Very quickly a painting is turned into a facsimile of itself when one becomes so familiar with with it that one recognizes it without looking at it.
Robert RauschenbergRead
I usually work in a direction until I know how to do it, then I stop. At the time that I am bored or understand - I use those words interchangeably - another appetite has formed. A lot of people try to think up ideas. I'm not one. I'd rather accept the irresistible possibilities of what I can't ignore.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of pursuing passion and creativity until it naturally evolves into something new.
Robert Rauschenberg highlights his creative process, indicating that he immerses himself in his work until he reaches a point of either boredom or understanding, at which point he allows his curiosity to lead him to new ideas. Instead of forcing creativity or trying to think up concepts, he prefers to embrace the opportunities that present themselves when he is truly engaged and inspired by his work.
Themes
CreativityArtInspirationProcessCuriosity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about artistic inspiration during a gallery talk.
More from Robert Rauschenberg
All quotes →I never allowed myself the luxury of those brilliant, beautiful colors until I went to India and saw people walking around in them or dragging them in the mud. I realised they were not so artificial.
Robert RauschenbergRead
I'm not so facile that I can accomplish or find out what I want to know or explore enough of the possibilities and a way of making a painting, say, in just one painting or two paintings.
Robert RauschenbergRead
My art is about paying attention - about the extremely dangerous possibility that you might be art.
Robert RauschenbergRead
The artist's job is to be a witness to his time in history.
Robert RauschenbergRead
There was a whole language that I could never make function for myself in relationship to painting, and that was attitudes like tortured, struggle, pain.
Robert RauschenbergRead
Similar quotes
I like making images that from a distance seem kind of seductive, colorful, luscious and engaging, and then you realize what you're looking at is something totally opposite. It seems boring to me to pursue the typical idea of beauty, because that is the easiest and the most obvious way to see the world. It's more challenging to look at the other side.
Cindy ShermanRead
Profound music leads us beyond language...to the dark roots of our scream and the celestial heights of our silence.
Cornel WestRead
Nobody wants to read about the honest lawyer down the street who does real estate loans and wills. If you want to sell books, you have to write about the interesting lawyers - the guys who steal all the money and take off. That's the fun stuff.
John GrishamRead
A critic should be taught to criticise a work of art without making any reference to the personality of the author.
Oscar WildeRead
Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression.
Georgia O'KeeffeRead
The next step in sculpture is motion.
Alexander CalderRead