John Berger: Once in a Painting

Painting is said to capture or preserve a moment in time, yet it is apparent that this is more true of a photograph than a painting. A painting is a static image of what the painter sees before them, or how they interpret what is before them. It is a combination between reality and the imagination of the artist. There is a distinct connection in a painting between the subject and how the artist wants that subject to be portrayed. In relation to life, an artist can take an ordinary every-day object and make it into anything they desire.
The possibilities within and around art are endless - the ability to create something out of nothing, to change the seemingly unchangeable, and create a world unlike our own.
I feel it is only possible to portray the most significant characteristics of a subject in a painting as your perception of it is constantly changing. By depicting what you consider to be the most striking aspects of a subject at any specific moment (whether these change throughout your progressing work) you are capturing what you feel illustrate your subject at its best, and therefore overcome the relationship of permanence to transience.
In my experience, a painting is finished when the artist feels they have accomplished a perfect balance throughout the painting. It must “feel” right to the artist, independent of what others may think. It doesn’t necessarily need to show a likeness of an already existing subject, it doesn’t necessarily need to serve a purpose, or symbolise your inner emotions. It can simply be the result of an urge or impulse to create.