How do you know when a painting is done? Earlier this week I wrote about what happens during the first thirty minutes of painting.
Now that I have finished the portrait, I want to talk about the final moments of painting.
After all, any painting could always be improved upon. How can you ever know that you are done? For me, it is an internal feeling of diminishing returns coupled with the satisfaction of the subject of my portrait.
Having a more critical subject is not always a bad thing. Constructive criticism helps us improve. My internal voice tells me that a painting is done when I recognize the person that I painted. But issues such as symmetry and smoothness of execution are also valid concerns. It sometimes helps to have someone lend us an eye, and then we can learn to improve even more.
When is a painting done? When there is a consensus between artist and subject that it is well executed and pleasing to the eye.
