‘Surrender and alertness’ painting and other acts of faith

It never ceases to amaze me when a painting is finally finished… and yet I never seem absolutely sure, or as Paul Gardner put it, “A painting is never finished — it just stops in interesting places.” Sounds a little less harsh than what Leonardo da Vinci supposedly said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

What to say about this poor girl when even Leonardo, who executed the most perfect paintings and drawings, feels he can’t seem to finish anything, and “abandons” his paintings.

Is it the feeling of imperfection or not quite getting it right that makes us start another and another and another and yet they all seem just like stepping stones to something else entirely, and once we “stepped on them” they are there for eternity (or at least for a while!) to enjoy by others while we have already moved on.

Painting isn’t about finishing. It is more like an act of faith that makes us throw our creativity out onto the canvas and, letting it go to be seen and judged by others. An act of faith and a cry for connection.

Kind of like what Erich Fromm says about love:
“Love means to commit oneself without guarantee, to give oneself completely in the hope that our love will produce love in the loved person. Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.”

“Surrender and alertness”
acrylic on canvas (Diptych) 31.5 x 31,25 inches (79.5 x 60 cm)