Hi J.,

[…]

Once a print or a painting that I really put some thought into is finished , it is often hard to say whether it came out the way I wanted. 

I will ask myself ‘What did I actually want when I started out’ and ‘Is that it‘? Or is it something different but it is still good? Or is this a poor work but I do not realize it because I have been too close to it? 

If I could forget about the finished work for a month and then come back to it, I might be able to see if it is any good at all. I may then realize that I was kidding myself and that the work is no good; or I may be surprised and find that is actually not bad. 

With ‘Maria’, I do not know, honestly. Here is what I wanted (I think): I wanted a calm, thoughtful, maybe somewhat worried face of a young woman; I did not want a realistic picture in terms of proportions, skin tones etc. but an expressive face with bold, patchy color applications and with reasonably accurate values.

Finally, the hardest part for me, I wanted the painting to look as if it were made with confidence and ease.

What did I end up with? You tell me.

[…]

Later,

-M.