This blog post is for you who want to spread more joy through your art, and make your art more comforting and captivating.
I am listening to an interesting course on writing. It’s Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling. Writing and making a picture have a lot in common. When you look at your piece, can you find a story – so, a conflict and a solution?
Conflict Creates More Comfort
Neil Gaiman says that beginning writers leave conflict out of their stories. And that it’s the conflict that makes the story interesting. The same goes for the picture. Beginner artists usually want to use only happy colors and draw or paint only beautiful and joyful things.
I too want to make comforting art – something that takes me to a softer world right in the beginning and that will lift the viewer’s mind when finished. But the conflict must still be allowed because first showing it, and then finding a solution for it, creates comfort and happiness.
Purchase this painting via the Taiko art store!
For example, in this watercolor painting above, the flowers have run indoors because it has started to get windy and rain a little.
Imagine how they first evaluate the houses: “Where would we be welcomed the most?” And then they would push through the darkest window and settle on the windowsill close to each other.
Imagine stepping into that room and seeing shattered glass and feeling unpleasant coldness. But then the colorful flowers would bend towards you. What a pleasant surprise to receive in these windy times!
When I painted this, I wanted to protect myself from the winds of the world. I started with the flowers, but the painting only came true when the wind joined in.
Overcoming Difficulties Brings Comfort
For me, the most comforting art is the one where difficulties are overcome. For example, in this painting, the flowers have experienced loss, but are still ready to take risks again.
Build Different Characters
Neil Gaiman says that his stories are largely in the hands of the characters. Also in painting, you have to identify the main characters. Blots easily turn into flowers, but don’t leave it at that! Make small changes to the shapes so that the personality of each flower comes out. Often it’s a very small adjustment that a beginner easily ignores as insignificant. The skill of building an expression for a form no matter what it represents develops with making.
Strong characters and an understanding of the place where everything happens create a story in the picture. My main characters are strong-minded and independent and the conflict is often a fight against wild conditions.
For example, winter has arrived here, but the flowers stubbornly decide to turn the clock back to a warmer time. In this conflict, the flowers lose their color to stay alive.
Sometimes what feels good at first can break down in the long run. Can a flower live only in light? Don’t we get a better understanding of our outlines and boundaries in the shadows?
On the other hand, when life has been nothing but darkness and the colors have faded, the power of light enables a fast recovery.
Observe the Surroundings with Empathy and Imagination
As a director of disaster films, I am inspired by the survivors around me. This autumn, I listened to the lily of our new pond, who described how boldly she would soon bloom. Fall progressed and my suspicion grew. But just before the big storm, the bud opened for one day.
You can survive of the deep waters – even only for a moment!
The world of inanimate objects is also full of ideas when you use your imagination.
For example, wallpaper is one of the most pathetic things I know. The flowers are glued in place, but they still see and hear everything. If they were released, a lot of pent-up energy would be present. The silent and motionless wall flowers would party around the room. They had been thirsty for life for a long time.
Isn’t that what happens when a person starts creating art? The frenzy inside her finally gets out!
The narrative is very important to me. I love to create what I call a WOW message so that the art isn’t just a pretty picture. Otherwise, all I see is wallpaper which is a repetitive picture saying only, “ look at me, I’m pretty” or it simply fades into the background signifying nothing.
How wonderful to hear, thanks for commenting!
When creating art, it is always the darks against the light that create depth and dimensions. This is so true in life. Thank you for bringing forward this life observation .As always your paintings are absolutely beautiful!
Thank you, Jeanne!
This post was eye-opening and really made me think and look at your beautiful work with a different perspective. I really understand the need for conflict to get a better result in any work of art. Thank you for writing this post.
Thanks so much, Ana Maria! I wrote this post for a long time, trying to get the core of the subject on the post. So, your comment really brightened my day!
Neil Gaiman is the bomb… =)
He is!
Beautiful post! I’m going to give that some thought too – how dealing with conflict in art and writing can be what brings comfort. Also, the idea of painting to protect oneself from the winds of the world hits home with me. And I particularly love your flower paintings in this style, Paivi! (“Empowered by Light” blows me away.) Hugs! 🤗
Thanks so much, Melinda!
Hi Paivi, tomorrow is my day off and i can finally do the freely grown course. Happy i red this just in time. Food for thought while creating. Im not an artist. I do all your courses to force myself to use a different part of my brain (or force myself to use my brain in a different way) and this kind of posts are so helpful to really try to wander of while painting or drawing. It made me smile when you said ‘wallpaper is one the most pathetic things’. You more or less described why i was drawn to your way of teaching and sharing. Im that person that without being challenged i would create ‘wallpaper’ all the time. Up till now i thought it was important to prevent conflict. Now hopefully i will tomorrow enjoy solving conflict. Have a good weekend!
Thanks so much for your comment, Jacqueline! It was so nice to read it, it cheered me up in many ways. Have fun with the course!
Neil Gaiman is absolutely wrong! New, inexperienced writers don’t always leave conflict out. As you know, I’m writing a book full of conflict, friendship and love. Päivi, I agree with everything you’ve written above, and your paintings are always beautiful!
Thank you, Cathy! Your book sounds interesting!
Paivi – the names you gave your paintings brought me to tears. They are so powerful and filled with such understanding of the problems they faced and conquered. Your ability to paint our deepest thoughts and feelings is unequalled. My skills do not allow me to begin to paint the way you do, but my appreciation allows me to travel deep into each of your pieces of art, and your words make that journey even more meaningful.
Thank you for sharing your art and your heart, it enriches all who see and hear your beautiful, deep and meaningful work.
Thank you so much, Jakki! Your comment really touched my heart.