Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
Aside from the difficult process of actually commencing a painting, ‘how to complete a painting’ stands as the final challenge. The great, initial thrust of the work holds the important germ, the first burst of force and perhaps even encompasses a theme. From there the work progresses and develops. As artists we are in awe how our efforts and design is often augmented by the mystery of the ‘Muse’ herself – how our work is often enhanced by a creative force that seems beyond our understanding. However it comes about, the painting moves along, sometimes over a few days, sometimes over several weeks but finally we reach a point where it is essentially complete. It seems to say in the greater part, what we had intended.
To be sure, there have been times when a painting was completed and I never went back to it. Even after studying it months later, there was clearly nothing I could add that would enhance it or to give it any more substance or intensity. All the components worked together and they were complete separately and they were complete as they related to the whole.
Some artists have a great superstition that going back to a painting for further work, once completed, will destroy the character and dynamism of the original impetus. There are paintings however that can certainly benefit from additional emphasis. Sometimes the effort to get down a large painting is so great, there is not time to define to completion the individual parts. Paintings such as these should be brought back to the easel for study. Look for the intent of the painting. Get a good ‘read’ on the piece. Try to discover what the essential nature of the painting is – what it is saying. When there is a deeper understanding of the piece, then one begins to see just what needs to be added. Perhaps an edge needs to be highlighted or softened. Perhaps one hue needs to be enhanced or receeded…a line made more intentional. There are points of emphasis in every painting so look for those. Are they functioning as they were intended? If we are sensitive to the piece and if we are careful a painting can be brought out many months later, reviewed and enhanced – then it is truly completed.