Comments on: Want to Find Your Art Style? Need to Focus?

By: Päivi

Päivi — Wed, 31 May 2017 18:12:11 +0000

In reply to Amy Allen. Thank you for your insightful comment, Amy! So great to hear that the video inspired and encouraged you!

By: Amy Allen

Amy Allen — Tue, 30 May 2017 18:24:29 +0000

Thank
You Paivi, for sharing your insights and experience! I’ve been feeling bad about not being focused for a couple years now. I’ve been a quilter for many years, and I’m new to drawing and painting. So I’ve been telling myself my creativity is an either-or thing. After hearing watching this video, I feel so encouraged about my creativity and art. I can see how this kind of one-way thinking is stifling my creativity, and I can give myself permission to dabble in different media and explore! It’s also great to know I don’t have to establish my “style ,” rather I can allow a style emerge on its own and change as I grow.

By: Päivi

Päivi — Tue, 30 May 2017 09:23:42 +0000

In reply to Betty Visotski. Thank you, Betty! Your story is inspiring and it expresses that you are never too old for creating art. Many times young people lack stories, depth in themes etc. Art is not just a technical performance but it has many more aspects as well.

By: Päivi

Päivi — Tue, 30 May 2017 09:19:36 +0000

In reply to Meri Andriesse. Thanks so much for your comment, Meri! I was painting with acrylic gouaches.

By: Betty Visotski

Betty Visotski — Sat, 27 May 2017 07:03:28 +0000

I want to thank you for your wonderful way of teaching. I have always stumbled around not accomplishing a great deal of art because I couldn’t focus. I would jump around with many techniques but never really mastering them. The day I turned 70 years old I decided to teach me how to draw. And then I wanted to paint better and still in the back of my brain I heard, “you are too old and not enough time”. Well I can draw fairly well, enough that I am impressed by it and I’m taking every painting class I can afford and it is apparent that I have really improved. I will never be “an artist” but I have made gigantic gains from my 70th birthday when it all started and the greatest joy is seeing the changes. I keep a drawing from when I first started so when I feel sorry for me I look at the drawing and look at what I can do know. Amazing! I am really enjoying your painting class and wanted you to know you have made a huge difference in my life. Smearing paint is my favorite thing to do.

By: Meri Andriesse

Meri Andriesse — Fri, 26 May 2017 22:41:51 +0000

Yes, I think I am disorderly and chaotic! And then I beat myself up about it. Because I want to try everything and totally relate to what you have so eloquently expressed. The drawing, the embroidery, the paint, the collage, all of it! So, I don’t have to work toward a focus after all. It really is OK to have my active mind reach for everything and then I can work toward having the authentic me come out on the canvas, paper, or board. Paivi — you really have reached me today. And your English is fantastic! I wish I could sign up for this class but the summer schedule is not going to allow me time to keep up with much. Much love to you. P.S. Were you painting with gouache or acryla gouache (something else to try – yes!)

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 26 May 2017 12:52:47 +0000

In reply to Virginia Clinton. Virginia, I think that many times creative people are not understood and creative thinking is seen as a sign of disorder and chaos. But when you learn how to integrate the many ideas and many fields of interest, creativity will empower you in a totally different level. Also, when you are able to integrate many things into one, then there will also more time for creating.

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 26 May 2017 12:44:23 +0000

In reply to Barbara. Thank you, Barbara!!

By: Virginia Clinton

Virginia Clinton — Fri, 26 May 2017 12:41:33 +0000

Once again, you nailed one of my core issues. I often think I am such an oddball – a fish out of water -…but watching this video and reading the other comments, I am amazed how many of us are on the same journey.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Fri, 26 May 2017 11:11:27 +0000

Amazing video, again, dear Päivi. I loved hearing you talk about the possibilites that ideas can die. If you don’t act on them.
Barbara

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 26 May 2017 08:17:06 +0000

In reply to Isabel d. Isabel, thanks so much! Now is definitely the time to dive deeper into your passion! Even if art is timeless, our time to create it is limited, so why wait?

By: Päivi

Päivi — Fri, 26 May 2017 08:12:51 +0000

In reply to Nancy Kvorka. Thank you, Nancy! I used a hot press (HP) watercolor paper, weight 140 lb. The brand is St Cuthberts Mill's Saunders Waterford. It's 100% cotton, and it's durable and smooth. Love it! Working with watercolors could definitely be your project in The Exploring Artist!! I am looking forward to guiding you!