I started a grant project in October. The project lasts a year and covers half of my working time. I am making a digital artwork that can be experienced with virtual glasses. This will definitely give a boost for my artistic development, including the style as well.
I used a fun sculpting app called Nomad and a 3D modeling software called Blender.
This image is based on replicating one shape only.
One of the recent practical changes is that I have given up using a Mac computer and bought a new Windows gaming laptop, which I call Turandot. I am now writing this blog post with her. She must have imagined that she would be owned by a young man, but no – she has a woman in her fifties. Turandot must have sounded like a great name to her, but after googling it, she might have been upset: Puccini’s opera! Well, she just has to adjust and learn my style.
Style Development – Looking Back
The new big project has made me think back and explain it all to Turandot. Ten years ago, I wanted to learn to paint so well that I would be satisfied with my paintings: “I could then die happy!” I thought that as an artist I had to abandon what I have been until then and build a new vision and a new world of my own.
When my paintings started to reach the level I had hoped for, I felt first grateful and then empty. I couldn’t see forward anymore.
See the gallery of my oil paintings!
Now, however, I’m on the brink of something new again and the crises of the past seem strange: how was I so hopeless? Why didn’t I realize that everything meaningful that I’ve done in my life will tie into my art over time?
Always a Beginner
My artist friend said that I have developed quickly as an artist. However, it doesn’t always feel that way. I always have self-criticism and always notice things to improve. That’s why it feels frustrating now when I’m starting over again and building a three-dimensional digital expression. At the same time, I remind myself that the beginning of today is much further than the beginning 10 years ago – there is a lot that I already know and what I can already see, not only style-wise but in a more general level as well.
The balance between encouraging yourself and criticizing yourself is essential when making art. You have to be able to observe your pictures as if they were created by someone else and at the same time, you have to see forward – what all this could be and where it could lead when I will learn more skill and imagination.
Fortunately, I haven’t listened to those who say that everything you do must be in the same style and form a unified experience. When you’re a beginner, forcing a certain style only leads to getting stuck at a level where you really don’t want to stay. When you’ve done enough, your own style pushes out naturally.
Yarn, Thread, Line, and a Telescope!
10 years ago, my line was clumsy and closed, while now it’s elegant and curious, like a telescope that lets me see beyond what I’m currently aware of.
I’ve always liked knitting and embroidery. Thread and line have a lot in common. That’s where my style started.
Collageland teaches this style!
Now my task is to continue developing my style and step into the world of digital art. However, I will still be drawing and painting next year, so there is no need to worry that this blog will change too much!
Good morning! I love every single thing you create but I especially love the last piece here in your letter, the piece based on crochet. It’s magical to be but everything you do is sprinkled with fairy dust and storybook beauty
Thank you, Carrol!
Paivi:
I delight in the paintings you have done in the last couple of years, they are lyrical and full of meaning; I get lost in them.
I started following you because I loved the work you were showing back then, your use of colour, design etc thrilled me.
You have grown and changed as I have. I can not fathom the idea of finding as much joy in your future paintings, because I cannot fathom where you will go. It will be an adventure. Perhaps I will always return to this era on a regular basis, may be I will remember it fondly and follow you wherever you go – I don’t think it matters really. Your art speaks to me and I find I need that conversation.
I wish you the best of luck with your new digital work, it must be stretching all your ideas and skills in ways you never expected. I really look forward to seeing where you wander off to!
Jakki
Thanks so much, Jakki! I love your comment about being a long-time follower and also, experiencing changes yourself.
Your surrealism has gotten so free!! And I love how you anthropomorphize. Go Turandot! ♥
Thank you, Heather!
Päivi, I love your use of the word ‘Turandot’. What is it, please? I also love everything you paint, and I’m so glad that you’re now using Windows, as I am. Unfortunately, I don’t understand how Nomad works. And 3D images (Blender) terrify me! I haven’t the patience to learn to use new software. I use some from escape motions: https://www.escapemotions.com/#product-slides. Rebelle, Flame Painter and Amberlight work perfectly well on my antiquated Windows 10 PC. Why don’t you give them a try? They’re not free, but the trial is.
Thnak you for your comment, Cathy! Turandot is Puccini’s opera and the main character in there. 3D modeling is not a new thing to me as I am an industrial designer by education.
Goodmorning, what a coincidence! Last week i started reading all your blogs. Started at the first one and im now in 2018. Was so interesting and encouraging (maybe i will get better 😁) to see the development. Im a bit shy to say, and i might be wrong, but at one point it became like a story book. A story of an art teacher becoming a successful artist. Though for you it might be that you look at the art back then and think ‘why did i do that for so long’. For me it now is a great starting point. I need to go a few steps back. Already a hundred times i thought what a great book can be made off all the information that is these blogs, with all those small tutorials. You have so much talent for writing aswel, since even though it is instruction sometimes it still reads as a story.. Ive been cutting and pasting so many ideas in my idea folder. There is one question that is in my mind all the time moving toward more recent blogs. The influence of Kadinsky and Klee and the theory was so interesting, but the earlier work is also so pleasing to the eye. I wanted to make patterns and the early art journal pages like yours (and i will try …). With all your knowledge, is your earlier work still pleasing to your eyes? Or makes analyzing it less pleasing? Sorry for the lengthy comment. Wish you joy with this new chapter. Im happy the book is not finished. Gr Jacqueline
Wow, I am amazed that you are reading this blog like it would be a book, thank you! This blog is truly a true story about the life of an artist with a lot of ideas as well. For me, it has been a channel and a routine to process things that have made me an artist. I should write more about that, by the way, maybe in a separate blog post!
The answer to your question about my earlier work: I see glimpses of what I currently create and reminders of what I have always loved, but many old pieces look very common to me. I see work like that everywhere and it doesn’t feel unique anymore, neither so aesthetic as it was back then. My taste has developed with art-making, and my expression has become stronger. But I feel that when I talk about the artist’s path, it’s important to show pieces along the journey. I also have classes that are from different periods of my journey, for example Collageland for doodlers.
About analyzing: In my mind, analyzing always a good thing! It doesn’t take away anything!
If I focus too much on developing style, it doesn’t happen. I’m a believer of getting as familiar as possible with my materials and then I can be freer to explore and maybe play is a better word. I was a professional clay artist but I’ve switched to watercolors. Learning this new form with different materials has been an eye opener. Because I’m not trying to sell or impress, the creative force has been allow to sway all over the place. Trying out different paper and brands of paint and gimmicks like spraying alcohol, etc., has been so delightful. The success has been how it all makes me feel as an artist. I’ll always be a beginner and challenge myself and it just feels so good!
Thank you for commenting, Adrienne, an interesting point of view! Maybe your take is more supply-based than idea-based, at least for now.
I love the “old” dogs and horse collage, I think it is unique to you and not seen everywhere! You have really moved forward with your uniqueness.
Thank you, Wendy!
Love your 2020 and 2022 paintings! Very Klee=esque…
I love your enthusiasm and lyrical approach to your work.
Keep being you, Paivi. 🙂
Thank you, Eileen!