Michael Cunningham Quotes

This creating? It's my passion.

I don't care what I do - act, stand-up, write, direct - it doesn't matter as long as I'm being creative and it's good work.

That terrible mood of depression of whether it's any good or not is what is known as The Artist's Reward.

One does not set out with the idea that I've just had a great idea and now I'm going to go and carry it out. Almost all art that's made like that doesn't go anywhere.

I think it's natural for a creative to be sensitive. If I'm in the studio and I write something, I think it's the greatest thing in the world; it's like my baby. I just made something out of thin air that exists now in a tangible form. It's the biggest thrill in my life.

I've always felt that there's a point where a piece seems to be alive, that is, living. And that's the point where I know the composition is finished.

Whatever it is that I thirst for in my current project tends to turn up in my following project.

I'd rather get back to making art than talk about it.

Over the years I always did some water colors, and I did a series of pictures of drawings. I always did it during a period of time that was slow in the photo business, but in essence it was always frustrating because I'd get started, and then it would be time to get back to work and I wouldn't get anywhere with the painting.

I guess I'll just slip into the studio after the next time with the Muses, and then just keel over and die.

Very rarely is there any confusion as to when a painting or a song is finished. You just know when it's done.

Being at the genesis of the creative process is definitely something I want to keep doing. It's just such a great buzz.

The great composer does not set to work because he is inspired, but becomes inspired because he is working.

Work can take on a new dimension if you know something about the artist.

I think the act of condensing months or years of work down to a couple hours of entertainment is pretty wild and extremely rewarding.

I'm always a bit disappointed when I've finished working on a book.

When I have a creative insight, there is a high. I think back in the day, I made music as much as I did because it made me feel so good. I think you could argue that there is a creative addiction - but, you know, the healthy kind.

As an artist myself, I know what it's like to put your heart and soul into something. You can feel the presence of another person.

When you've finished a piece of work you've had a kind of love affair with it.

People say if you're doing an art project, that's different from a book, but I honestly don't see it. I try and try, and I just don't.

Effort and result are never simultaneous. In art, only the result counts.

I want to try it to see what it's like and see what my stuff looks like when I take it from inception to completion.

One of the pleasant things those of us who write or paint do is to have the daily miracle. It does come.

Books and movies are never finished, only surrendered.

If you're a filmmaker, and every time you finish a film, you just naturally go, 'Oh, I could have done so much better,' that's not much fun, is it, really? You might as well go pick another profession if that really is how you derive satisfaction from it.