“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” – Leonardo da Vinci
When do you know when to stop working on a oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor painting, drawing or other work of art? I often hear artists complain that they overwork their art. Or, they will state that they should have stopped before that last brushstroke.
I have had art teachers that instruct that you must place each brushstroke as though it might be your last artistic statement on the canvas. And, certainly that is great advice if you have the experience and control. And, as you achieve painting mastery of color, hues, values , shapes and composition you will begin to move toward this goal. Personally, I don’t have the skills or the interest to paint with that degree of control or intensity. I enjoy the freedom to experiment and adjust colors, values and shapes. I enjoy the painting process more than the process of finishing a painting. The beginning of a painting is a wonderful expression of gestures, shapes, values and colors.
Taking guidance from da Vinci, consider being willing to abandon your artwork before you might think it is finished. It is interesting to walk away from your art for a day or two. When you come back, you’ll see your work with fresh eyes and appreciate the work you’ve done. You may also recognize areas that might enjoy compositional emphasis. Or you might be happy with your artwork as is. Personally, I have found that I must stop myself from “pushing” a painting to completion. At this point as an artist, I believe my work is best when left abandoned.
Avoid the common tendency to over think and overwork your art. Stop fussing about. Abandon your artwork to keep the freshness and originality that inspired your original gestures and brushwork.
For more information about Leonardo da Vinci, consider the book Leonardo’s Notebooks. This book contains illustrations and information about Leonardo da Vinci drawn from more than 7,000 pages of sketches and writings found in various rare books, papers, and other resources throughout the world. A preview of selected pages is available from the book at Amazon.com.
Richard F. Farrell
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