When is your Painting Done? Oil and Watercolor

Lisa Miceli

Knowing when a painting is finished can be one of the hardest challenges for artists. Whether you paint abstractly, impressionistically, or realistically, it’s easy to overwork a painting or give up on it too soon. Guessing how to fix a problem can take you farther from your goal and cause your painting to lose its freshness and message.

The focus of this class is recognizing when you’ve reached a pleasing balance of value, color, and design, and when the narrative of your painting feels complete. You’ll practice stepping back, evaluating your work, and bringing your painting to a stronger final stage.

Students may bring paintings they are working on at home and want to rework or start a new painting in class. The class includes demos, individual instruction, painting exercises, and group feedback to help you learn how to decide when your painting is done.

Any medium and any level of student are welcome.

3-week series