Gena Rowlands Quotes

The worst thing you can do to anybody trying to be creative is to demand participation in their vision.

I practice the artist's golden rule. I wouldn't want somebody telling me how to finish my painting, I'm not going to tell him how to finish his movie or how to shape his movie.

My job is to just express something that I want to express. And if I'm ahead or behind the curve, that's for others to decide.

I don't want to use my creative energy on somebody else's user interface.

But if I really want to produce my own work and tell stories, then I will.

You want to feel that you can do something creative that you love without being picked apart and mutilated for other people's pleasure.

I'm not an artist who has an agenda that's set by the work.

I formed a resolution to never write a word I did not want to write; to think only of my own tastes and ideals, without a thought of those of editors or publishers.

I allowed artists to play for as long as they felt they could justifiably continue to create.

Writing for myself and writing for another artist are two very different experiences. When I handle both the story and the art, I have full control. I can endlessly tweak every word and every line.

Nothing beats novel writing because it's complete expression of you. You just control everything. Not even a movie director has that level of control.

I think this, I think basically I'm not interested in people following my work or making work like my work.

I think that was the whole idea behind doing the solo record was to be able to do musically whatever I wanted to do.

I somehow sensed when I was a teenager that I wanted to do my own work. I was quite clear that I didn't want to be an interpretative kind of artist. I had an intuition about wanting to create my own form, in one way or another, whatever that would be.

My art and my creativities were totally something that was of my own heart and mind. I could never let anybody dictate to me what I should write and how I would write it.

I try to just make what I want to make or what I would want to see. I try not to think about the audience too much.

The critics are not writers - they're not a part of the creative process; therefore, they should not influence how I go about doing my next bit of work.

The only place where any artist feels liberated is doing independent music. I have had great experience making music for The Dewarists and Coke Studio. No actor, producer or label is telling me what to do with my music. I'm the boss. It is my life, my expression.

I want to be as creative as I want. I don't ever want to have to compromise; I don't ever want anybody ever to tell me what to do, I don't ever want to argue with somebody because of my vision.

There's nothing that compares with the time spent all by myself on a creation that is all my own. I still think of my solo work as my 'home planet' in comics, though I've learned to listen much more to editors and trusted friends for feedback.

I just write what I write, produce the music I produce and try to give myself a chance to stay true to the art form. If you try to rein in an art form, it can be hurtful to what you are making.

I am not really interested in only showcasing my life or work but plan to produce, write and create work that is solely my vision.

I think every artist wants to create something, on their own, without any boundaries.

I want to make decisions as to where I want to go as an artist, and to get to it in my own way

I'm completely in control of creating my photographs, and I'm not always in complete control of creating a character. It's more of a way to express myself than acting is, by far.