The following list was found among the papers of the painter Richard Diebenkorn after his death in 1993. Spelling and capitalization are as in the original.
Notes to myself on beginning a painting
1. attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued — except as a stimulus for further moves.
3. Do search. But in order to find other than what is searched for.
4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.
5. Dont “discover” a subject — of any kind.
6. Somehow don’t be bored — but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.
[image_with_animation image_url=”9362″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I went to see Figuring History at the Seattle Art Museum (closes soon!). Figuring History is a selection of work by three generations of contemporary black American artists (Robert Colescott, Kerry James Marshall, and Mickalene Thomas) as they use their spin on white dominated painting traditions to address the white dominated …
Take a class with SAL – anywhere! In previous V. Notes, I’ve posted work by our sumi instructor Angie Dixon, Huang Yongyu, Pan Gongkai, and stuff you didn’t know about sumi. Today I wanted to broaden my view of sumi painting. I wanted to see more works that are being created in the medium today. …
[image_with_animation image_url=”10166″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Max Ernst “Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” – Max Ernst Max Ernst used texture rubbings to overcome his fear of the white canvas, igniting his imagination. He often put paper to the worn …
Diebenkorn’s Notes to Himself
The following list was found among the papers of the painter Richard Diebenkorn after his death in 1993. Spelling and capitalization are as in the original.
Notes to myself on beginning a painting
1. attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued — except as a stimulus for further moves.
3. Do search. But in order to find other than what is searched for.
4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.
5. Dont “discover” a subject — of any kind.
6. Somehow don’t be bored — but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.
8. Keep thinking about Pollyanna.
9. Tolerate chaos.
10. Be careful only in a perverse way.
Source: http://www.powersofobservation.com/2012/02/diebenkorns-notes-to-himself.html
Related Posts
Mickalene Thomas, Monet, & Doorzien
[image_with_animation image_url=”9362″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] I went to see Figuring History at the Seattle Art Museum (closes soon!). Figuring History is a selection of work by three generations of contemporary black American artists (Robert Colescott, Kerry James Marshall, and Mickalene Thomas) as they use their spin on white dominated painting traditions to address the white dominated …
9 Contemporary Sumi Artists
Take a class with SAL – anywhere! In previous V. Notes, I’ve posted work by our sumi instructor Angie Dixon, Huang Yongyu, Pan Gongkai, and stuff you didn’t know about sumi. Today I wanted to broaden my view of sumi painting. I wanted to see more works that are being created in the medium today. …
SAL Challenge: Frottage
[image_with_animation image_url=”10166″ alignment=”center” animation=”None” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”] Max Ernst “Painting is not for me either decorative amusement, or the plastic invention of felt reality; it must be every time: invention, discovery, revelation.” – Max Ernst Max Ernst used texture rubbings to overcome his fear of the white canvas, igniting his imagination. He often put paper to the worn …
Drawing A Day, Day 28