Comments for Peony and Parakeet

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Elizabeth Wakefield

Elizabeth Wakefield — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:14:39 +0000

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

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Joan

Joan — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:59:35 +0000

Paivi your paintings are always whimsical, beautiful and fun. On a purely personal level, I enjoy the ones without animals – but keep playing!

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Adrienne McCarter

Adrienne McCarter — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:01:19 +0000

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.

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Marie Jerred

Marie Jerred — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:03:58 +0000

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!

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Kristina

Kristina — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:44:20 +0000

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!

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Leonore

Leonore — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:34:19 +0000

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!

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Kathy

Kathy — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:53:16 +0000

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.

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Susan Salustri

Susan Salustri — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:31:16 +0000

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.

Comment on Can Playful Art Be Serious? by Marjo

Marjo — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:18:21 +0000

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 !