Nicolas Winding Refn Quotes

When I work alone, it can be like dabbling with a canvas. Maybe you paint over bits, and it starts to form its own life and lead you off in a direction. It becomes an intuitive, subconscious process.

I think you always have to go as an artist with instinct, I really do.

It's really easy to project this whole ideology of what being an artiste is, and I'm just not down with intellectualizing it. I just think, if you feel like doing something, then do it.

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.

I don't make judgments about my own work, and I don't analyze it; I just let it happen. That applies to everything I've done.

I've always had an explorative drive to my art, as opposed to wanting to achieve some certain goal.

I really like writing poetry and lyrics because it's one thing where I give up control. I don't feel like I need to be in control of it. I just sort of let it happen, and then I know when it's done. I know when it's finished.

I like the idea of creating from your inner youth. You don't have to think too hard about it. Just make what feels good.

It never occurred to me that artists, of all people, have to be reminded that instinct is more important than tradition, but in our industry, people seem to forget that sometimes.

If you're actually allowing your creative part to control your writing rather than a more commercial instinct or motive, then you'll find that all sorts of interesting things will bubble up to the surface.

I've always been somebody who, when I started a picture, never knew what the next picture would be.

I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me - shapes and ideas so near to me - so natural to my way of being and thinking that it hasn't occurred to me to put them down.

I think there's one thing which distinguishes our art - we don't consider. We don't think. We write a little verse because it comes to us.

To some extent I happily don't know what I'm doing. I feel that it's an artist's responsibility to trust that.

I think of a piece, and then people who are competent fabricate it. But lately I've started finger painting, which probably should be a joke but isn't!

I just throw it out and see what happens. If it sounds and feels right, then I continue.

My instinct is to absolutely recoil when talking about writing in a mechanistic way. Nothing could be dumber than writing a film or TV script based on prescriptions, on other peoples' ideas of what character should be.

The painter must give a completely free rein to any feeling or sensations he may have and reject nothing to which he is naturally drawn.

I think the idea of art kills creativity.

As a creative person, you want to start with a blank canvas.

I never have a plan of what I am going to draw.

I don't know what the secret is when I am writing it - it really is a surprise to me.

I work in whatever medium likes me at the moment.

I play as I feel.