Can Playful Art Be Serious?
This week, I want to talk about my newly finished painting titled Fauna. This is one of my most peculiar pieces, filled with strange ideas. With this, I want to challenge us to ponder the question: Can playful art be serious?
Ideas Have a Mental Age
This painting combines many ideas. I tend to come up with all sorts of ideas quite easily, and I usually try to categorize them: some make it here to the blog, some become sketches in my planner, and others turn into courses. Only the most mature ones are usually included in the paintings.
But let’s think about this word: mature.
Ideas have a mental age. Some ideas are like those of a five-year-old, while others contain ancient wisdom. For a long time, I have tried to ensure that my best ideas are “sensible adults”.
Fauna’s Ideas
Fauna started from an old idea: the Baroque style and historical ceiling murals. So I thought that the painting could feature flowers and have plenty of light blue. Here’s how it started:
But then I heard my inner child whisper that I should include an animal: “Fur is so wonderful to paint. Let’s include something like a ferret!” The adult me wondered, “Who would want a painting featuring a weasel?” But you know, some ideas are like tiny butterflies that appear and vanish in an instant, while others are like moose that take over your entire mind. And this was a “moose idea.” It wouldn’t leave me alone, so fine —let there be a weasel of some kind!
But what else could be included?
Words help when I am brainstorming. I read through various word lists and wait for the moment my intuition says “Bingo!” That’s how I found the word “hunaja” – honey. I thought about the intricate swirls of the Baroque style and the way honey drips, and I boldly added them to the painting.
Here I am painting the fur. I use not only short strokes, but also paint small patches with different tones. Layering is the key!
In the final version, the fur is softer and shorter, and lit by a rainbow. It took some time to decide whether the fur should be spiky or softer.
With the idea of painting honey, I found myself on a “mad path” where I stopped categorizing my ideas and challenged myself instead: could I create a painting that looks like a floral piece from a distance, but reveals a more playful character upon closer inspection? Could the animal theme lead toward animal figures—even toys? I wanted to achieve a purity of style that isn’t tied to a single era, but rather to my own way of dealing with shapes and lines.
Here you can see the beginning and the end side by side.
Playful Art – Drawing Animals
I have always loved animals and have drawn them a lot. Drawing with a pen is much easier than drawing with a brush.
Animal Inkdom and Magical Inkdom have been highlights of my course creation because, while making them, I decided to believe that everyone wants to draw animals. That mindset brought a lot of confidence and joy to the process, which also translates into the atmosphere of the courses.
I have had so much fun with all the animals drawn in those courses. My father used to draw with quite a similar technique, so I have continued on his path here.
The Playfulness is in the Details
Fauna is full of playful details. Many of them are quite subtle, barely noticeable. Here are some detail pics.
I see myself in this painting—all the versions of me at different ages, with ideas of all ages.
Even if Fauna was a challenge to create, it was also fun. I think I will create more of this kind of playful art.
Age of Ideas – Just Playing or Only Focusing on the Serious Side
This painting process made me reflect on how people who start making art often fixate on the “age” of their ideas. Some decide they are just having fun and playing. Others believe that skills—and thus art—can only be born through realism. But as artistic thinking and skills develop, there is an opportunity to combine the playful with the more serious. It is possible to be a child, an adult, and an elder all at once. Art doesn’t need to be narrowed down, because creating is a search not just for oneself, but for a broader understanding of humanity.
Fauna is a bit different from Halo – the painting that I showed last week.
See the blog post about creating this painting
See more pics and a video at Taiko Finnish Online Art Store
Which one do you like more – Halo or Fauna?
Minusta molemmat ovat aivan ihania, mutta jos olisi pakko valita nyt toinen niin ehkä valitsisin tuon Faunan, koska nuo eläimet ovat kerrassaan suloisia kurkkiessaan kauniissa ” ympäristössään” ja itselle tulee taulua katsellessa niin iloinen ja hyväntuulinen olo 🥰!
Kiitos, Marjo!
Paivi, you asked for opinions and please don’t be upset, I am no great artist like you. So ignore me if you want.
I think I can be honest Paivi, because I am someone who enjoys finding subjects in shapes myself. I deliberately do it for fun quite a lot. I call it intuitive painting. However, they are never entirely satisfactory especially if I manipulate them too far. There is always something not quite working.
I felt this with the dark animal in Fauna it does not seem to have context. It seems too dark and obvious, i think it feels a little disjointed, not enough flow, your paintings all have a flow to them. I had to search for the rest of the animals in the painting, and it was fun to find them. I love the colours. I still like it, if you hadn’t asked, I probably wouldn’t have noticed let alone criticise such a beautiful artist. Therefore I have to say I like Halo better, but it might just be the flow is not working for me on this one.
Thank you, Susan!
I absolutely love the playfulness of it. Finding those little creatures is like finding little hidden treasures. I especially love the seashore, I think a paining like this with a whole ocean creature theme would be fantastic.
Thank you, Kathy!
