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A painter's tastes must grow out of what so obsesses him in life that he never has to ask himself what it is suitable for him to do in art.
Lucian Freud
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes that an artist's passion and obsession in life should directly inform their artistic choices, eliminating the need for self-doubt in their work.

Lucian Freud suggests that a true artist is so deeply connected to their interests and experiences in life that these elements naturally guide their artistic expression. Instead of questioning the appropriateness of their art, their fervent obsessions become the driving force behind their creative endeavors, leading to authenticity and personal relevance in their work.

Themes

ArtistCreativityPassionSelf-ExpressionAuthenticity

In practice

Example use cases

During an art class, the teacher quoted Freud to inspire students to draw from their personal experiences.

More from Lucian Freud

Since the model he so faithfully copies is not going to be hung up next to the picture... it is of no interest whether it is an accurate copy of the model.
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When I look at a body it gives me choice of what to put in a painting, what will suit me and what won't. There is a distinction between fact and truth. Truth has an element of revelation about it. If something is true, it does more than strike one as merely being so.
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It is the only point of getting up every morning: to paint, to make something good, to make something even better than before, not to give up, to compete, to be ambitious.
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The character of the artist doesn't enter into the nature of the art
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I paint people, not because of what they are like, not exactly in spite of what they are like, but how they happen to be.
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I could never put anything into a picture that wasn't actually there in front of me. That would be a pointless lie, a mere bit of artfulness.
Lucian FreudRead

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