When Is a Painting Finished?

Alla Prima, Loose Painting, Unfinished?

Listen to Your Heart 12x16

In painting, especially painting portraits, composition and skin color are often hard to achieve. And, artists don't always have good days. Some paintings just don't work, some features or compositions or even models may not work for the artist. One of my favorite models is above- I love her orange skin tone and expressive eyes - she is a muse model for me - I can usually get a good painting when I paint her. This painting is loose and looks unfinished and yet I decided it was complete. For me, this painting is finished as it is. I love the colors in the painting, the red pops with the blue and purples. I love the expressive big eyes of the model; I used blue and purple to set off the fiery brown eyes and achieved a likeness in the model and her strength of character.

Girl Chat 12x16

It is unusual for us to have two models in the studio, but I really loved the pose of these two friends. They looked at each other and chatted in their bright fun costumes. I especially love the girl on the left, perhaps it is her pose, perhaps the fun colors - it appealed to me. However, I did not want to be too meticulous with this painting. I wanted fresh and loose and not too tight or serious. I think I accomplished my goal and am happy with the results. In the future, I think I will paint a portrait of the girl on the left.

I know many artists and some are very meticulous and detailed, finishing their works beautifully. I respect and love their style. I am however, not that artist right now. I spent a long time trying to get my still lifes to look like photos and I was very frustrated and didn't love the results (my paintings looked overworked). I relish brushstrokes and find joy in painting in an expressive and loose style. Maybe someday I will have the discipline to get the details and really make a painting that looks "finished" but for now I work to enhance my composition and color.