Howard Hodgkin Quotes

When I'm painting the picture, I'm really painting a picture. I may have a flat-footed technique, or something like that, but still, to me, the thrill, or the meat of the thing, is the actual painting. I don't get any thrill out of laying it out.

When you make a painting, even abstract, there is always a sort of necessary filling-in.

You cannot possibly invent painting all by yourself.

Painting is, I think, inevitably an archaic activity and one that depends on spiritual values.

I love putting paint on canvas, getting lost in the process of painting.

To paint is the most terrific thing that there is, but to do it well is very difficult.

I love the way painting is so full of illusionistic possibilities.

The animation of the canvas is one of the hardest problems of painting.

I was a fine arts major in college, and a painter for many years. And I found that, like writing, art is very similar.

Painting is damned difficult - you always think you've got it, but you haven't.

I start a picture and I finish it.

A painting is finished when the subject comes back, when what has caused the painting to be made comes back as an object.

Painting is a coalescing of experience.

One learns about painting by looking at and imitating other painters.

Most of the power of painting comes through the manipulation of space... but I don't understand that.

When I paint, some things come out, and I don't know. Maybe it's because I have such talent as a painter.

A painting that is well composed is half finished.

A great painting is a great painting.

Nature engenders the science of painting.

Painting is something that requires a lot of time - it's not just one good idea out of art school.

Now, I love painting. I love looking. I love the fact that they don't move. They constantly change with the light. They are sort of patient.

Painting, I think it's like jazz.

Painting is seen as picture making, the making of an art object, something that can stand on its own.

Color is a passion; painting is a passion.

If you're going to paint extremely, you need a big piece of canvas.