“The spiritual in my art is giving up control. My paintings are based on what I can do, and what I can do is not controlled. So I give up control, and that's the spiritual aspect of the work - taking what comes and relinquishing control. Although they look very controlled, they're really not, because it's all poured paint.” GivingLooksArtI CanSpiritualCan DoPaintingGiving UpArt IsAspectPaintControlledRelinquishingRelinquishing ControlGiving Up Control Author:Pat Steir
“I have a friend who says a beautiful painting can cure headaches, but I want it to cure a little bit more! I want it to cure the society of voting for Donald Trump.” WantLittlesBeautifulBitsPaintingTrumpLittle BitCuresVotingHeadacheBeautiful Paintings Author:Pat Steir
“I'm purposeless. I'm making art because I want you to look at that painting and I want it to affect you in some way, to change what you see, to change how you see it. To change how you see something, whatever.” WayWantLooksArtPaintingArt IsI Want You Author:Pat Steir
“I want art to affect the viewer and for the viewer to take it away to enhance, embrace, and elevate life. That's the spiritual aspect. Painting is a spiritual practice, but sometimes it is hard to give up control!” WantGivingArtSometimesHardSpiritualPracticePaintingGiving UpAspectEmbraceViewersSpiritual Practice Author:Pat Steir
“Painting is an object, but it's also a voice. I don't see them as objects; I see them as voices.” VoiceObjectsPainting Author:Pat Steir
“We live in a time when people are afraid of beauty, because beauty passes; you can't hang on to it. And even if you see something or someone beautiful, the next time you hear it, it sounds different. So you can't cling to beauty; beauty passes and when that passes, you realize you pass too, and you will die. And that's why people cry at a beautiful view, a beautiful lecture, a beautiful painting, a new baby.” PeopleIfsDifferentBeautifulDiesNextSoundRealizingViewsCryPaintingBabyNext TimeLecturesNew BabyBeautiful Paintings Author:Pat Steir
“When you see the holy halo around the holy heads on holy paintings - the halo is a bright light so you can't see the face. The face comes in darkness because it would be too beautiful to see. If there were such a thing as a holy person, a god, with a halo around his head, you wouldn't be able to see his face because the beauty would be terrifying.” IfsPersonsLightWould BeAbleBeautifulFacesDarknessPaintingHolyHalosBright Lights Author:Pat Steir