Here we have a painting (with mixed medium) that feels almost done. Not quite. It needs something, but what? When stuck or undecided, turn the painting in another direction to get a fresh look. I suggested turning it upside down.
Ah! Now the dense “heavy” part is at the top, which means it is unstable, it has a ways to fall: it has energy. So much better. But, still, the painting as a whole needed something.
What to do? The artist snuck out of the studio, walked around the building and came back with a box. Ha! She plopped it down in just the right spot, the spot that had invited “more.” Voila.
I don’t like to say “perfect” about anything. But the way that box nested there and especially how its left flap formed a triangle with the paintings lines, that was too good to be anything but uncanny. It happens.
In the next class the artist integrated the box with some splashed paint. Stay tuned.
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2017/03/05/black-black-black/
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/in-half/
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2016/09/29/popping-out-of-the-frame/
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/found-objects/
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2016/09/27/shapes-and-light/
https://artamaze.wordpress.com/2016/07/05/exhibit-at-ethical-humanist-society/
Painting in acrylic with mixed medium by Terry Fohrman, 48”x24”+.
All contents copyright (C) 2010 Katherine Hilden. All rights reserved.
artamaze by Katherine Hilden 
When you say that the artist “integrated the box with some splashed paint” do you mean that the artist painted onto the canvas a box shape with splashy painting, or do you mean that the artist affixed the cardboard box to the canvas and then splashed paint on the box. Just curious. Different effects.
The latter. She affixed the box and then splashed white paint onto it and also attached a stip of burlap onto it, horizontally. I will get a photo of the completed process and insert it into the blog. That’s assuming the artist considers the painting finished. We’ll see.