Knowing when to stop

"If you decide to run the ball,  just count on fumbling and getting the shit knocked out of you a lot, but never forget how much fun it is just to be able to run the ball." -Jimmy Buffett

Pastel Painting Day 5: I ran the ball with this painting!

When I Grow Up
5x7, Quick Study

Knowing when to stop

It's always difficult for an artist to know when the painting is finished.  Experience has told me that less is more but sometimes you just wonder what if I did this, or added a little of that especially when you're just not completely satisfied with your painting.  Today, I wasn't satisfied.  I was trying to get the lacy white branches on the trees in the distance just right.  Then the foreground was boring so I tried a little bunny.  He didn't turn out.  Then I looked out my studio window and saw this little teeny tiny pine tree that we planted and decided to add it into the painting.  Then it looked lonely, so I added some friends.  I am finding with pastels, it is especially hard to make a change or addition and then "erase" it if it's not right.  Pastels are not as forgiving as some other mediums.  I'm sure it will get easier "to know" with a lot more practice.  But today I decided to run with the ball, perhaps I fumbled and maybe got a little shit knocked out of me but I sure had fun running.  Give it a try!