Is It Done Yet?

How do you know when a painting is finished? It is all personal preference. A finished painting in my mind, may not be finished for another artist. It is all about the emotion, effect and detail that the artist is wanting portray to the viewer.

So, is it done yet? Good question.

There is no one right answer. However, there is usually a feeling or intuition that the painting is finished and it is time to put the brushes down. This will look and feel different with each painting and it is easy to miss. I have developed a process that I like to follow to determine if a painting is finished.

1. Put the painting down.
   This may seem counter intuitive but I find I can see what is missing if I step away and come back to the painting later. I don’t put the painting away or hide it but instead set it off to the side while I work on other projects. Usually I catch mistakes or areas that need touch ups out of the corner of my eye or when the painting is simply at a different angle or in different light.

2. Are the highlights and shadows creating depth?
   Even though I’m continually working with highlights and shadows as I move through a painting, it is easy to muddy the colors or blend too much in the process. I’ve also come to realize that while I’m in midst of painting before it dries I think colors are brighter or darker than they really are. Coming back to the painting later and adding high contrast colors and defining highlights and shadows more, helps me make my subjects really pop.

3. Display your painting.
   I love having new artwork in my home and what better way to mix things up then hanging up my own work. I have a couple places where I can take down existing art temporarily and hang up my latest work. This has a similar effect as setting the painting down within your studio but this way you are living with the painting. I take this opportunity to view my work from different angles, different natural lighting throughout the day and to really settle in with my painting. During this period I leave the painting up for days to weeks and when inspiration strikes I write it down, so that I have steps to follow when it goes back into the studio.

4. Will adding more detract from my painting?
   This question is pivotal and is important in making sure that you do not overwork your painting. Instead of asking what you can add, because of course we can alway add to our paintings. Make sure you are asking whether adding something will take away from the painting you already have. Sometimes, and especially at this point in the process, less is more.

For me, the most important part is remembering that I’m the artist and when the painting feels done, then it is done.

I hope this gives you a little insight into my process and even helps you in your creative endeavors.

Happy Creating!

Paige