• Finished?
    Sometimes it is what you leave out...

    How do you define a “finished” piece of art?

    There are many pieces of art throughout history that were never finished for one reason or another. The artist may have felt unsuccessful and given up, they may have passed (or their subject did), they may have lost interest, they may have been waiting for inspiration that never came, the reasons are varied. However, many of these works are appreciated today because of the fact that they are unfinished. The work allows the viewer a window into the creative process of the artist.

    Many modern artists are exploring the conventional ideas of "finished art" and intentionally creating work with this idea in mind. They are playing with perception and challenging the viewer’s understanding of perspective. Many allow for the unfinished or negative spaces to speak just as strongly as the fully rendered areas of the piece. 
     
    Do some research and find artists who work in this style (several of the images/artists in the first part of the slide show can be used, click on the i to see the name). Take notes in your sketchbook and answer the following questions:
    • How do you (personally) define a “finished” piece of art? 
    • Do the pieces these artists create look like finished works and why do you think so?
    • What is it that makes the compositions successful?
    • What media would work best for you if you were to try this?

    For this assignment you will take on the task of marrying the finished and the unfinished. 

    The challenge here is finding a balance between 2-D and 3-D in the same piece of art.

     
    Open size
    Open media
     
    * The Metropolitan Museum of Art Breuer had an exhibit on this very topic.*
               Watch the video for additional thoughts...  Unfinished: Thoughts Left Visible
     
     
     
Last Modified on February 28, 2024