When cracks tell stories. Between perfection and acceptance
A few days ago, I stood in front of a new work of art that had just been completed. The colors harmonize, the composition looks just right and overall it had exactly the look I had hoped for during the creation process. But a few days later, when I looked at it again after it had dried, I immediately noticed something: Cracks had formed in the surface.
This was probably caused by an incorrect mixture of paint and medium. I can rule out drying too quickly or even heat leading to surface tension.
The painting measures 120 x 80 cm. In terms of the structure of the work, the base, i.e. the background, is a shade of black and graphite. Approximately one diagonal half of the surface is filled with a green-orange color. The other half is filled with expressionistic and energetic movements executed with large brushes.
The first impression
At first, after the painting had dried, I was disappointed. When I saw the fine cracks in the surface, my first thought was:
“That’s a mistake. The picture is ruined.”
I wanted to paint over it immediately because it was no longer perfect. I didn’t have a clear idea or sketch of what I wanted the finished work to look like beforehand – but the cracks didn’t fit in with my expectations.
I wondered whether the cracks would destroy the overall picture or whether they might even somehow fit into the design. But my first reaction was clear: I couldn’t leave the picture as it was and I couldn’t offer it for sale.
A new point of view
But instead of immediately picking up paint and brushes, I left the painting in the studio for a few days. With the painted surface facing the wall, out of my field of vision. I didn’t want to see it again at first. Then a few days later, I took a look at it from time to time, sometimes up close, sometimes from a distance. Gradually, I began to see it differently. The cracks no longer bothered me – on the contrary, they gave the picture character. They told their own story, made the work more exciting and unique.
This got me thinking: does art have to be perfect? What is “perfect” anyway, who defines it? Or is it often the unexpected details that bring a work to life? We often strive for perfection in life too. These cracks weren’t planned, but they gave the picture a depth that I hadn’t intended beforehand. They make it more alive in a special way.
The decision. Should I paint over the artwork or leave it as it is?
Now I’m faced with a decision: do I leave it as it is?
✔️ Do I paint over it and start again?
✔️ Do I leave it as it is because it has its own charm?
✔️ Do I pass it on in exactly the same way, imperfect but authentic?
Do I accept the cracks as part of the work and see them as an artistic element? Or do I paint over it and give the canvas another chance? Maybe I decide to pass it on in exactly the same way – imperfect, but with character.
This situation reminds me that art doesn’t always go according to plan. And in itself, this unpredictability is part of my way of making art – chance is a constant companion. Sometimes the most exciting works are created precisely when something unexpected happens. Maybe it’s time to let go of perfection a little and embrace the unplanned.
No matter what I decide, this picture has taught me a valuable lesson.
Ultimately, I came to the decision to include the work in the catalog raisonné and thus release it for sale. After all, it turned out that way and all the thoughts I had about the cracks – there is something about the artwork. And so it belongs to me and my oeuvre as a whole.
I am now preparing the painting for inclusion in the catalog raisonné and store: Titling, signing and storage. It will then be added to the online store in the next few days.
Fotos vom Werk & Details
