The enormous pitfall is devotion to oneself instead of to life. All works that are self-devoted are absolutely ineffective.
AGNES MARTINThe enormous pitfall is devotion to oneself instead of to life. All works that are self-devoted are absolutely ineffective.
AGNES MARTINThe worst thing you can think about when you’re working is yourself.
AGNES MARTINInspiration is there all the time. For everyone whose mind is not clouded over with thoughts whether they realize it or not.
AGNES MARTINThey are immeasurable, completely lacking in substance. They are perfect and sublime. This is the subject matter of art.
AGNES MARTINI paint with my back to the world
AGNES MARTINI think everyone sees beauty. Art is a way to respond
AGNES MARTINThe 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.
AGNES MARTINThat which takes us by surprise-moments of happiness-that is inspiration.
AGNES MARTINArt is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.
AGNES MARTINIt 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
AGNES MARTINThe adventurous state of mind is a high house… The joy of adventure is unaccountable.
AGNES MARTINNature is like parting a curtain, you go into it …. as you would cross an empty beach to look at the ocean.
AGNES MARTINYou must find the things that you do like. The things that are acceptable to your mind.
AGNES MARTINDoing what you were born to do … That’s the way to be happy.
AGNES MARTINI 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.
AGNES MARTINI 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.
AGNES MARTIN