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Quote by Philip Guston

“The things I felt... about certain painters of the past that... inspired me, like Cezanne and Manet... that complete losing of oneself in the work to such an extent that the work itself... felt as if a living organism was posited there on the canvas, on this surface... That's truly... the act of creation.”

Quote by Philip Guston

Author

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. more

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“Usually I draw in relation to my painting, what I am working on at the time. On a lucky day a surprising balance of forms and spaces will appear... making itself, the image taking hold. This in turn moves me toward painting - anxious to get to the same place, with the actuality of paint and light.”

Light Moving Form Turns Space Painting Balance Lucky Draws Relation Paint Anxious Surprising Actuality Methodology Lucky Day

Book:The drawings of Philip Guston

Source: The drawings of Philip Guston

“There comes a point when the paint doesn't feel like paint. I don't know why. Some mysterious thing happens. I think you have all experienced it... What counts is that the paint should really disappear, otherwise it's craft.”

Thinking Knows Feels Should Happens Paint Disappear Things Happen Mysterious Crafts Mysterious Things

Author:Philip Guston

“I have a studio in the country - in the woods - but my paintings look more real to me than what is outdoors. You walk outside; the rocks are inert; even the clouds are inert. It makes me feel a little better. But I do have a faith that it is possible to make a living thing, not a diagram of what I have been thinking: to posit with paint something living, something that changes each day.”

Thinking Feels Looks Littles Has Beens Real Country Nature Walks Rocks Painting Paint Clouds Studios Woods Each Day Living Things Diagrams

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

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

“All these troubles revolve around the irritable mutual dependence of life and art - with their need and contempt for one another. Of necessity, to create is a temporary state and cannot be possessed.”

Needs Art States Trouble Mutual Temporary Contempt Possessed Dependence

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

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

“Do I really believe that? I make a mark, a few strokes, I argue with myself, not do I like or not, but is it true or not? Is that what I mean, is that what I want?”

Want Believe Mean Mark Arguing Strokes

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

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

“That's what I mean by something grips in a canvas. The moment that happens you are then sucked into the whole thing. Like some kind of rhythm.”

Kind Mean Whole Moments Happens Rhythm Canvas

Author:Philip Guston

“The canvas is a court where the artist is prosecutor, defendant, jury and judge. Art without a trial disappears at a glance.”

Art Artist Judging Court Disappear Trials Canvas Glances Jury Prosecutor

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

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

“I feel more as if I'm shaping something with my hands. I feel as if I've always wanted to get to that state. Like a blind man in a dark room had some clay, what would he make? I end up with 2 or 3 forms on a canvas, but it gets very physical for me.”

Ifs Men Feels Ends States Hands Wanted Form Dark Rooms Blind Canvas Clay Blind Man Dark Room

Author:Philip Guston

“To will a new form is unacceptable, because will builds distortion. Desire, too, is incomplete and arbitrary. These strategies, however intimate they might become, must especially be removed to clear the way for something else.”

Way Might Form Desire Clear Strategy Intimate Arbitrary Incomplete Distortion

Author:Philip Guston

“Studio Ghosts: When you're in the studio painting, there are a lot of people in there with you - your teachers, friends, painters from history, critics... and one by one if you're really painting, they walk out. And if you're really painting YOU walk out.”

People Ifs Inspirational Art Walks Teacher Painting Critics Studios Ghost Painter

Author:Philip Guston