Is It Done Yet?

Many artists ask themselves that question. How do you know when a piece is done?  There is often a tendency to keep adding... maybe a little beading, maybe a little stitching, maybe some more printing, how about some gold leaf? 

I've been thinking  a lot about what drives that reaction. We could probably talk for days about all the factors that contribute. One of the things I face is how to keep the balance between simple elegance and subtle complexity.  I've been drawn to less clutter and chaos in my work.  Maybe because I want less of it in my life. Clean lines that exude calm, peace, contentment - that is what I want to achieve.  Yet I also know that in order to achieve that, it often takes many layers to achieve depth and complexity. All those layers may not be obvious to the viewer, yet they contribute to the overall effect.

Sometimes I'll look at a piece and feel it is finished, but then feel as if it's too "simple".  I think that others won't value it because the many hours and layers of printing, painting or dyeing that were involved may not be evident.  Yes, I know, why should I care what others think? But putting your art out there can leave you feeling somewhat vulnerable. So, my challenge for this summer is to listen to my own voice.  Honor my intuition about my work.   If my voice says I'm finished, then so be it!