Comments on: Art and Sacrifice – Must an Artist Drop Other Interests?

By: Päivi

Päivi — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:33:20 +0000

In reply to CARLA HEISTEN. Thank you for your comment, Carla! I wanted to write a post like this because many see artists' work only as play. It has required so much more from me to move forward and will require more from anyone who wants to. It's good to recognize how far you want to go. It seems that you have found a peace there.

By: Päivi

Päivi — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 09:26:33 +0000

In reply to Cathy Murray. Thanks for commenting, Cathy! Wishing you a speedy recovery!

By: CARLA HEISTEN

CARLA HEISTEN — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 11:57:47 +0000

This is a lovely post. Your words, Paivi, speak volumes. Wendy I am sorry to hear of the loss. I do agree with Cathy and Paivi that the uncomfortable feelings are probably healthy…most initiations (when we learn and shift and grow) are uncomfortable for a while. It can be tough, this growing thing. I think that is why some choose to NOT grow! LOL
Paivi, I discovered over these years that for the most part I am not interested in art as work. I was a photographer once and doing it professionally sort of ruined the thrill of taking photos as my art. I “burned out” and for years barely took any photos for myself. I call it the “invisible time”.
So now I do most of my art as my way to interact playfully with the world. I do it for my fun. I have fun organizing my ever growing stash of materials…trying to let go of the guilt of yet another fun goodie I bought, and just enjoying all the parts of making things. I have fun learning new techniques and trying new materials. I explore and don’t worry if the results doesn’t look like what the pros do. It’s a mind-set and perspective about what I am creating. I learned that I hated having pressure on me to make things a certain way, amount, or by a certain time.
I do take a few things to a shop where the proprietor offered to sell them only if I want…greeting cards are like mini art pieces and fun to make. I sell a few. Mostly I just make all sorts of things as I please…and my space does look like a scattered DaVinci type room, with various creations all over the place…just as you said to me when I first took Exploring Artist, Paivi! I love learning to NOT pressure myself to do a certain thing a certain way. I have accepted that I am not likely to be an expert in anything, but will have a blast playing with all the fabulous materials. I’m learning to have fun. Learning joy.
Not all of us are meant to be professional at our art, and I absolutely adore seeing (hearing, reading…) works from those who are pros. It is obvious when someone does put the time and effort in.
Thanks for your beautiful art, Paivi. It is such a pleasure seeing how far you have come and I can’t wait to see where it takes you! I loved this article. It reminded me of the Exploring class I took with you. Sending you love and hugs!

By: Cathy Murray

Cathy Murray — Sat, 04 Feb 2023 11:30:52 +0000

Päivi, on the whole I think I agree with you. You wrote, ‘I want people to get connected with their imagination.’ Imagination is everything, where art (and indeed craft) are concerned. To me, creativity breeds creativity.

Wendy, I too am sorry for your sudden loss. I broke up a relationship very suddenly. (Threw him into a frying pan and turned up the heat. WHOOSH! He disappeared in flames but will NOT return as a Phoenix!) Even so, the breakup itself was traumatic, and I feel for you.

Everybody, thank you for your thoughts. I learn a lot from this blog, and Päivi’s group. Until my left arm has healed from shoulder to fingertips (self-diagnosed as cervical radiculopathy – I’m awaiting a home visit from a physiotherapist), and until my doctor finally gets a move on and prescribes me a prescription for heart failure that actually works (!), I can’t draw. That doesn’t stop me from being creative, though. Typing is painful and I’m not working on the book I hope to illustrate, but I’m doing a lot of singing and humming (gently, because of breathlessness) and collecting ‘Oldies but Goldies’ on my mobile phone. Bliss … Just me, housebound with my creativity and calls/visits/messages from my TRUE friends. (That Phoenix just waved at me. The gall! He’s got some nerve, that Phoenix! But he’s inspired another burst of … er … unmentionable creativity.)

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:56:37 +0000

In reply to Cathy. I love your answer, Cathy, so wise words for all of us, thank you!

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:55:43 +0000

In reply to Wendy. Life truly is short, I am sorry for your loss. Wendy, those kind of reminders have made me make big changes in my life for art. And when moving forward, unfortunately the uncomfortable feelings are necessary.

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:49:45 +0000

In reply to Pazit Shmutter. Thanks so much, Pazit! I also had a big break before I got interested in art again, but when art calls, it's very difficult to resist it!

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 23:34:58 +0000

In reply to Wendy. Wendy, I am so sorry you have lost another friend. In saying goodbye, we also remember so much we shared with those friends. It does bring our own lives back into focus. You are so aware that our spirits must grow, in creativity, in self awareness , in reflection, and in so many ways. Some people simply do not open up to any of that. And, by being aware, by acting on your introspection, you will always be moving forward. That uncomfortable feeling is probably very healthy.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:56:17 +0000

Life IS short! A friend died unexpectedly yesterday. So even if I never make it to my goal I want to try. I’m still trying to understand my goals and myself , this makes me feel uncomfortable. I will keep moving forward , it is the least I can do and the most . I guess moving forward is everything.

By: Pazit Shmutter

Pazit Shmutter — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:30:27 +0000

Thank you Paivi, for a great blog post, I agree with everything you wrote!
All the different fields of arts and crafts we learn and play in eventually feed eachother, meet in some way, even if not phisically and help us evolve as artists.
I also agree that technique is not the main hurdle in creating art, it’s finding your self expression. I think that for about 20 years I haven’t painted or drawn “because I didn’t know what to draw”. How stupid was that. But it’s easy to say so now, my circumstances and state of mind were different and also today so much information is readily available online to help reveal the possibilities in art making. I am sure taking your classes in pencil coloring helped me improve in other mediums as well, both in technique and in self expression, although the latter is still an enormous mountain to dig out, and I’m still only scratching the surface…..