Isn't an article needed in this sentence?

[cabin]

I ran into a sentence shown below in some English exam.:

It's quite delicate work that calls for concentration and patience.

Does this sentence above sound right?
I thought, maybe, this sentence needs an article to be:

It's quite delicate a work that calls for concentration and patience.

I tried to search for the correct usage of the word "work" but could not be convinced if the word needs an article or not in this sentence.

I would appreciate if you give me the answer to this question, and would appreciate more if you explain why.

Thank you.

 

[birdeen's call]

The sentence would sound unnatural to me with an article. I can't explain why though. It doesn't seem completely illogical to consider work countable here. Yet in my experience, native speakers use "work" as an uncountable noun in such sentences.

 

[emsr2d2]

Unless you are referring to, for example, a painting (ie "a work by Picasso"), "work" is almost never countable.

It is tiring work.
He has some difficult work coming up.
I have a great job but it involves some challenging work.

 

[cabin]

Thank you for your quick reply, Birdeen's call. If the original sentence sounds all right, I think I wil leave it as it is. Thank you.

 

[birdeen's call]

Thank you for your quick reply, Birdeen's call. If the original sentence sounds all right, I think I wil leave it as it is. Thank you.

The original sentence is fine.

 

[cabin]

Thank you for your reply and examples. I felt somewhat strange to hear "It's quite delicate work " probably because I had not heard sentences of the same pattern many times. I will try to be more confident to stick to the fundamental rule you pointed out: "Unless you are referring to, for example, a painting (ie "a work by Picasso"), "work" is almost never countable." Thank you very much again.

 

[BobK]

Unless you are referring to, for example, a painting (ie "a work by Picasso"), "work" is almost never countable.

...

:up: Other cases can be thought of as abbreviations of compound nouns like 'handiwork' or 'fretwork' or 'artwork'... - 'Look at the amazingly detailed work in this handkerchief'

b