Artist Quotes by Julian Schnabel

I see paintings everywhere. I look at stuff and it looks like painting to me.

— Julian Schnabel

I have a completely romantic idea about making paintings, I guess.

— Julian Schnabel

I think not knowing what to think of your paintings is a good place to be.

— Julian Schnabel

If I hung one of my paintings next to someone else's, I knew mine would kind of pop off the wall.

— Julian Schnabel

I don't think my paintings are self-conscious but you feel the consciousness of them. Without them being self-conscious.

— Julian Schnabel

I think basically I'm a painter, but I would use anything to make my point.

— Julian Schnabel

I think, basically, I'm an abstract artist. I just think that that's not even an issue. I think everything's abstract.

— Julian Schnabel

I don't think the meaning in my paintings comes from just using broken dishes.

— Julian Schnabel

I like when people get really close to the paintings, when they can't really get away from them, I like them to…

— Julian Schnabel

The thing about living in New York is that there are other artists; that is the most difficult, I think they are…

— Julian Schnabel

Painting is like breathing to me. It’s what I do all the time. Every day I make art, whether it is painting,…

— Julian Schnabel

There are generations of people who have never seen a big plate painting in person. And they don't know what the hell…

— Julian Schnabel

Some people might think that the paintings are involved with a mythic - not just subject matter - but a certain sort…

— Julian Schnabel

Sometimes I'll dream that I saw a show and then I'll wake up in the morning and realize that I didn't see…

— Julian Schnabel

I'm not mannerist. I don't think I'm interested in mannerism. If I ever use it in a way, or if manner is…

— