about an artist, they think of someone who paints ecstatically for days on end.

Starting a new painting, painting in progress. About being an artist.

“Get a real job,” say some. “Get a job that is work and not just art.”

Work + Art = Artist

But really, art is work and besides that, it is also art. The difficulty of this work is that it has to be developed like any work, i.e. as routines and processes, but it still has to be art as well.

It has to be art that expresses living and experiencing in such a way that breaks boundaries and habits.

Painting abstract art. A brush on canvas.

It has to be art that appreciates play as much as work.

Being a playful artist. Hand-drawn dolls from the online art course Doll World.

And it has to be art that takes all of you but receives criticism without being crushed.

Photographing a finished oil painting.

Being a Working Artist

I have painted a big series all spring. At the same time, I have written emails, social media messages, blog posts, and exhibition descriptions. I have edited the videos recorded in the fall for the course Doll World. I have applied for a new grant for the new paintings and luckily got it. I have participated in an artist training program that lasted the whole spring. I have varnished, packed, and taken paintings to exhibitions. I have handled financial matters. Fortunately, my husband helps me with the transport of paintings and accounting.

Paintings packed for transport. Being an artists includes all kinds of tasks.

These are just a part of all the tasks other than painting or getting ideas for paintings.

Now in July, I have been a bit tired. It’s been a lot of work and on top of that, there’s this art part.

Dreams, Goals, and Reality

Many of my art books were purchased when I dreamed of becoming an artist. These books describe art as a fun game and show a colorful life. I look at those books with completely different eyes than before. Being an artist is much more than that, at least if you want to move forward.

Paintings that are freshly varnished. Being an artist requires performing all kinds of tasks.
Freshly varnished paintings in my little studio

My goal has been to make art that I love and that others love so much that a few pieces outlive me. When I set the goal, I didn’t think about what would happen after that. I achieved the goal a couple of years ago. I am pretty satisfied with many paintings and I know people who also genuinely like the pieces they have purchased from me.

It’s surprising that after that, something new and desirable has regularly come up, just like in any job.

Being an artist is pretty much like any job.

Magic of Imagination

I would like to always write about being an artist authentically like this, and on the other hand, I don’t want to bring it all to the table all the time.

I feel that it’s natural and important for humans to express themselves creatively. I want to inspire everybody for it in this blog and in my courses.

Imagination through art. From the online drawing course Doll World. Getting playful with colored pencils.
From the course Doll World

And especially, I want to inspire everyone to imagine, because it’s the imagination that breaks boundaries and habits. It’s the imagination that uses the skills to make art.

In that respect, being an artist is really not just any job. And that’s why I love this job even when I am a little tired.

What do you think?

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