The worst thing you can think about when you’re working is yourself.
AGNES MARTINIt’s through discipline and tremendous disappointment and failure that you arrive at what it is you must paint.
More Agnes Martin Quotes
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All that seems like error is not error; and it all has to be done. That which seems like a false step is the next step.
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The Minimalists are idealist. They want to minimise themselves in favour of the ideal. But I just can’t. You see, my paintings are not cool.
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The manipulation of materials in an artwork is a result of this state of mind.
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It would be an endless battle if it were all up to ego because it does not destroy and is not destroyed by itself It is like a wave it makes itself up,It rushes forward getting nowhere really it crashes
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It’s not about facts, it’s about feelings. It’s about remembering feelings and happiness.
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I hope I have made it clear that the work is about perfection as we are aware of it in our minds but that the paintings are very far from being perfect – completely removed in fact – even as we ourselves are.
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I often paint tranquility. If you stop thinking and rest, then a little happiness comes into your mind. At perfect rest you are comfortable.
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The artist works by awareness of his own state of mind.
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Give up doing the things that you do not like to do.
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You must find the things that you do like. The things that are acceptable to your mind.
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The happiness of every living thing is what we want.
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They are immeasurable, completely lacking in substance. They are perfect and sublime. This is the subject matter of art.
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I’m very careful not to have ideas, because they’re inaccurate.
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I would like my work to be recognized as being in the classical tradition (Coptic, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese), as representing the Ideal in the mind. Classical art cannot possibly be eclectic.
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When I first made a grid I happened to be thinking of the innocence of trees and then this grid came into my mind and I thought it represented innocence, and I still do, and so I painted it and then I was satisfied. I thought, this is my vision.
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Happiness is being on the beam with life – to feel the pull of life
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My paintings are certainly nonobjective. They’re just horizontal lines.
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Pollock was terrific. I think he freed himself of all kinds of worry about this world. Ran around and dripped, and then he managed to express ecstasy.
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A definition of art is that it makes concrete our most subtle emotions. I think the highest form of art is music. It’s the most abstract of all art expression.
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Once he sees this fact his feet are on the path. If you want to know the truth you will know it.
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My paintings are not about what is seen. They are about what is known forever in the mind.
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You have to penetrate these and hear what your mind is telling you to do. Such work is original work.
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Withdraws and makes itself up again pulls itself together with pride towers with pride rushes forward into imaginary conquest crashes in frustration withdraws with remorse and repentance pulls itself together with new resolution
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The enormous pitfall is devotion to oneself instead of to life. All works that are self-devoted are absolutely ineffective.
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This is the attractiveness of artwork. It is adventurous, strenuous and joyful.
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When you look in your mind you find it covered with a lot of rubbishy thoughts.
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