Adrian Tomine Quotes

The individual - man as a man, man as a brain, if you like - interests me more than what he makes because I've noticed that most artists only repeat themselves.

We call ourselves creators and we just copy.

Novels are not about expressing yourself, they're about something beautiful, funny, clever and organic. Self-expression? Go and ring a bell in a yard if you want to express yourself.

Being authentic can be a good thing in that often people who are fixated on that are also fixated on having very high standards, so they may maintain something they think has tremendous value. On the other hand, most of the kinds of music that I've been excited about are hybrid in their origins.

Of what use were the arts if they were only the reproduction and the imitation of life?

Nature is commonplace. Imitation is more interesting.

I'd rather have people really be able to step back and get their money's worth and look at me as a true artist than somebody who is just regurgitating other material.

I've never tried to emulate anyone. I've never idolized people, I prefer instead to get off on attitudes.

An artist is somebody who produces things that people don't need to have.

Style is whatever you want to do, if you can do it with confidence.

The world isn't all happy, shiny people, and great art doesn't come from vanilla. Great art comes from people with a point of view and are very passionate.

You should have something to say, an idea you want to get out, and if you don't, just get out of the way, 'cause there's so many great musicians and writers that are in the queue.

It's the ownership of what's off that's the beauty in art. Its not about being exactly perfect.

I am not at all stylish. For me, style is a state of mind and individuality.

I wouldn't disrespect myself or my art with any imitations.

Stay loyal to your creativity because it's a gift.

If you want to know whether you have written anything worth preserving, sing it to yourself without any accompaniment.

Telling people how to be creative is easy - being creative is difficult.

Real artists, it seems to me, are those who don't repeat themselves.

Being an artist isn't a genetic disposition or a specific talent. It's an attitude we can all adopt. It's a hunger to seize new ground, make connections, and work without a map. If you do those things, you're an artist.

I don't know where creativity comes from, but I think everybody has the ability to be creative. I think what's important about creativity starts when you're very young and how we're allowed to experience our imagination. The people who bring us up and teach us are fundamental in either encouraging creativity or discourging creativity. My imagination was always encouraged.

The greatness of an artist or a writer does not depend on what he has in common with other artists and writers, but on what he has peculiar to himself.

Creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach - how you look at things . . . Whatsoever you do, if you do it joyfully, if you do it lovingly, if your act of doing is not purely economical, then it is creative.

Teaching for creativity aims to encourage self-confidence, independence of mind, and the capacity to think for oneself.