I listen

Sometimes when I teach a student will ask me when I know something is complete. I interpret this question to mean, 'How do I develop intuition?' I will back up and clarify and illuminate the differences in the nomenclature of the question. Developing intuition and learning to trust yourself as an artist is paramount. Putting the word 'complete' aside, listening to your self intuitively, following the ideas that emerge when engaged in a process or idea helps to skill build and expands your creative perimeters, hence the above piece.

A few days ago, I could not stop making lines and I created three pieces, the last of which sparked a creative thought. You know when you have a pen in hand and you start lightly whipping it up and down on the paper and you create a soft area of shading? I asked myself, why can't that work with the ruling pen too?

So I narrowed the beak as much as possible and lightly 'scratched' the cloth. It worked. I listen to creative intuitions. Repeat that to yourself ten times.