Art Quotes | Beyond Motive 10/60

top of page

Art Quotes

"Art does imitate life, it has to come from somewhere. To put boundaries and limitations on it doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

"Art does imitate life, it has to come from somewhere. To put boundaries and limitations on it doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Christian Slater, American Actor

Art, Life, Limitations, Sense

5

"It would have to be connected with performance art somehow, either in the front of the house or the back. I was myopic about this from fourth grade on."

"It would have to be connected with performance art somehow, either in the front of the house or the back. I was myopic about this from fourth grade on."

James Marsters, American Actor

Art, Performance

5

"Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art."

"Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art."

Andy Warhol, American Artist

Art, Business, Money

5

"Art may imitate wild nature; less often does it dare to place itself in the midst of it, and when it does, it may come out second best."

"Art may imitate wild nature; less often does it dare to place itself in the midst of it, and when it does, it may come out second best."

John Hart, American Cartoonist

Art, Nature, May

5

"Any art worthy of its name should address 'life', 'man', 'nature', 'death' and 'tragedy'."

"Any art worthy of its name should address 'life', 'man', 'nature', 'death' and 'tragedy'."

Barnett Newman, American Artist

5

"And since geometry is the right foundation of all painting, I have decided to teach its rudiments and principles to all youngsters eager for art."

"And since geometry is the right foundation of all painting, I have decided to teach its rudiments and principles to all youngsters eager for art."

Albrecht Dürer, German Artist

Art, Geometry, Painting, Principles

5

"Raising children is a creative endeavor, an art rather than a science."

"Raising children is a creative endeavor, an art rather than a science."

Bruno Bettelheim, Italian Writer

Art, Science, Children

5

"Your talent is your art. It is not to be taken for granted."

"Your talent is your art. It is not to be taken for granted."

Paula Abdul, American Musician

5

"Well, in any art there are a lot of technical things that you can get to like."

"Well, in any art there are a lot of technical things that you can get to like."

Donald Judd, American Artist

5

"The ancient codes were doubtless originally suggested by the discovery and diffusion of the art of writing."

"The ancient codes were doubtless originally suggested by the discovery and diffusion of the art of writing."

Henry James Sumner Maine, English Historian

Art, Discovery, Writing

5

"Our best teachers do more than impart facts and figures - they inspire and encourage students and instill a true desire to learn. That's a fine art in itself."

"Our best teachers do more than impart facts and figures - they inspire and encourage students and instill a true desire to learn. That's a fine art in itself."

Sonny Perdue, American Politician

Art, Desire, Facts, Students

5

"I believe there is little to gain by exchanging opinions with other artists concerning either the ideology of art or technical methods."

"I believe there is little to gain by exchanging opinions with other artists concerning either the ideology of art or technical methods."

Yves Tanguy, French Artist

Art, Artists, Gain, Ideology

5

"I like good stories above all else... and kickin' art really goes the final stretch to ensure a comic is good."

"I like good stories above all else... and kickin' art really goes the final stretch to ensure a comic is good."

Robert Kirkman, American Writer

5

"Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art."

"Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art and working is art and good business is the best art."

Andy Warhol, American Artist

Art, Business, Money, Being

5

"The conscience of an artist worthy of the name is like an incurable disease which causes him endless torment but occasionally fills him with silent joy."

"The conscience of an artist worthy of the name is like an incurable disease which causes him endless torment but occasionally fills him with silent joy."

Georges Rouault, French Artist

Art, Causes, Conscience, Disease

5

"It is the addition of strangeness to beauty that constitutes the romantic character in art."

"It is the addition of strangeness to beauty that constitutes the romantic character in art."

Walter Hagen, American Athlete

Art, Beauty, Character, Romantic

5

"An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all."

"An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all."

Paul Cezanne, French Artist

5

"Even a true artist does not always produce art."

"Even a true artist does not always produce art."

Carroll O'Connor, American Actor

5

"Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society."

"Like art and politics, gangsterism is a very important avenue of assimilation into society."

