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Philip Guston Quotes

Painter

Philip Guston was an influential American painter known for his unique style and contributions to modern art. His works combined elements of Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism, showcasing profound emotions and complex themes.

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All Painting Paint Canvas Art Artist Feels Form Ifs Thinking Seems Certain Desire Hands Happens Knows Moving Painter States Studios Disappear

Famous Philip Guston Quotes

“It is the bareness of drawing that I like. The act of drawing is what locates, suggests, discovers. At times it seems enough to draw, without the distractions of color and mass. Yet it is an old ambition to make drawing and painting one.”

Enough Seems Color Painting Ambition Mass Draws Drawing Distraction Drawing And Painting

Book:The drawings of Philip Guston

Source: The drawings of Philip Guston

“The canvas you are working on modifies the previous ones in an unending, baffling chain which never seems to finish. What sympathy is demanded of the viewer? He is asked to 'see' the future links.”

Seems Chains Links Canvas Viewers Finishing Unending

Book:Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

Source: Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

“Painting seems like impossibility, with only a sign now and then of its own light.”

Light Seems Painting Now And Then Impossibility

Book:Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

Source: Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and Conversations

“Painting seems like some kind of peculiar miracle that I need to have again and again.”

Needs Kind Seems Painting Miracle Peculiar Again And Again

Book:Philip Guston, 1975-1980: Private and Public Battles

Source: Philip Guston, 1975-1980: Private and Public Battles

“You know, comments about style always seem strange to me - 'why do you work in this style, or in that style' - as if you had a choice in the matter... What you're doing is trying to stay alive and continue and not die.”

Ifs Knows Trying Matter Seems Dies Choices Alive Style Strange Comment Staying Alive

Author:Philip Guston

About the Author

Born: June 27, 1913
Died: June 7, 1980
Known for: Painter
Quotes: 48

Books & Sources

Philip Guston: Collected Writings, Lectures, and ConversationsRelated source material

Philip Guston, 1975-1980: Private and Public BattlesRelated source material

The drawings of Philip GustonRelated source material

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