Sometimes when I work I have an all-consuming desire to get it perfect. Well, I suppose that’s all the time, really, but most of the time I get to the point where I’m finished, perfect or not. Sometimes I just can’t let go. This was one of those times.

This is a small painting of my daughter. My intention when I started was to create something loose and expressive. So I didn’t draw it out first, I just blocked in the shapes and then refined from there. And refined, and refined. I should have stopped earlier, when it was still somewhat loose, but I couldn’t do it. I was obsessed. I finally stuck it in a frame to keep myself away from it. If it wasn’t framed, I’d still be working on it. A little blending here, a little shading there.