E. L. Doctorow, American Author

Art, Society, Politics

5

"Art distills sensation and embodies it with enhanced meaning in a memorable form - or else it is not art."

"Art distills sensation and embodies it with enhanced meaning in a memorable form - or else it is not art."

Jacques Barzun, American Educator

5

"Acting is an art form and you want to take roles that are challenged and it's more of a challenge I think to play dark characters. Not that I want to always play those, but it is a challenge and challenges are rewarding and fun."

"Acting is an art form and you want to take roles that are challenged and it's more of a challenge I think to play dark characters. Not that I want to always play those, but it is a challenge and challenges are rewarding and fun."

James Franco, American Actor

Art, Acting, Challenge, Fun

5

"In art, the obvious is a sin."

"In art, the obvious is a sin."

Edward Dmytryk, American Director

Art, Obvious, Sin

5

"We're here to bring beauty to the world and make a difference in this planet. That's what art forms are about."

"We're here to bring beauty to the world and make a difference in this planet. That's what art forms are about."

Charlie Haden, American Musician

Art, Beauty, Difference, World

5

"It is a peculiar art form, but I think it's a necessary art form - and I do believe it's a noble art form."

"It is a peculiar art form, but I think it's a necessary art form - and I do believe it's a noble art form."

Paul Conrad, American Cartoonist

5

"People who don't like me talk about it as though I'm trash because I have tattoos. I find that insane because it's 2008, not the 1950s. Tattoos aren't limited to sailors. It's a form of art I find beautiful. I love it."

"People who don't like me talk about it as though I'm trash because I have tattoos. I find that insane because it's 2008, not the 1950s. Tattoos aren't limited to sailors. It's a form of art I find beautiful. I love it."

Megan Fox, American Actress

Art, Love, People, Talk

5

"Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no longer; it is joy; it is art."

"Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no longer; it is joy; it is art."

Bliss Carman, Canadian Poet

5

"To do art, one thing should always remember - subjects of people in misery have deep meanings."

"To do art, one thing should always remember - subjects of people in misery have deep meanings."

Zhang Yimou, Chinese Director

Art, People, Deep, Misery

5

"The Chicago Symphony is considered the greatest orchestra in the world."

"The Chicago Symphony is considered the greatest orchestra in the world."

Jane Byrne, American Politician

Art, Chicago, World

5

"I think it's pretentious to create art just for the sake of stroking the artists ego."

"I think it's pretentious to create art just for the sake of stroking the artists ego."

Lou Reed, American Musician

Art, Artists, Ego

5

"Any sort of pretension induces mediocrity in art and life alike."

"Any sort of pretension induces mediocrity in art and life alike."

Margot Fonteyn, English Dancer

Art, Life, Mediocrity, Pretension

5

"This communication alone, by the comparison of the antagonisms, rivalries, movements which give birth to decisive moments, permits the evolution of the soul, whereby a man realizes himself on earth. It is impossible to be concerned with anything else in art."

"This communication alone, by the comparison of the antagonisms, rivalries, movements which give birth to decisive moments, permits the evolution of the soul, whereby a man realizes himself on earth. It is impossible to be concerned with anything else in art."

Robert Delaunay, French Artist

Art, Soul, Communication, Earth

5

"Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste."

"Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste."

Nikki Giovanni, American Poet

5

"We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined - the impression was overwhelming."

"We were astonished by the beauty and refinement of the art displayed by the objects surpassing all we could have imagined - the impression was overwhelming."

Howard Carter, English Scientist

Art, Beauty, Impression

5

"When the theater gates open, a mob pours inside, and it is the poet's task to turn it into an audience."

"When the theater gates open, a mob pours inside, and it is the poet's task to turn it into an audience."

Franz Grillparzer, Austrian Poet

Art, Mob, Open, Theater

5

"Criticism really used to hurt me. Most of these critics are usually frustrated artists, and they criticise other people's art because they can't do it themselves. It's a really disgusting job. They must feel horrible inside."

