A hard lesson

How do you know when it's done? ..

The truth is I have no idea, and most of the time it just sort of comes to a hault or natural resting place. But it doesn't really ever seem to be finished, it's simply and ever evolving, growing and expansive process.

This painting took me past a comfortable place. It was so delicate and subtle in the earlier stages, but I got greedy and hungry for more. I kept going, although I got a sense that there was no going back and I had passed a threshold. In the back of my head the little voice kept reminding me that 'it was better before' which just led me down a path of not so constructive thinking and painting. Ultimately I had to put the painting away for a month or two, to gain new perspective and detach from the process.

Now it feels open again and I've managed to detach from its earlier form which means I can approach it creatively and help it grow into a new shape. Hopefully I'll manage to stop before I repeat the whole thing again!