I met Josephine Crawford, artist, one time Arcosanti resident, and A Life’s Work supporter, via the wonderful world of Facebook. We’ve had interesting exchanges over the course of our friendship, mostly via the FB comments.
She left the first comment in this post in response to my Is Production Really Over? piece, wherein I asked the question, “How do you know when you’re done shooting?” What followed was an exchange about the artistic process between two people working in different mediums.
Jackson Pollock, Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) – National GalleryJosephine Crawford just like a painting ….hardest thing to know when it’s finished. btw just noticed, as i typed, painting starts with pain!!!!
A Life’s Work I always ask painters, especially abstract painters, how do they know when it’s done. I feel like a dope asking that, but the painters nod knowingly and smile and usually say some variation of “when I’m okay with it.”
JC for me it’s a test of ??? anyway it’s a test. My “work” often has a sketchy look, not finished and it’s a fight for me to say …that’s ok. sometimes i love it the way it is, but feel it’s a bit “untidy” so I quickly make another.
ALW This maybe TMI, but I was thinking about this when I was in my early 20s. I was walking a dog and I was thinking about how Jackson Pollock knew when he had finished one of his drip paintings. The dog did its business and then got up out of her squat and walked on, and I thought, “That’s how! He just knew, as the dog knew it had finished.” Now, I know painting and relieving oneself is very different, but it was kind of an a-ha moment. He felt that it was done. It was, as it were, a gut feeling.
JC that’s funny…but true. you do just know.
ALW I don’t mean to be too flip about it, but there comes a point, right, after you’ve analyzed and looked at twenty different ways, when you just know. This is done. I can’t do anymore to it.
JC does this mean you’ve finished your movie? as i said before, because of the premise, i think the end is going to be particularly tricky and am looking forward to seeing how you do it.
ALW Nah, not finished. Editing and looking for money. It’s going to take a while.
JC just changed a pic that i thought was finished but this morning woke up panicked…now its finished.
ALW Great about “finishing” that picture.
The next day, Josephine updated her status.
JC eleventh hour change, had a dream…thought the picture was finished, it wasn’t. now it is! love it.
And so it goes. Thanks to Josephine for letting me use this exchange here.
Make sure to read Robert Darden’s comment on the subject.
You can get in on the conversation by liking A Life’s Work on FB, or dialoging with me here. I know there are a lot of you out there with thoughts on this. I’d love to hear from you.