The question

How do you tell when a piece of work is done?

Originally asked

The Creative Independent, to working artists, its interview series

A repeated process question in The Creative Independent, asked across visual art, music, writing, performance, and mixed media.

You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.

JS
Jeremy Sorese

Cartoonist and illustrator

Recorded said elsewhere, not written here
For me, especially with this last book, I had nothing else to say about these characters from this point in their lives. I felt like I’d reached the end of what they’re telling me—it wasn’t even what they’re telling the story, it’s more what versions of them I needed at that time.

Mitchell Kuga, The Creative Independent, 26 January 2022 source ↗

Others on this question

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Time. I just use lashings of time. I’ve got a method actually. In the morning, I come into the studio, take my coat off, put everything down and walk into the middle of the room just looking at the floor. When I’m ready I look up. If the painting stands up to me, it may be finished. But if the painting is talking back or something comes into my mind, then I’m still on the journey. But if it resists or has an air of independence then maybe I’ve got somewhere—but that is not very often.
Recorded Barbara Rose, CHRISTOPHER LE BRUN with Barbara Rose, The Brooklyn Rail, 1 February 2017 source ↗
Steve Jobs Co-founder and chief executive of Apple; co-founder of NeXT; chief executive of Pixar
I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard on something, but working on Macintosh was the neatest experience of my life. Almost everyone who worked on it will say that. None of us wanted to release it at the end. It was as though we knew that once it was out of our hands, it wouldn’t be ours anymore.
Recorded David Sheff, Playboy Interview, February 1985 source ↗
Koho Yamamoto Sumi-e painter, calligrapher and teacher
Well, I feel it. If I don’t feel it just the way I want it, then I’d rather destroy it than to keep it.
Recorded Amanda Millet-Sorsa, Koho Yamamoto with Amanda Millet-Sorsa, The Brooklyn Rail, 1 April 2022 source ↗
Michelle Rial Illustrator and author
I don’t know. Right now I’m just in the insecurity portion and nothing feels good enough. But I think one way that I can answer this is, if I go back to it and I have a little chuckle with myself, then I feel like it’s good. I still think it’s funny. There are some parts of this new book that I look back at and I feel mortified. There are some parts where I’m like, “Wow, this person really gets me. This me really gets me.” And it feels good. Because even though it’s me, I’m really connecting with it. And hopefully, someone else will feel that way.
Recorded Janet Frishberg, The Creative Independent, 7 September 2021 source ↗

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