Pearls from artists* # 136
Barbara’s studio
* an ongoing series of quotations – mostly from artists, to artists – that offers wisdom, inspiration, and advice for the sometimes lonely road we are on.
Francis Bacon interview with David Sylvester
DS: What do you think are the essential things that go to make an artist, especially now?
FB: Well, I think there are lots of things. I think that one of the things is that, if you are going to decide to be a painter, you have got to decide that you are not going to be afraid to make a fool of yourself. I think another thing is to be able to find subjects which really absorb you to try and do. I feel without a subject you automatically go back into decoration because you haven’t got the subject which is always eating into you to bring it back – and the greatest art always returns you to the vulnerability of the human situation.
The Art Life: On Creativity and Career by Stuart Horodner
Comments are welcome!
Posted on March 25, 2015, in 2015, An Artist's Life, Art in general, Black Paintings, Creative Process, Gods and Monsters, Inspiration, New York, NY, Painting in General, Pastel Painting, Pearls from Artists, Photography, Quotes, Studio, Working methods and tagged "The Art Life: On Creativity and Career", absorb, afraid, another, art, artist, automatically, back, bring, David Sylvester, decide, decoration, eating, especially, essential, feel, fool, Francis Bacon, greatest, human, interview, painter, returns, situation, Stuart Horodner, Studio, subjects, think, vulnerability, yourself. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
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This is an invaluable quote! Popular media artists and many other people seem so self-conscious these days, simultaneously afraid of making a fool of themselves or committing deeply to what it is to be human. Thank you for posting this and Bacon is one of my favourite painters too!
Thanks for commenting, Eleanore. Agreed about Bacon being a favorite!