Peony and Parakeet

Fly to Your Inner World and Color the Emotion

A Step by Step

Paper Doll – Let’s Draw Collage Art!

Paivi Eerola with one of her paper dolls showing the collage art pieces that she makes.

Here’s a fun little project for your box of joy – a box of hand-drawn collage pieces! Watch the video for instructions and inspiration!

Let’s Draw a Paper Doll – Watch the Video!

Drawing and Playing in Animal Inkdom

Paivi Eerola's collage art. Drawing paper dolls and animals. Check out her class Animal Inkdom!

Take the paper doll with you, and come to draw and decorate animals with us in Animal Inkdom! You will get the published lessons immediately after the registration, and you can start drawing right away. Sign up for Animal Inkdom here!

Guiding Word – Choosing and Visualizing Your Word of the Year

"Play" by Paivi Eerola from Peony and Parakeet. See her video about choosing your word of the year and visualizing it.

The year 2018 was groundbreaking to me. I was able to include things that seemed separate from my art in my art and build a new foundation for it. It strengthened my visual voice and style, but also, it felt more holistic than just that. I would say that my artistic identity got updated.

As a former software engineer, I see it this way:

Peony and Parakeet 1.0 – intuitive circles and colorful patterns, 2012-2014
Peony and Parakeet 2.0 – from mixed media to fine art, 2015-2017
Peony and Parakeet 3.0 – fantasy illustrations, 2018 -?

Art by Paivi Eerola from Peony and Parakeet.

I am not quite sure how to label 3.0 yet, but it definitely started last year and went into bloom during the Inktober challenge in October.

What’s Your Word of the Year?

About a year ago, I developed a process for setting artistic goals. I introduced it to my art community Bloom and Fly back then. It’s called Guiding Word, and it’s about choosing your word and then processing it through art journaling – drawing, painting, and writing.

My word for 2018 was “Depth”, and now when I look back, it was related to my old desire to create fine art. But the process of exploring depth was like the symbol of yin and yan. It started a journey towards the opposite word “Play.”

The process of choosing a word and exploring it through art-making had a huge impact on me, so I decided to share it openly. Watch the video to define your word and to explore it more in depth!

Guiding Word – Watch the Video!

My word for 2019 is “Play”. I am looking forward to increase fantasy and drama in my art, and I hope you follow the journey with me.

P.S. As you probably noticed already, this website and my artist website has been updated! There are still things to adjust and add, but feel free to browse the new look!

The event is gone but here’s the recording!

Drawing Jewels and Flowers – Free 2-Part Mini-Course

Jeweled Bouquet by Paivi Eerola from Peony and Parakeet. Get the step-by-step tutorial for drawing this by subscribing to Paivi's weekly emails!

I have been working with a 2-part tutorial about drawing jewels and flowers. Part 1 was published last week, and Part 2 is now available too! I will guide you to create a gorgeous jeweled bouquet with just pen and paper. You can color it with colored pencils, felt-tipped pens, or watercolors. 

Jewels and Flowers - Free mini-course for the subscribers of Paivi's weekly emails. Part 1 - Jeweled Flower. Part 2 - Jeweled Bouquet. You only need pen and paper, and some coloring supplies.

Get the free mini-course! – Subscribe to my weekly emails and draw with me!

Abstract Portrait – Paint with Me!

An abstract portrait by Paivi Eerola from Peony and Parakeet. Watch the video with Paivi's tips and instructions!

Here’s a quick abstract portrait from my sketchbook, painted with acrylic paints in 45 minutes. I didn’t use any reference photos for this one but just played with the shapes.

Create an Abstract Portrait – Watch the Video!

Get tips, ideas, and inspiration for your abstract portrait. Watch the video!

Innovative Portraits – Buy Now!

Innovative Portraits is about discovering new paths to painting and drawing portraits. Increase artistic looseness, find ways to get the proportions with ease, add more style by using shapes and colors, and invent ideas so that you never wonder what to put in the background. >> Buy NOW!

Innovative Portraits, drawing faces and portraits in mixed media. An online art class by Paivi Eerola from Peony and Parakeet

Innovative Portraits Buy NOW!

Scroll to top