An artist has to train his responses more than other people do. He has to be as disciplined as a mathematician. Discipline is not a restriction but an aid to freedom. It prepares an artist to choose his own limitations.
Wayne ThiebaudRead
Every paint-stroke takes you farther and farther away from your initial concept. And you have to be thankful for that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Creativity evolves as you create, and it's valuable to embrace that change.
This quote by Wayne Thiebaud emphasizes the idea that the process of creation is often unpredictable and diverges from the original intention. It suggests that each stroke, representing a decision or action in the creative process, leads to an unexpected outcome that can be appreciated and embraced, ultimately enriching the final result.
Themes
CreativityChangeArtProcessEmbrace
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during an art class to inspire students to embrace their mistakes.
More from Wayne Thiebaud
All quotes →My subject matter was a genuine sort of experience that came out of my life, particularly the American world in which I was privileged to be . . . . I would really think of the bakery counters, of the way the counter was lit, where the pies were placed, but I wanted just a piece of the experience. From when I worked in restaurants . . . [it was] always poetic to me.
Wayne ThiebaudRead
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