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All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship…

“All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this expression abstract seems to me often to confuse the issue. Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract . . . a realistic…” quote by Richard Diebenkorn
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“All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this expression abstract seems to me often to confuse the issue. Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract . . . a realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The result is what counts.”

Richard Diebenkorn

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Art originates from mood and relationships; abstraction is simply a method, not a separate style—what matters is the final visual impact.

In simple terms: Art’s result matters more than its label.

Key Takeaway

Focus on the visual outcome over categorization.

Themes

art creativity perception

Mood

analytical inspirational

Type

artistic educational

When to use this quote

  • gallery curation
  • art education
  • creative workshops

Key Concepts

abstraction visual impression artist intent

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does mood influence your creative process?
  • When does label matter in interpreting art?
A Different Perspective

Risk of ignoring conceptual depth.

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