How the Final 10% Defines the Soul of a Large-Format Work

Elegy of the Veiled Siren 150 x 150 cm, 60 x 60 in. | Original Oil Painting on Canvas

When a painting is almost finished, the process doesn’t speed up, it slows down. The last 10% is where Jehan works at his slowest, with the same precision a sculptor uses to polish marble or a filmmaker applies while refining the final cut. At this stage, the composition is already clear, but the final decisions determine how the piece will breathe once it’s hanging on a wall.

These adjustments may look minimal, yet a subtle shift in light, a softened edge, or a refined tone can transform the entire atmosphere of a large-format painting. This is where the work finds its final identity, its weight, its balance, its presence.

During these final steps, he evaluates three essential elements:

1. Balance

Balance is the invisible architecture of the piece, the reason a figure feels powerful without overwhelming the space. It’s about deciding how much presence the protagonist should hold and how she lives within the canvas.

2. Light

Light is what makes the skin read naturally from a distance. Jehan fine-tunes t

ransitions, reflections, and gradients to avoid harsh or artificial illumination.

3. Edges

Edges guide the viewer’s gaze without ever calling attention to themselves. A crisp edge creates emphasis; a soft one lets the eye move elsewhere smoothly.

The Final Signature: When a Painting Becomes Complete

Before signing, Jehan pauses. He surveys the work, ensuring the final steps have given the painting structural stability and emotional coherence. Only once everything feels aligned does he add his signature, a quiet recognition that the piece has reached completion.

In the world of large-format figurative painting, the final steps are not decorative; they’re foundational.

This last 10% is where the painting’s balance, light, and edges unify into a presence that feels complete, harmonious, and alive.

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