A Serious Question About This Stupid Painting I Just Finished?

It will destroy the balance of the composition.

Consider a painted ribbon meandering across the canvas dodging in and out of a pair of holes on each side.

Ok, so abstract art is not my forte, just to clear anything up before I state my opinions.

First of all, I think it looks like a finished piece. Despite your nagging desires to add more, I think it is fine the way it is. Right now, everything is balanced, and a clock (on the left, was it?) would disrupt the unity between the two sides. Then again, I do not know what kind of clock you are striving for. If it is a realistic, objective clock, then some of its abstract interpretation would be taken away. If it is prominent, then I feel that something would be missing from the right side of the painting.

Second of all, speaking of interpretation, adding a clock would clarify your message, but might take away from personal value. Before I read the last paragraph about night and morning, I clicked the link and looked at it. The theme you wanted to represent was not what I had in mind when I looked at the painting. Even with the clock, I am not sure I can make the connection, although, I might just be shallow minded. In my opinion, the left side looks like a dreamscape of clouds, while the right side looks like a convoluted cityscape, a contrast between land and sky.

However, once again, I am not an abstract painting, and my views are probably different from your intentions. I would like to see the finished piece, whenever you feel it is done, for it is quite aesthetically pleasing.

Doc,

Are the works in the second link all yours? If so, you do great work. To give you an answer to your question, I think you could make a strong case for both using the clock or not using the clock. To defend using the clock, I believe the symmetry you have without another element is balanced and resolved. By resolved I mean that there is little tension left in the piece, which means people will give it a quick glance and leave it behind.

If you add another element, whether it's a clock or some other image, it breaks the "silence" in the piece, setting up a tension that keeps the viewer's attention. That's the resolution I would choose.

The clock wouldn't add anything for me. If you did add a clock, I would wonder why you added a clock... I guess. Clocks are an ordering device... the concept of time really has no begining or end.. yet a clock does.. just so we can understand a fragment in time. Dreams are also limitless. Does that add anything to it for you? Keep the clock beside your bed I think.

I would advise against the clock, as all of the other images are abstract. The image of something concrete, even if skewered and distorted, would be jarring and distracting.

Just the opinion of a non artist. Can't think of a good idea to show the time you mention.

I don't dream about clocks, and sometimes I'm not sleeping or aware of time when I'm dreaming. What I'm trying to say is that time means nothing to me in dreams, or between them. My very first impression is that it is finished. It is total. And it is good. I like it very much... Now, where's the color? lol

hmmm you still dream in black a white? my dear friend you are still worried about something... No clock is needed because your title implies time. I love you for painting this! I like it... you realise one can pear into you mind by looking at it. My avatar picture is a negative of a painting I did when I was 18 it was my dream back then.

I think it's finished. You have a contrast between curves and angles. A clock wouldn't make any sense, and would just make it look crowded. And it's not stupid. It's very intricate. I enjoyed seeing it.

I would not mess with this. Besides. If you have to ask anybody but yourself the answer has to be 'don't mess with it'.

You may not call this finished (judging by your question you do anyway) but maybe a dream should not be finished.

i like the clock idea. but i think you need color. Even if it's just one or two colors.