Slow Art

Apr 25

How do I know when my painting is finished? It’s a common question that artists often get asked as part of their process. You would think a simple time frame would be easy to accomplish if you put your mind to it. However, a piece can go ‘unfinished’ for months, years or be complete to hang in a day. It depends on the artist doing the work I believe. That’s what makes art so captivating & unique.

‘A painting is finished when the artist says it is finished.’ – Rembrandt

I tend to have more of an intuitive, reflective, experimental approach to my work. Stopping often to look at it from afar, then up close to reflect on the textural elements, touch the canvas to get a ‘feeling’, get lost in the composition, savor the mark making over my favorite cup of tea, reflect upon the fluid drips and then take a ‘let’s sleep on it’ approach! Perhaps for a night; perhaps for a week. Kinda like a strategic chess move to be pondered this way and that. A romantic dance of ‘what-if’ I made this mark or added that color? Or I just need more time to stumble across that perfect stencil or sparkle to fall in love with it.

The world is always in a hurry to get somewhere or check off a goal on a to-do list. April is ‘Slow Art’ month (or maybe it’s just a day) but it reminds us to be mindful & take a deliberate approach when we view a piece of artwork. Stop, breathe, take in all the details, and to notice the sensations it evokes within us. Our art experience, whether it’s in a museum or on our own art table, enriches our mind and helps to heal our bodies by building a bridge to self-discovery and engaging our senses.

For me, my artwork is not finished until I fall in love with it; or as my art friend says, until it makes her smile (thanks, Ann).