How Long Does it Take to Finish a Painting?
Whenever I'm confronted with the question of how long it takes to complete a painting, I find myself in a bit of a quandary. It's sort of like the question, How long is a piece of string?
And just like the length of a piece of string – the answer hinges on numerous variables. In essence, the duration of a painting project can vary greatly.
There are artists who prefer to focus on a single canvas, working diligently to wrap it up in just a single afternoon. For them, providing a precise timeframe for completing a painting is a straightforward task.
Three stages of six small canvases in progress over several weeks
However, I gravitate toward a different approach. I relish the creative journey of gradually layering paint and textures over a span of several days or even weeks.
In the example above, you can see how a series of six small canvases, each 12 x 12 inches develops over several stages. My process always begins with a concept in mind. But I allow the concept to unfold intuitively with each layer by gradually adding darks and lights and color until the canvas begins to have a life of its own.
I prefer to work on several canvases at the same time, in rotation. This keeps my eyes fresh. Each time I return to the next painting in line, I’m in a different frame of mind and see it from a new perspective..
I often find myself simultaneously immersed in multiple painting projects in the studio. For example, I might be working on a specific client project, preparing for an exhibition and experimenting with a new technique on paper, all at once.
Naturally, given this approach, it's truly a challenge to pinpoint exactly how much time it takes me to finish a painting.
I like my paintings to be born gradually. Each layer adds a new dimension to the finished piece. Even though you may not see many of the previous layers, those layers create internal energy.
The Finished Paintings
Below are four finished small canvases, each 12 x 12 x 1.5 inches. Each one probably has about 20 stages before they were completely done.
Good news! Although the one on the far right is already sold, the other three are still available right here on my website.
Just click the image to see more information.
