Is it done yet? How I know when a work is done.

There's this great quote I heard recently from a Greek philosopher named Heraclitus: 'No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.'

It sums up how I feel right now about my art practice.

I started this painting, 'Autumn Afternoon, Icebergs Bondi', last September and really thought I’d finished it in November. But, looking at it again earlier this month, I decided I no longer loved it.

I knew I could do better.

The original work was still a good painting. Plenty of people said they loved it. But, to me it felt flat. It lacked the energy, movement, and sunshine that I want in my work.

It didn't feel like I could reach in and touch the water.

Thanks to eight months of drawing practice, I knew I could probably paint a figure that felt more human.

Original 'Autumn Afternoon, Icebergs Bondi'

I also knew that I could create a more exciting, dynamic composition, with stronger diagonal lines to emphasize the pull of the tide and the crash of the waves.

(The image on the left shows the original painting.)

Bottom line? I knew I could do a better job – and I could love this painting again. (Because for me, no artwork is ready to leave me until I love it so much, it's hard to let it go.)

So, I went back to work.

I returned to my original photos and saw all the things that I'd avoided because I didn’t think I could paint them.

First up, I painted the high unbroken wave at the top of the work. I then added in the waves smashing against the side of the pool and spraying foam across the surface. I darkened the pool water on the far edge which would now be shadowed by that foam.

Finally, I added in the pool railing (why are bollards so difficult?), the second pool at the base of the canvas and then re-worked my figure – so she finally felt alive, moving and bathed in sunshine.

(The image below shows the final painting.)

Now I LOVE it. Because now the whole thing ripples with LIFE!  And I find that I can’t stop staring at it.

Ironically, now that I LOVE it, it's sold. I offered it for sale last Monday at 6pm and by lunchtime the next day it had found a new home.

Final 'Autumn Afternoon, Icebergs Bondi'

My key learning?

Create for YOU. Nobody else. PERSIST until YOU finally love whatever it is you are creating.

So yes, the Greek guy was right.

Eight months later, it's not the same painting because I'm not the same artist.