Re: when is it really finished.

I think I'm done this one.  I worked on it again.  See if you can tell what's changed since I posted it earlier!

When is it really finished?

The real answer is practically -never.  I've redone paintings that were done as long as 10 years ago.  Ones that I just wasn't happy with.  Overpainting is one technique that I've only done once - where you paint over a painting with an entirely different idea.  Some artists burn the ones they don't like, some paint over them.  I hate to be wasteful, but the feng shui just isn't right for me knowing there's something else underneath.
I just sold a piece.  It was to be picked up a few days ago, but wasn't.  In the mean time I was looking at it, and ended up touching up a few things.  I figure the longer an artist looks at something, the more critical we are of ourselves.  We have to decide when to quit though.  I've touched things up and ruined them... but that was a long time ago.  I think I'm getting better with each piece... at least that's my opinion.  I let that piece go today, and I believe it was at its best.  

success!

How does one measure success?  I think it has something to do with how you feel, about whatever it is.  If you feel good, you're successful.  I see I have readers!  That's success, for sure.  It means what I'm saying has meaning for more people than just me, and whatever one can do to make the world a more enlightened place, the better!  Just look at all the people helping Haiti,... that gives one a renewed confidence in mankind.
As for art, I was really successful today.  I worked all day on another door, it's almost done.  I feel so great about it.... that's my way of telling if the painting really worked or not.... that gut feeling.  It's not quite done yet, but I'll share it now anyway. 

It's the door of the address that Jim Morrison lived at in Paris.  My hubby's a real big fan, so we seeked it out when in Paris (France) a few years ago, and I took a picture of it with hubby, of course. At that time, I had no idea I'd be doing paintings of doors!  This door was huge!  For my painting I included Jim instead - more fitting, don't you think?  I'll post it again when it's really finished.

Looking at it here helps me to see where it needs work too.  Another strategy for self-evaluation.

Not doing too bad!

Well, I've got 4 out of the 6 that I started done.  The last 2 don't do anything for me now, so I'm starting a new door.  I feel like doing something bigger.
I've been spending too much time on this computer!  I've joined a few art groups on the internet and on Facebook.  There are so many artists out there... it's discouraging.... I guess I should just follow hubby's advice, and Robert Genn's, and just paint because I love it, and not worry about the selling part.  They tell me that will take care of itself.

So far, so good

Well, yesterday I followed the plan, and got 6 paintings started.  One even got finished!  Mind you, it was only a 5x7, but I'm still happy with it, and that's what counts.  The others have the whole canvas done in underpainting, ready to go.  Here's the proof.... the swan on the right is complete.

If you're reading this....

I just saw the movie "Julie-Julia".  I could totally relate to someone who craves a purpose, who needs to make a difference, and leave a mark in the world.  I see my art as an on-going legacy to my life, a visual diary.  My problem now, today,  is I have too many ideas to paint, and don't know where to start again. I go through this whenever I finish one, and am ready to begin another.  I must have over 1,000 pictures in my Art Ideas folder!  I could easily do what Julie did in the movie - but do 1 painting a day - problem is, hubby would be an art widower!  I wouldn't do that to him.  And holidays, trips, would interfere.  But, I could do a month, or 2, or 3.  Would you like that?  What do you think?  If you're reading this, let me know what you think of the idea!

PS.  As for today's problem, I've selected 6 subjects, and have begun base coats for them.....  3 done, 3 to go.  Then I can pick which one I feel like working on each day.  Let's see how this goes! 

Finished another door!

It feels so good to finish a piece, and it's even better when you can see progress.  My latest, completed today, was Red Door #3.  Not to say my other doors weren't very good, I feel that there's improvement with each one I do.  It's  nothing I'm consciously doing, it just happens.  The more you do something, the better you get at it.
This one was actually commissioned.  But I'll be doing more!  I'm looking forward to a Carribean trip where I'll be able to take more pictures of really cool doors, that are in the French and Dutch style. 
I have a couple of pet portraits to get to still, and I'd like to do some wildlife again, and some horses too!.  Maybe I should try getting more than one going again?

Happy New Year!!

2010.... sounds like something way off into the future!  But it's here.  I've done a couple of things to make it seem different from yesterday:
- as suggested by Robert Genn, a good artist's prices should go up slowly, 10% a year, so I've gone down my list and done that to some of my pieces, not all.  The higher ones I left as is.  Their time will come though.
- I'm signing my work differently this year: I'll use my full name, and leave the date out, putting it on the back for reference.

I'm in the process of working on another door.  They've all been real doors that  I took pictures of in Paris, France.  We're planning a trip to Amsterdam and Paris in the spring.... I'm excited to be able to take more pictures of doors, architecture etc. for my art.