June 2018

The End.

Today, as a starter, a few thoughts about finishing.

The oil painting (A Path To The Dawn 2) is the current work in progress which has reached the stage of nearly being finished, but not quite and every change being made worsening it, so perhaps it is finished - or preparing itself to be painted over which is the fate of probably 70% of my efforts (this is a reduction from the 90% of a couple of years ago).

The notion of "finishing" a painting or a story is a thorny one. With a story it's the moment at which you read it for the hundredth time and can't see any more changes you want to make. A painting or picture is different and is much more dictated by your mood, what you're trying to convey (and whether that has changed since you started it, which is often the case) and the limitations of your technique.

The same applies to most creative endeavours. A pertinent quote from Scott Adams; "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep."

And perhaps this more salutary one from Isaac Bashevis Singer, "Every creator painfully experiences the chasm between his inner vision and its ultimate expression."  I'll post the painting if/when it's finished.