Once the piece is in balance we can truly see if anything is missing. Often this is when some later meaning comes in because all is in order and ready for you to really see it. A great space to add any last elements texts symbols or the finest of details to clarify your paintings meaning. This is the time for the finest refinements. Using elements to balance and pull composition and again eliminating anything that is not supporting the painting or distracting you from other important elements. 

This is the time to find out if your done.

How do we know its finished. We access from all the raw angles of art. Shape, composition, variation, expression, meaning, contrast and tonal range, and ultimately feeling emitted by the piece.