"Criticism really used to hurt me. Most of these critics are usually frustrated artists, and they criticise other people's art because they can't do it themselves. It's a really disgusting job. They must feel horrible inside."

Rosanna Arquette, American Actress

Art, People, Artists, Criticism

5

"Art may imitate life, but life imitates TV."

"Art may imitate life, but life imitates TV."

Ani DiFranco, American Musician

5

"As Mayor, I will fully support my Arts Commission and its professional selection committees so that they can commission a full range of public art that is daring and, when appropriate, daringly traditional."

"As Mayor, I will fully support my Arts Commission and its professional selection committees so that they can commission a full range of public art that is daring and, when appropriate, daringly traditional."

Gavin Newsom, American Politician

Art, Public, Support, Will

5

"The art of acting is to be other than what you are."

"The art of acting is to be other than what you are."

Whoopi Goldberg, American Actress

5

"When I am finishing a picture, I hold some God-made object up to it - a rock, a flower, the branch of a tree or my hand - as a final test. If the painting stands up beside a thing man cannot make, the painting is authentic. If there's a clash between the two, it's bad art."

"When I am finishing a picture, I hold some God-made object up to it - a rock, a flower, the branch of a tree or my hand - as a final test. If the painting stands up beside a thing man cannot make, the painting is authentic. If there's a clash between the two, it's bad art."

Marc Chagall, French Artist

Art, God, Man, Painting

5

"The dichotomy between art and industry is totally dysfunctional in terms of film."

"The dichotomy between art and industry is totally dysfunctional in terms of film."

Ann Macbeth, English Author

5

"When I was in art college, I would be painting, and I would create something on a canvas that was actually quite attractive. But if I got frightened and tried to protect that, that canvas would die."

"When I was in art college, I would be painting, and I would create something on a canvas that was actually quite attractive. But if I got frightened and tried to protect that, that canvas would die."

Michael Ironside, Canadian Actor

Art, College, Painting

5

"Treasures are no longer to be got by instrumental art."

"Treasures are no longer to be got by instrumental art."

Clara Schumann, German Musician

5

"I'm very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It's the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange."

"I'm very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It's the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange."

Nick Cave, Australian Musician

Art, Work, Compliment, Reward

5

"The most despairing songs are the most beautiful, and I know some immortal ones that are pure tears."

"The most despairing songs are the most beautiful, and I know some immortal ones that are pure tears."

Alfred de Musset, French Writer

Art, Songs, Tears

5

"People in misery is what most important in art."

"People in misery is what most important in art."

Zhang Yimou, Chinese Director

Art, People, Misery

5

"The language of the moment or, as it were, the language of the order in which we live, is the image. I felt that if I wanted to commune with the public, I should best do so through the language of image. It's a conscious embrace of a contradiction."

"The language of the moment or, as it were, the language of the order in which we live, is the image. I felt that if I wanted to commune with the public, I should best do so through the language of image. It's a conscious embrace of a contradiction."

Godfrey Reggio, American Director

Art, Contradiction, Language, Order, Public

5

"I think good art happens on that edge between comfortable and in a lot of pain, you know what I mean?"

"I think good art happens on that edge between comfortable and in a lot of pain, you know what I mean?"

Liz Phair, American Musician

5

"Art cannot result from sophisticated, frivolous, or superficial effects."

"Art cannot result from sophisticated, frivolous, or superficial effects."

Hans Hofmann, German Artist

5

"The only legitimate artists in England are the architects."

"The only legitimate artists in England are the architects."

Benjamin Haydon, British Artist

Art, Artists, England

5

"Country and western is ignored by the intellectuals. They don't look at it as an art form. They think it's just somebody sitting on his couch singing about his life."

"Country and western is ignored by the intellectuals. They don't look at it as an art form. They think it's just somebody sitting on his couch singing about his life."

Ricky Skaggs, American Musician

Art, Life, Country, Intellectuals

5

bottom of page