How long does it take?

So often an artist hears the question: How long did it take you to paint/create that work? This little 4 X 6 took about a year to complete. How is that possible? At least three times I felt stuck and unable to complete the piece to my satisfaction. An artist converses with the art. The dialogue goes on and on until the artist has the final word: YOU ARE DONE. The feeling is great. But the satisfaction seems is so much richer when the struggle was greater.