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Originally Posted by Debra Norton
I was wondering if any of you have a set of questions you ask yourself to help you judge whether your painting is finished yet?
Thanks,
Debra
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During the painting process, I paint for the good of the painting as a whole. I work that way from the beginning, to the end. I don't finish one area at a time and then go to another part. Instead, I am constantly comparing everything. It keeps me from working too long in one area without seeing it in relationship to the other parts of the painting. If a problem reaches out and grabs me, I try to resolve the issue as simply as possible, and move on, if I need to go back it will get my attention again.
My questions are:
Have I accomplished my purpose for the painting?
That could be one thing or a combination of things. What was my goal for painting this painting? What stirred my creative juices, was it's the mood, the attitude or the personality for my subjects, including the composition or lighting, or colors of my subjects. Whatever that was I look to see if I have done that?
Is there any area of the painting detracting from the painting as a whole? If I answer no. I stop, even if I could go further to refine it.
I have found that over working a painting does more harm that good. It will only result in a lifeless canvas full of labored expressions of a fact even if it's done well. Rather than, a the moment of life you are trying to capture. It is impossible to get back your fresh responses to that which inspires, once you've gone too far. As all artists know.
Good question, Lei