Hello Päivi! I loved reading about your process to find playfulness. My preference among the two is the new piece, Fauna. The background that you started with is magnificent, and the creatures’ outlines emerge from it organically, which they don’t do in the same way for me in Halo. Also, the colors in Fauna are more playful, more pleasing and more unique to my eyes. In my perception, the stark red-green contrast in Halo creates an atmosphere that is a little uncanny and creepy. I have no idea whether this is intentional or not, it might well be 🙂 However, I prefer light and playful over uncanny. Susan Salustri mentions in her response that the dark animal in Fauna does not seem to have context. Here’s my view on that: For me it is a valid concept if there is no other context for the animals than the shapes that were there before them and that suggested them. Something in the composition looks still somewhat unbalanced (or unfinished?) to me though. I notice that the big dark weasel does have a small dark companion in the center of the picture, and I keep thinking that they might well appreciate a third companion that also stands out. The longer I look at the picture, the more I wish that the yellow fox face in the top right corner were a little sharper, crisper, more worked out to give me another focal point there. I am also saying this with no particular artist background. But I love love love thinking about colors and composition. Thank you so much for creating an opportunity to do that by placing two of your great paintings side by side and asking for our preferences!
Thank you, Leonore!
I love and like Fauna as it is.
The streng dark bear as the guardian of all those creatures in this enchanted world.
It reminds me to Marc Chagall. Do more of playful art!
Thank you, Kristina!
I wonder if these are Aether Creatures that fill the universe . This belief was believed by medieval alchemists; the Tibetan Bon, Buddhists, Hindus, the Japanese and the Greeks all had similar beliefs. I wonder if they are revealing themselves as medicine to our earth. Anything can act as medicine. I wonder what these have for our world. Oh Paivi I wonder and wonder. I copied parts of that description from a booklet that came from my Teal Swan “Aether Creatures Oracle Cards” . I wonder if the state of the world being as it is – is receiving their medicine through your painting. Now that is a beautiful thought!
Thank you, Marie!
I once argued with my mentor over the difference between playing in art versus exploring. Many years later now I’m convinced the only difference is the artist intuition. Animals often appear in my art because they can add a very “alive” notion to expression. Not exactly a dream state but maybe it’s our memories from childhood. I have little grandchildren around me and they awaken this part of me as did my own children when they were little. All their books bring the wonderful art back to me. I also find some adult art can be boring or maybe it should be fabric or wallpaper. Animals and whimsy can make a piece so more interesting and full of depth to muse over. I love ferrets! If you can, check out Margaret Renkl’s new book called The Weedy Garden. The illustrations remind me of your work. Her brother did the illustrating.
Thank you, Adrienne!
Paivi your paintings are always whimsical, beautiful and fun. On a purely personal level, I enjoy the ones without animals – but keep playing!
Thank you, Joan!
When I first saw the painting fauna I thought No but as I read your explanation of your thoughts it began to make sense. Now I prefer it to Halo
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Playful all the way! I do prefer the colours and contrast that Halo has, but your sense of whimsy really shines through with Fauna. Your florals have always had a feeling for playfullness and magic to them. Maybe a creature or two will be found hiding in you flower garden in future paintings?
Thank you, Heather!
Hi Paivi
I think that the painting is whimsical and lovely. If you feel uncertain about it, put it aside and rework it or add to it down the road. I let my gut and intuition tell me when a painting is done and to my liking.
I’m such a fan of everything you paint. Hugs
I love them both for different reasons. I love the bright bold colors of Halo but love all the hidden secrets in Fauna. Until you enlarged some portions of Fauna I was not able to see all those hidden creatures here and there. They are both beautiful paintings!
Hi I appreciate both paintings and I find it difficult to say one is better than the other. The same way I couldn’t say one of my grandchildren is better than another. They are different but loved dearly.
I say be unapologetically you. You are enough.
Thank you, Lorraine!
Hi Paivi,
Thanks, you so much for sharing your beautiful work with us. You are always such an inspiration to so many.
I love work that is a discovery within the painting. Those that work together to gently guide you through the piece to unfurl the story/message that is meant only for the viewer. Each viewer does not receive the same story, but instead they receive an invitation that has met them at the edge of the painting to come and step in. To explore, discover, be still and listen and stay awhile.
I really like both paintings. However, the weasel in Fauna seems to demand attention. It’s the first thing my eye goes to and keeps coming back to. I can’t explore the painting and what’s hidden. I like the idea of a weasel in a painting; you don’t see them often. I know he/she has a story too but for me, it’s like the presence, as it currently wants ALL the attention. The weasel is the gatekeeper, and doesn’t want to join in the flow but instead control it. I see it in the eyes.
Your animal and magical inkdom course are wonderful. Perhaps another one on your list? Sea life? African animals?
Thank you, Kimberly!
I can not decide to like one more than the other! They are each so different in personality and color. I am happy that you showed us close ups of the critters you brought to life, as I can’t really see them on my desktop computer, except for the weasel. I feel it comes down to which one you like best, because it is such a personal decision. Decisions are often a reflection of the person deciding more than the art. Both gorgeous and fun to explore with my eyes!
Thank you, Tammie Lee!
OMG Paivi …This is the most inspiring post… often we drift into a more lucid daydream and take this inner process for granted….Here, you have perfectly processed and described the Inner Child’s voice in its most vulnerable state of ” BEING” …vividly alive …. I could feel the yin and the yang between the two paintings and the emotional formation as each emerged in different symbolic ways… Both are amazing ….My playful side giggled with glee at the whimsical little weasel, seahorse and creatures tumbling into existence … They filled me with an innocent freedom… The florals transported me into a dreamy sphere of calm contentment…So, I would say that your ‘ imaginative sense of being is uniquely balanced …Why choose…just ENJOY the BEAUTY !!! … Loved this post…Thank you for sharing. xoxoxo
Thanks so much, Roslind!