How long does it take you to paint a painting?
That is one of the questions I am most frequently asked. It generally takes me a long time as I paint until I am sure the painting is finished. Usually. It’s rare for a painting to be finished in less than three months.

 How do you know when a painting is finished?
I like to quote Yeats – at least I think I’m quoting Yeats as I can’t find an attribution for it – that it’s like a fine box closing. I like to let a painting ‘percolate’ on its own, watching for the rough part to appear that keeps the box from closing smoothly. Also the materials have to gel.