3d • General discussion
Finish vs. Leave as a Study — Checklist
asked an important question that you may also be asking . Here’s a decision framework you can run through whenever you’re unsure whether to finish a painting or stop at a study.
CHECKLIST
1. Goal Achieved?
Did I learn what I set out to practice?
✅ Yes → consider leaving it as a study.
❌ Not yet → keep working.
2. Energy Check
Does the painting still feel alive and exciting?
✅ Yes → push it further.
❌ No, it feels forced/dull → it may be best as a study.
3. Structural Soundness
Are the big shapes, values, and proportions solid?
✅ Yes → you can refine with confidence.
❌ No → decide if fixing it will teach you more, or if restarting would be faster.
4. Emotional Connection
Do I want to live with this image finished?
✅ Yes → finish.
❌ No → call it a study and move on guilt-free.
5. Time vs. Return
Will finishing this teach me more than starting a fresh canvas?
✅ Yes → finish.
❌ No → stop and start something new.
6. Portfolio Potential
Does this piece have qualities (composition, mood, likeness) that could stand alongside my best work?
✅ Yes → finish.
❌ No → study.
👉 Over time, you’ll notice your “Yes” and “No” answers shift as your skills grow. What you leave unfinished today might be what you’d polish tomorrow.
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Finish vs. Leave as a Study — Checklist
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