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Benjamin West, The Treaty of Paris (1783 Unfinished) |
I'm often asked how do I know when a painting is complete and in my case the answer is difficult to explain. Personally the act of painting can be best described as a game of balance between the abstract nature of paint and the image that is reconstructed. A painting can be described as 'complete' when I run out of spaces to move. It is therefore an individual choice of what I believe the painting needs in order to convey my intent and still hold a painterly balance. When I am satisfied then it will be left. |
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Willem De Kooning referring to the same question spoke that "I refrain from 'finishing it. I paint myself out of the picture, and when I have done that, I either throw it away or keep it' It is this idea of not actually 'finishing' in a traditional sense that is very important to me. The viewer must be the person to 'finish' the painting (not by painting in my gaps!!) but by adding all of the disparate imagery and making their own connections. This open ending allows you to constantly revaluate the painting. Because of this I have no qualms of re-working a painting sometimes years after it has been exhibited if I still feel connected to it. This is not because the painting needs to be improved in any way but over time as I have changed a new aim and vision for the painting can develop. This does not always happen as paintings have a strange way of disowning you. This I must add is not negative. As De Kooning said you can paint yourself out. Sometimes you never see a way back in as a painter but can then fully enjoy it as a spectator. |
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