Lesson XII: How Do We Know When A Painting Is Done?

Posted: August 31st, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Lesson XII | 37 Comments »

The Tutor has graded last week’s 3rd quarter review and is proud to announce that our classroom is excelling! Compared to the less than spectacular results of July’s midterm, our class average is now over the 85% mark. This upward trajectory pleases The Tutor. You all deserve gold stars!

For your records, here are the answers to last week’s quiz:

  1. Thus far, what part of The Tutor’s subject has a cockroach not crawled upon? Answer: c.) her little knees
  2. According to The Tutor, our eyeballs are what? Answer: b.) wet, palm-sized orbs
  3. When sketching our subject, we should begin with which of the following? Answer: a.) the largest shapes
  4. In Lesson X, what does The Tutor say separates an artist form the herd? Answer: a.) discipline
  5. Finish the following statement by The Tutor from Lesson VII: “Like a god, we must ________.” Answer: b.) form our creatures from large hunks of clay
  6. According to The Tutor, a lady does not do what? Answer: d.) relinquish her virtue on first blush
  7. When painting a still life, we should begin by painting which of the following? Answer: c.) the background
  8. Pure, unmixed white may only be used when painting what? Answer: d.) highlights
  9. When painting a subject, we always begin with the darkest values, unless we are painting with which of the following mediums? Answer: b.) watercolor
  10. In Lesson X, what color lipstick does The Tutor apply to the subject? Answer: a.) pink
  11. In Lesson VII, when trolling for a subject, The Tutor begins by doing what? Answer: c.) selecting a neighborhood
  12. Which of the following is not on The Tutor’s table in Lesson XI? Answer: d.) a sewing needle and thread
  13. According to The Tutor, when sketching, it helps to imagine our subject as what? Answer: a.) a series of connected masses
  14. What does The Tutor compare the white of his subject’s eye to in Lesson XI? Answer: b.) a wedding dress
  15. In Lesson IX, what is The Tutor chewing on? Answer: c.) a paintbrush

Now that you’ve demonstrated an exceptional knowledge of the creation phase of painting a still life, class, we are ready to move into the 3rd and final leg of our journey together: completion! I give you Lesson XII: How Do We Know When A Painting Is Done?

Laudations, students, you’ve completed another lesson. Your homework assignment this week is to finish your paintings. As opposed to many of our previous assignments, this one is not based on the careful application of a step-by-step process; this assignment is entirely based on your gut feelings.

Last week’s review was given not only to test our knowledge of The Tutor’s lessons, but to allow us a break from our paintings. The creative process can be so intensive, so overwhelming, that often times we loose sight of the big picture. When this happens, it helps to take a breather, to focus on something else for a period of time, and then return to our artwork with fresh eyes.

So… take a close look at your work. Are you happy with it? Does it feel complete? If so, then you have no homework this week. If, on the other hand, you gaze at your painting and determine that something isn’t right, something feels out of place, something needs to be added or repainted, then go to it. You are your most important audience member, your most valued critic. If your creation doesn’t fulfill YOU, then it’s not yet ready to be framed and shared with the world.

I look forward to viewing your completed works next week, pupils!