Color the Emotion

Pick a few colors and create without stiffness.

Using Leftover Paint – Messy Backgrounds and Beyond

This week, I show one of my art journals in the video and share ideas for what to create from messy backgrounds.

Floral decorative painting. Oil on paper. An art journal page by Paivi Eerola of Peony and parakeet.

After a painting session, there’s usually some leftover paint on a palette. I try to squeeze the tubes carefully, and sometimes I put the paint in a box with a lid, but most often, I grab an art journal and wipe off the extra paint from the brushes and palette. If I am tired, I just spread the paint carelessly. If I still have energy, I add details to a page that already has some color. When I don’t like something in the next session, I paint new strokes over it.

Messy background on an art journal

Many Rounds – Some Quicker than Others

I rarely make a page at one go. This spread has oil paints, and it took ages to finish it. But it didn’t matter, because I was practicing for the class Decodashery, and I needed time to dig into the heart of decorative painting style.

A decorative art journal spread on a black Dylusions Creative Journal. By Paivi Eerola of Peony and Parakeet.

However, the one below is more abstract, and it was really quick!

An abstract art journal spread. A pink and turquoise messy background that has been finished with details. By Paivi Eerola of Peony and parakeet.

Messy Backgrounds and Beyond – Watch the Video!

In the video, I show messy pages and not so messy pages of my current art journal and how I finished the spread above. Watch the video!

Even if bigger paintings are my main work, art journal pages are an important part of my creative process. It’s like yin and yang! I need the mess-making to find joy in working with details.

Art Inspired by Music

Paivi Eerola and her art journals.

In the video, I mentioned the idea of visualizing a musical landscape and a melody. Music is the theme in my mini-course for Gratitude Junk Journal 2020 as well. This online workshop has 12 instructors, and it begins on Nov 1st, 2020. Register in October to get 20% off. Enter JOY2020 at checkout. >> Buy Here!

6 thoughts on “Using Leftover Paint – Messy Backgrounds and Beyond

  1. I really like the very last unfinished page you showed in your book, with pink and the glowing white .

  2. Watching you paint and listening to your music is so relaxing. Right now I’m recovering from COVID and need all the TLC I can get. You are like a friend to me. I hope to be back painting soon.

    1. How unfortunate, I hope you’ll recover soon! Sending hugs! Thanks for commenting, I am hoping to see your work soon in Bloom and Fly.

  3. Paivi, I meditate each day and when I listening and watched you working on that beautiful peace – I felt I was sitting by a flower encircled garden pond. The music was perfect for the creation – it truly touched my heart. Thank you for sharing you work and skills with us all.

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