Am I overworking this painting?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Overworking often starts when you can no longer name the purpose of the next mark. Repeatedly correcting a passage can flatten value variety, remove lively edges, and weaken marks that were already doing their job.
A five-minute check
- 01
Stop touching it
Set the brush down. Look at the painting from across the room, not only from arm's length.
- 02
Find what still works
Name two passages you would keep untouched. These are anchors, not areas to ‘improve.’
- 03
Identify the impulse
Are you changing something because it needs a specific correction, or because you feel uncomfortable stopping?
- 04
Protect the painting
Take a photograph. If you must adjust a passage, decide the location and purpose before picking up the brush.
If your next mark has a clear visual purpose, test it once. If you're searching for certainty through more detail, stop and let the work rest.
Circle one area on a photo—not on the painting—that truly needs work. If you cannot justify it, leave the original alone today.