“Second Time” 36”x36” Detail of the Painting

When is a painting finished?

Only the painter knows. Every painter approaches the subject differently. For me, painting is an intuitive process. I start with an idea of the color palette, composition and emotion. As I paint, the painting is “telling” me what it needs. The painting may actually go in a totally new direction. I have to be willing to let that happen, trusting the process and my eye.

During this back and forth process I may have a color or shape that is just not working, I know it’s a problem, but I’m not sure how to resolve it. When that happens I try different locations, lighting, distance, or even turning it upside-down, observing it as I walk by or looking over at a glance. This can take a few days, weeks, or months.

I had a few paintings with issues that were bugging me. So last week I pulled out some of my favorite paintings and sat them around my studio. Then I added the unfinished paintings, looking at everything with a fresh eye and the relationships with all the other paintings. That did it. I knew what needed to be done. I thought I might share with you the before and after.

First stage: All the colors at the top were fighting each other for attention. I needed some areas to recede and have more depth.

Second stage: I liked how the main focal point was working, but the right edge next to a white shape was too severe. I also needed to breakup the over all-white just a little, bringing two different blues into the bottom half of the painting.

It’s finished, for now.