Is it finished yet?

As an artist, that's always the million dollar question. When is a painting done? 

Some artists say that a painting is done when they are sick and tired of working on a piece and that's that!

Some artists are never done. I remember taking a visit to the Frank Frazetta museum in 
East Stroudsburg, PA back in 2007. This was like going to Valhalla for me. Frank Frazetta was my idol when I was growing up and, still to this day, if i could draw an iota as well as he did, then I would say I've accomplished something as an artist. He was the best.

Guardian at gateway to Frazetta Museum

In any case, Frank Frazetta was in his home that day I visited, but was not taking visitors as he was still dealing with the effects of a stroke. His wife, Ellie, was tending to the museum that day and since we were the only visitors, we got to spend nearly two hours talking with her and discussing her husband's artwork.

Frank Frazetta Museum

At one point, she said she didn't allow Frank to come in to the museum alone anymore because he would see something in one of his pieces of artwork and take it down off the wall and start re-working it! Some of his paintings then were valued at more than a million dollars. Hence, an artist really is never done with his work. There's always something more that can be done.





That being said, I'm not sure my two colored pencil works are finished yet to enter in to the September DC Chapter 119 show. 

Marin

I continue to work on Marin, though I have to admit I'm pretty close to finishing her up. There's some details and things that still have to be done, such as adding some cool tones around the corners of her mouth. I also need to consider making the left side of her face a mite bit darker in order to have her hair pop out a bit more. There's some darkening, too, under her jaw line. Her hair that comes out in the upper left, I think I need to make the background a bit darker as well so the hair comes out a little more.

It's all about light and making sure the contrast brings the drama to the image. 

It's also called, by some, more noodling. Most people I've shown this to already think it's done and finished.

324

The same holds true for the power boxes, which in my last blog episode was "Untitled." It now has a title -- 324.

This one, though I signed it so I could see where I wanted to put my signature, needs more work. The shadows on the wall bother me and I will definitely need to make them darker. Also, I have to make the pipes look more rounded. Some of the boxes need to get darker or warmer. Others need to get cooler.

Again, people who have seen photos of 324, have really liked it. In fact, a colleague of mine at work has already expressed interest in purchasing the piece. (Keeping my fingers crossed on that one).

So, to answer my question at the start of this blog, I will answer without an answer. It's done when I think it's done. And it's a good thing it's not "when I want it done." I was ready to end Marin about four weeks ago. But the extra work has really enhanced the piece.

When they are done (finally done), I will feature them one last time.