Robert Rauschenberg Quotes

The only thing in life that really gives me any peace is just being lost in the process of creating something, whether it's the film or painting and drawing, which has been a big part of my life, for a long time.

The artist need not know very much; best of all let him work instinctively and paint as naturally as he breathes or walks.

Artists today think of everything they do as a work of art. It is important to forget about what you are doing - then a work of art may happen.

I think the line is where you're in the studio, you're creating. That belongs to you as an artist. Nothing should taint that. I shouldn't be thinking about what the fans want, I shouldn't be thinking about what the radio wants, what the label wants, what your manager wants, a song for the chicks, a song for the street.

I think good artists know when they're on a roll, and they recognize when lightning is striking. It's a very fortunate thing to have that inspiration and not to overanalyze it or mess with it; you just follow it if you love what you do.

I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.

Artwork is not like a commercial business; there is no such thing as a schedule for art. You can't hurry art.

Making art is different for everyone.

I never know what I'm going to put on the canvas. The canvas paints itself. I'm just the middleman.

Make good art.

Well, painting is the one thing I do, that is just me. It's me and easels, and the pencils. And as long as I don't drool too much over the canvas, the colors come out pretty good. And it's a chance to express all that I've got inside, that I sometimes keep hidden. And I think that's why I paint big broad, wide open landscapes.

I have a desire to create more film, more beauty, more art, more love, but I don't feel desperate. It's not about creating or building a career.

Trying to force creativity is never good.

The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.

When I start writing songs and it turns into an overly belabored intellectual process, I just throw it out.

Going into a shoot not fully knowing what I want to do - that excitement, that thing that happens, is just so powerful and makes such great pictures.

My songs emerge from my life, or wherever they do, unbidden and unplanned and completely on a schedule of their own.

The artist discards all theories, both his own and those of others. He forgets everything when he is in front of his canvas.

The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through.

Being creative is my idea of heaven. I'm just incredibly fortunate that I can do it in artwork. Watercolor is what I started out with. What I love about watercolor is that a lot of happy accidents occur.

I'll take anything and slap it on a canvas.

I paint according to the moment and the theme. I don't have any prejudice. Life concerns me.

My work is on the one hand laboured, and on the other completely happenstance and intuitive. But that's the swish in the work, I think. It's really important to me that the work isn't just sitting on top of something, that the materials are woven together - that they are recognisable and from the world.

The painting develops before my eyes, unfolding its surprises as it progresses. It is this which gives me the sense of complete liberty, and for this reason I am incapable of forming a plan or making a sketch beforehand.

I never know what it's going to look like. Wouldn't be much point in painting if I already knew the outcome. I have a subject in front of me and I start flooding colour and making marks, I don't know, it's improvisation isn't it?