Wisdom from the world's greatest painters — famous artist quotes on colour, light, creativity and the daily practice of painting. A little inspiration for your next session at the easel.
500 quotes
“Reason, or the ratio of all we have already known, is not the same that it shall be when we know more.”
“The true method of knowledge is experiment.”
“There can be no Good Will. Will is always Evil; it is persecution to others or selfishness.”
“If a thing loves, it is infinite.”
“Does the Eagle know what is in the pit? Or wilt thou go ask the Mole? Can Wisdom be put in a silver rod? Or Love in a golden bowl?”
“How sweet I roamed from field to field, And tasted all the summer's pride, Till I the prince of love beheld, Who in the sunny beams did glide!”
“He loves to sit and hear me sing, Then, laughing, sports and plays with me; Then stretches out my golden wing, And mocks my loss of liberty.”
“My silks and fine array, My smiles and languished air, By love are driv'n away; And mournful lean Despair Brings me yew to deck my grave: Such end true lovers have.”
“Like a fiend in a cloud, With howling woe, After night I do crowd, And with night will go; I turn my back to the east, From whence comforts have increased; For light doth seize my brain With frantic pain.”
“How have you left the ancient love That bards of old enjoyed in you! The languid strings do scarcely move! The sound is forced, the notes are few!”
“True superstition is ignorant honesty & this is beloved of god and man.”
“Forgiveness of enemies can only come upon their repentance.”
“Active Evil is better than Passive Good.”
“They suppose that Woman's Love is Sin; in consequence all the Loves & Graces with them are Sin.”
“Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me: "Pipe a song about a Lamb." So I piped with merry cheer; "Piper, pipe that song again." So I piped; he wept to hear.”
“And I made a rural pen, And I stained the water clear, And I wrote my happy songs Every child may joy to hear.”
“The sun will not rise, or set, without my notice, and thanks.”
“I prefer every time a picture composed and painted out of doors.”
“One must be of one's time and paint what one sees.”
“There is only one true thing: instantly paint what you see. When you've got it, you've got it. When you haven't, you begin again.”
Feeling inspired? Get Started! with our guided group workshop and paint alongside Richard.