Three Lemons /5x7 oil

eubie wrote

on 12 Sep 2010 8:27 PM

I really dont like the way this looks and seeing it posted made me realize that it needed some work..Please tell me how good painters decide whaen a painting is finished..do they set it aside for a period ?  How do some of you approach being critical of your work  and asessing what you have painted?    

KatPaints wrote

on 13 Sep 2010 5:19 AM

Lighten up on yourself, you're just learning and you will always be learning.  I was listening to some study results  that said it take 3,ooo hours to learn a subject - say chess and 30,000 hours to get to the level of a master ( chess, nurse practitioner...) That's nearly 15 years of working a 40 hour week or a Phd. An art instructor said ten years or 100 (significant/involved) paintings.  Either way, it takes years - at least a decade to know what you are really doing.

 Determining when something is done is a personal decision. Everything to your eye and emotions just feel right. I'm just getting back into doing artwork after decades of not painting and when I finish, I don't like anything as a whole piece. I realize I have more to learn. Usually I am satisfied that I put in my best effort and grew a little from the previous painting session. I just stop and call it a day and then move onto the next. To me I am considering my progress/process more that the actual product or creating a painting. Creating a beautiful piece of artwork is not important to me at this point in time.  If  my session was worse, then I ask why? Also acknowledge what you are doing correct or what is working.

With my design work, I have been doing this for a long time and know when I create a best seller.  From time-to-time, I'd stop look at it and see what needs to be done or done differently. I would get an emotional uneasy feeling when it still needed work. Even if everything is technically correct, I keep working/fishing for ideas (keep in mind I work on a computer for this and it cannot get overworked only changed.) until I get this "ding!" feeling, a sense of joy and relaxation, after feeling slightly uneasy about the work. I know then that it is good. The stronger the sense of joy is usually an indicator that it's a really good design.

eubie wrote

on 13 Sep 2010 4:42 PM

Thanks, yes, you are so right, I get so anxious..and the learning is really happening because I can be happy with something i have painted and then see it later with a more disearning eye later...I have a few that I have that good feeling that I have done something worthy..I will print what you wrote , its very good advice..  I cant wait to get up early in the mornings and paint for a few hours every day and keep your sage advice near by..

ArtsyFartsy26 wrote

on 21 Oct 2010 4:34 AM

I actually love this painting.  The colors are gorgeous and I love the bold way you painted it. Keep up the good work :-)