How do you know when it's done? ..
The truth is I have no idea, and most of the time it just sort of comes to a hault or natural resting place. But it doesn't really ever seem to be finished, it's simply and ever evolving, growing and expansive process.
This painting took me past a comfortable place. It was so delicate and subtle in the earlier stages, but I got greedy and hungry for more. I kept going, although I got a sense that there was no going back and I had passed a threshold. In the back of my head the little voice kept reminding me that 'it was better before' which just led me down a path of not so constructive thinking and painting. Ultimately I had to put the painting away for a month or two, to gain new perspective and detach from the process.
Now it feels open again and I've managed to detach from its earlier form which means I can approach it creatively and help it grow into a new shape. Hopefully I'll manage to stop before I repeat the whole thing again!
And so goes is process, knowing when is when. Nice work! Find what you love and let it kill you.
These things happen on the path to become greater. ;-)
I always take pics of my work on different stages. And if I think "oh, it's too much, it's ruinded" I just start over. I'm not affraid of using over and over again paper/canvas or even chipboard. But it's difficult to know WHEN?