One of the most difficult things for me to do is to figure out just exactly when a piece is finished. I almost always start out with a goal of simplicity. When I get the work to a place where it conveys what I want and is still fairly simple, there’s always this nagging voice telling me the work is not done. It’s like a little devil on my shoulder whispering doubts into my ear. The bad news is that where most people have a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, I seem to only have the whispering devil. The other piece of bad news (maybe) is that I tend to follow the little devil’s advice, and that sometimes means I work a piece to death.
But maybe there’s hope for me. While I admire other artists’ beautiful simplicity (Rothko as an example), perhaps I’m not meant to create that type of art. Maybe the devil on my shoulder isn’t a devil at all, but is actually my artistic conscience telling me to do what’s right for me.
Case in point, two weeks ago I posted a photo of my “finished” piece, Hole #10. At least, I thought it was finished. The more I looked at it, the more unsatisfied I became. I tried to resist, but I just couldn’t stop myself from reworking the piece. As I continued the work, there were a few moments when I thought I had ruined it for good. Ultimately, I think the piece is now more layered, and in that regard, improved.
So I’ll let my viewers be the judge. Is my nagging voice a little devil best to be ignored, or is it my artistic conscience extending essential advice?
Holes #11 is a new work from this past week. It may or may not be finished. Time will tell.
I’m afraid I will not have a post next Friday, as I will be away and enjoying myself at Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. This year at Bonnaroo, my brother and I plan on painting a mural at a public art space. I hope we stick to our plans and I’m able to blog our experience, but lo, tis easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for cool people to stick to their plans at Bonnaroo. (1 Centeroo 13:4, Holy Bonnaroo Bible, Queen Megan Version)
Megan Caldwell Chandler 
“Is my nagging voice a little devil best to be ignored, or is it my artistic conscience extending essential advice?”:
It could be either Megan! For my liking, I prefer the previous version, but that’s just me. I don’t think the work in the rework adds anything and something of the original is lost.
But do not be discouraged! If the nagging voice is there and won’t shut up, follow it and see where it goes! It is difficult to tell from one work whether your new direction is what you want. And it is what YOU want that is the thing, don’t be swayed by us viewers!
As for Holes #11 – let’s see where it goes!
Well done – the creative genius at work!
Thanks for the feedback!
I’m still not sure which version is the “better” version. I have an issue with working too tightly, meaning I want everything neat and tidy. And while this is ok, I find that a lot of my work becomes flat. (I think we have discussed flatness before!)
One of my goals with this new work was to loosen up a bit and play with texture. I also wanted to be less precious with my brushwork, if that makes any sense. When I completed the first version of #10, it felt really uptight to me. That’s when I reworked it to make it more loose. And I think I know what you mean about something from the original being lost. I can’t put my finger on it, but something I liked about the first version went away.
I think I’m gonna embrace #10 as a learning experience. The good news is the piece is only 11″x14″, which means the panel wasn’t too expensive. The scary news, I’m about to start a large piece (24″x30″) and it was relatively expensive. I’m hoping for the best on this next one!