Nellie McKay Quotes

If you do things, whether it's acting or music or painting, do it without fear - that's my philosophy. Because nobody can arrest you and put you in jail if you paint badly, so there's nothing to lose.

The message is risk, really risk. Be yourself. Create.

There was an old brochure for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts with a quote from Robert Redford or someone, that said, "You're only as good as you dare to be bad."

I'm absolute attacking my own instinct for politeness, but I think I admire artists who just speak out or who are strong, so it's very hard.

Art school had taught me it was far better to be a flamboyant failure than any kind of benign success.

Each single gesture of art must be daring. One must not be concerned with the side-effects.

I've constantly tried new things, even as a child, and have always been obsessed with pink. Now I'm just a little more ladylike and fearless. You should never feel afraid to become a piece of art. It's exhilarating.

You have to do what you need to do as an artist. You have to have that courage.

An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.

And you must dare to do as many things as you dream of.

Success gave me confidence as an artist. And now I'm able to do what I want without anybody thinking it's dumb.

I'm not an exhibitionist. But, honestly, for my art I'll do anything almost. I'll go there.

And I hate to see artists who are real safe. I love to see artists swing for the fences sometimes.

I feel every day that everything I create - everything I do - I want it to be a risk.

With Gaga - she's not afraid to take chances. You get these dynamic projects because of it. She's completely unafraid.

If you leave home and, at least some of the time, someone doesn't tell you that they don't like your outfit, you're not doing it right. You're not trying. You're not taking enough risks. You know, somebody should tell you they don't really like you're outfit. I enjoy when people say that, actually.

I'm a creative person, and I'm gonna be creative, so whoever's upset because of that, that's too bad.

Daring to dream means daring to live.

An artist should be taking risks. That's the whole idea of being an artist.

Be brave enough to create.

Good or bad, the one thing I can say about my art is, if I can quote Sinatra, I did it my way.

You cannot play for safety and make art.

An artist is someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artist takes it personally.

The most difficult thing in the world is to reveal yourself, to express what you have to. As an artist, I feel that we must try many things - but above all we must dare to fail. You must be willing to risk everything to really express it all.

To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage.