Watercolor Flowers in Louisa M. Alcott Style
This week, I talk about Louisa M. Alcott’s characters and painting flowers in watercolor.
They say that nature should not be humanized, but when I paint flowers, I do that without hesitation.
Splashes Start an Adventure
I love getting to know my flowers little by little. Their life begins with random splashes and I try to grow them as freely as I can.
At its best, a painting is like a good book that hooks you into the atmosphere and cannot be left unfinished. It’s always exciting to see what kind of characters turn out on paper and what happens to them.
Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott
In this painting, the big peony was born first. She is a girl who is sure of her position, but always ready to hug and strengthen others as well. I was reminded of the novel Little Women by Louisa M. Alcott. Could that peony be like Meg, the big sister of the family?
And could there be Amy next to her, a growing beauty and sometimes a bit self-centric too?
Right below white and glamorous Amy, there’s sweetly round Beth who left this world far too soon.
Painting the Atmosphere
When the watercolor wets the thick cotton paper, I would like to invite you to my little studio and give you a thin brush. Together, we would then paint small shapes like writers working on a common story.
However, as everything in flowers does not have to be literal or recognizable, we could just focus on the atmosphere.
Jo the Tulip
The key figure in my painting is the tulip in the background. He is like Jo, unique and more modern than others, ready to create her life joyfully, but without being forced to the center of the painting. I admired Jo as a child, and it has taken me a long time to dare to be like her – step aside and do my own thing.
Somehow I also think that when you come to my course, you too want to be like Jo – do your own thing, express the flavor of life, embrace the abundance of nature, and allow unapologetic playfulness.
Freely Grown – Sign Up Now!
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From Artist’s Focus to Artist’s Between
This week, I challenge you to question what the word “focus” means to you as an artist.
I thought a lot about the artist’s focus when painting this piece. This was one of the last paintings to be finished for my exhibition.
Artist’s Focus
Have you ever said this:
“I want to find my focus in art.”
Although I want to direct my energy wisely as an artist, something in that statement has always bothered me.
For me, the essence of art is not narrowing, but expanding – not isolating but inviting. The artist expresses not only herself but humanity in general. And as humans, we are rarely completely serene or focused. We seldom belong to only one group, one era, or one world. We are often one foot in one field, one foot in another.
When we create, could the inspiring word be more like “between” than “focus?”
Focus is nice and pretty, but is it art?
Inspiration from Albert Edelfelt
In this series of paintings, my inspiration was the Finnish master painter Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905). For the painting of this post, I took ideas for the color scheme from this pastel work by Edelfelt. This piece is currently displayed at the Albert Edelfelt Exhibition in the Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki.
While studying the colors, I thought about the end of the 19th century and the intelligent look of the woman. Wasn’t this also “between” rather than “focus?” Between a man and a woman, if you think about the relationship between the model and Albert. Between being a model and having her own thoughts, if you study a woman’s gaze. Between representation and abstraction, if you observe lines and shapes.
Abstract art began shortly after Edelfelt’s death. He probably already felt its presence, felt that he was between two worlds.
From Artist’s Focus to Artist’s Between
I decided to throw myself fully into being between two worlds in this painting.
“Between” is an uncomfortable state of being, so this painting couldn’t contain only easy and beautiful. “Between” is a bit like walking in nature and then bumping into apartment buildings. Or when you’re admiring clear water in a pond and your eyes fall on the filters. Focus can then only exist if you close your eyes. Not very eye-opening, eh?
This painting has two different styles and although it is small in size, I feel that it reveals the secret between what I do and what I think.
I noticed at the opening of the exhibition that I don’t like to talk about this work, because I find it somehow intrusive. Often when the paintings are created, they are nice characters, a bit shy and sensitive, but fun company. This one is straightforward and doesn’t hide its contradiction.
However, there is a lot of power in the contradictions and lack of focus. I want to continue to challenge myself to draw artistic inspiration from it.
Do you also feel that you are between two worlds?
In art-making, could you replace the yearning for “focus” with the embracing of “between?”
Honest Talk About Being Artist
When people talk about an artist, they think of someone who paints ecstatically for days on end.
“Get a real job,” say some. “Get a job that is work and not just art.”
Work + Art = Artist
But really, art is work and besides that, it is also art. The difficulty of this work is that it has to be developed like any work, i.e. as routines and processes, but it still has to be art as well.
It has to be art that expresses living and experiencing in such a way that breaks boundaries and habits.
It has to be art that appreciates play as much as work.
And it has to be art that takes all of you but receives criticism without being crushed.
Being a Working Artist
I have painted a big series all spring. At the same time, I have written emails, social media messages, blog posts, and exhibition descriptions. I have edited the videos recorded in the fall for the course Doll World. I have applied for a new grant for the new paintings and luckily got it. I have participated in an artist training program that lasted the whole spring. I have varnished, packed, and taken paintings to exhibitions. I have handled financial matters. Fortunately, my husband helps me with the transport of paintings and accounting.
These are just a part of all the tasks other than painting or getting ideas for paintings.
Now in July, I have been a bit tired. It’s been a lot of work and on top of that, there’s this art part.
Dreams, Goals, and Reality
Many of my art books were purchased when I dreamed of becoming an artist. These books describe art as a fun game and show a colorful life. I look at those books with completely different eyes than before. Being an artist is much more than that, at least if you want to move forward.
My goal has been to make art that I love and that others love so much that a few pieces outlive me. When I set the goal, I didn’t think about what would happen after that. I achieved the goal a couple of years ago. I am pretty satisfied with many paintings and I know people who also genuinely like the pieces they have purchased from me.
It’s surprising that after that, something new and desirable has regularly come up, just like in any job.
Being an artist is pretty much like any job.
Magic of Imagination
I would like to always write about being an artist authentically like this, and on the other hand, I don’t want to bring it all to the table all the time.
I feel that it’s natural and important for humans to express themselves creatively. I want to inspire everybody for it in this blog and in my courses.
And especially, I want to inspire everyone to imagine, because it’s the imagination that breaks boundaries and habits. It’s the imagination that uses the skills to make art.
In that respect, being an artist is really not just any job. And that’s why I love this job even when I am a little tired.
What do you think?
Disappearing Garden – About Transience and Creating the Best You Can
I’ve been painting for the exhibition “Taiteilijat Albert Edelfeltin tunnelmissa – Artists in the Mood of Albert Edelfelt”, which is in August-September. Now I want to present the main work of my new series to you. It’s about transience and called “Katoava puutarha – Disappearing Garden”.
There is sadness in this painting. For years we had a neighbor who liked gardening. She fell ill and died and the rich garden has now been turned into a lawn. It made me think about how perishable we are, including our work. We are disappearing gardens, no matter how much we would like to think otherwise. So let’s enjoy our flowers while they still bloom!
Impression of an Old Painting
Disappearing Garden has many small details and a lot of work went into them. But because of the subject itself, it seemed important to spend time and patience on this work. I wanted to create the impression of an old painting that reaches across the eras as if overcoming its core problem: transience.
I usually make paintings in pairs, but this time I had a pair already ready: last year’s finished painting Queen of the Night. It is a dark shade and I wanted to make a light counterpart to it.
Both of these works are inspired by bygone eras: the 18th and 19th centuries.
About Transience and Creating the Best You Can
While painting The Disappearing Garden, I thought about how important it has been for me to practice a lot. But recognizing my transience, I now want to paint as well as I can. Life is hectic and a new start is always tempting. I can make dozens and dozens of nice and small pieces and collect likes with them. On the other hand, I can wait for the perfect time and perfect vision: question my artistic core and taste and where my focus should be.
But it’s also so that life is constantly changing. If I don’t capture this moment, will I achieve anything? That’s why it felt important to give this painting as much attention as it wanted.
Do these thoughts resonate with you?