“It's no easy matter to paint a background. I venture to say that the old painters had more difficulty with their grounds than with their figures. You know the story of Vandyke brought to Rubens with this recommendation: 'He already knows how to paint a background.' 'That is more than I can do!' was the reply.” KnowsI CanMatterStoriesEasyCan DoKnow HowFiguresDifficultyPaintBackgroundsPainterVentureRecommendationsRubens Book:William Morris Hunt on painting and drawing Source: William Morris Hunt on painting and drawing
“This is not pessimism but rather casting a cold eye on things. It is only one man's story, and I think that things will go better, but difficulties exist and nothing is served by hiding them under a poetic veil or under a lyricism of the past. I am against slogans.” ThinkingMenStoriesEyePastColdDifficultyPoeticOne ManPessimismHidingVeilsCastingSlogansCold Eyes Book:Conversations with Chinua Achebe Source: Conversations with Chinua Achebe