"When is a Painting Finished?"

Artists are often asked how do they know when a painting is finished.  Each artist asks himself or herself this question with each painting.  There are probably as many methods to knowing when a painting is finished as there are artists.

For me once I have a sense that the painting is nearing completion I take it out of the studio and place it in a spot in my home where I can easily see it from several vantage points and the light is completely natural but no direct sunlight.  I view the painting this way for a day.  I also check the painting in a mirror.  Usually I find small corrections using this process.  Such things as a hard edge that needs softening or a shape that needs a correction.

Now we all know that a frame improves a painting, but the true test of a finished and well-'crafted painting is when the frame neither adds or subtracts.  The painting can stand on its own.  This is exciting when this happens.

I am following the artistic work of another Arizona artist, Josi Callan.  Visit her web site by clicking here or her blog by clicking here.

For a link to my web site click:  www.BruceStam.com

Thanks,  Bruce