balancing act

The Little Tin Jug; casein tempera on board; 10" x 8"

A perfect balance of finish vs. freshness - that's the holy grail.  There's always the danger of overworking and making your paintings seem tense and uncomfortable.  And on the other end of the spectrum you want to tell enough of the story to be comprehensible - at least I do.  Rough sketches are amazing though and I often wonder why I can't/don't stop at some more abstracted stage.  Someday - maybe - but for now I need to be true to myself - and the story.