When is a work of art done? It can be hard to know when to stop. My impulse is to keep painting until every flower, leaf, and blade of grass is perfectly rendered. The problem with making everything perfect in a painting is that I end up painting over all the looseness, fun and joy that was in the painting earlier in the process. A perfectly rendered painting will often look flat and boring.
Instead of seeking perfection, I want my paintings to feel relatable, have a personality and hopefully have a touch of mystery. A seemingly unfinished painting allows space for the viewer to fill in the rest with their imagination.
Wanting to keep my paintings loose, I’ve found they are usually at their best a little before I realize it, which is why I try to stop painting a little before I think I should.
Here are some examples of artworks that don’t fill in every detail, allowing plenty of room for the viewer to fill in the rest of the image with their imagination.
J. M. W. Turner, Sun setting over a lake
Fairfield Porter, Meadow, Great Spruce Head
Richard Diebenkorn, Driveway
Maureen Gallace, Ice Storm, Easton (With Robert)
Georgia O’Keeffe, Lake George
And here are some examples of works I’ve done that I think leave room for the viewer:
