When is a painting finished?

(Suspended)
When is a painting finished? When someone buys it. Otherwise, I’ll let it sit a while. (Humasnail)
Then, if there’s no takers, I take it a step further. Often this means an entirely different image. Sometimes an extension on the previous one.
This one (Ontogenesis) has been sitting around for years, but it’s big (6 foot by 8) I’d have to hire a truck to move it and then I probably wouldn’t be able to fit it in my studio space, that’s the only reason it hasn’t been painted over. Some prangsters took it once, but the fella who owned the shop it was hanging in got it back for me. It’s about the growth and development of an individual. Specifically the surge in electro-magnetic frequency development. It’s a telescopic view of developing collective nuance.

A few people said it looked aboriginal. And this worried me because the last thing I want to do is steal from other painters that aren’t being properly recognised for their work. Plus, I don’t think I can. My favourite styles of painting are indigenous Australian and street art. (There is a wide variety there, but within those genres there’s a lot of artists I like.) However, when I painted Ontogenesis, I was thinking of nature, while working on abstracts and that’s just what came out. I’m an automatic artist. I paint what flows within the confines of direction (should I be commissioned or give myself a task).

Still, not as though I’m making enough to hire a gallery space.

Recently I went to a gallery in my area. She said “what sold” was a painting something like this: To me, it’s an underpainting. I won’t invalidate the work. All art is valid. And if that’s what sells in this gallery, I’m guessing there is some trend in interior decorating that likes the brown tones (and likes the minimalist feel): make the painting look like something, but not quite. Make it simple and set the buyers mind free to put their own psychology on it. But above all it must match the furniture. And make it look like it has been seen before. Then you’ll be recognised.
Eat my eyeball. Not sure if that hot hat would work on a windy boil day. I probably have to be good at socialising and selling as well. Plus it might possibly annoy me; that all my paintings sold before I got to finish them properly! To splash a few brush strokes across the canvas, it isn’t often satisfactory, I don’t feel like I’ve done much more than roughed out the idea.
(Sort and type) Is what sells about modesty? being a person of few brush strokes? finding the big TOE? I find the idea of single identity strange. I find blanket judgement inconceivable. I like myriads. So… no lovely bright gallery space for me. But that just means more opportunities for others! joy! I get to go to their exhibitions (no charge to me)and watch them despair as they wonder if they're going to make enough sales to cover the costs of catering to all the freeloaders.

It's always indefinite how many times a painting must be painted over before it can be exhibited. That, and painting over too quickly before it becomes fashionable. Still, it's all nice brush practice and what's life for other than to let the brush have its say?

I’ve been painting some furniture for Fern Rainbow’s Apollo Bay gallery by the sea. Probably needs a bit more detailing to punch them out and match them… and I've cropped the image, but they are actually parts of seats.

Now wouldn't you just like to sit on that!