Finishe

The quote often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, “Art is never finished, only abandoned”, deeply resonates with me as an artist. It captures the ongoing process of creation and refinement that I experience with each piece.

In my artwork, I’ve conveyed this idea through two separate self-portraits. The first portrait confronts the viewer directly, with the accompanying phrase “I never know when it’s finished.” In this portrait, I’m depicted looking straight at viewer, while another self-portrait appears upside down, adding a layer of complexity to the composition.

The second piece features me actively engaged in painting against a backdrop of a chess game where the black king has been mated. Here, the phrase reads “This one is definitely not finishe,” intentionally misspelling ‘finished’ to emphasize the belief that no artwork is ever truly complete but rather left unfinished by its creator.

The intentional misspelling serves a visual and textual cue, prompting viewers to pause and consider the significance of this deviation from standard spelling. It highlights the theme of imperfection and the acknowledgment that each piece exists in a state of continual evolution and potential refinement.

By showing myself in the process of creation in both pieces, I invite viewers to witness the ongoing journey of artistic expression. The background of the chess game adds another symbolic layer, suggesting the strategic decisions and challenges involved in the artistic process.

I invite viewers to reflect on the complexities of artistry and embrace the beauty found in imperfection. The unfinished finished painting celebrates the ever-evolving nature of continual pursuit of creative growth.