Il~~i~chreast brest
How Do You Know
When a Painting is
Finished?
This is a hard one to answer, because only the artist really
knows. Someone may tell you "Stopl It looks great the way
it is," but if you don't feel satisfied, then it is not finished.
You may have had a particular idea in mind when you
started and feel that you have not yet communicated it.
Then is the time to look at the elements of composition
and decide whether they are working for or against your
original concept.
Sometimes you have to let go of your own prejudices and
accept the way a piece has turned out, particularly if it
gets a good response from others.
How many times have you struggled over a particular sec-
tion of your painting and, as a result, felt that people can
sense that struggle and see it as failure? Only you know
1 .1:~ \:
Waiting to Exhale,
Ann Baldwin, 15" x 22 "
(38.1 x 55 _9 em), acrylic.
collage, crayon o n paper.
Private collection.-}
1
This painting may appear
quite complex, but it required
very little work after gluing
down the collage-a couple
of thin glazes of paint, circles
drawn with a compass round
the faces, and some coloring
of the clothing with Caron
d'Ache.How T O COMPOSE I B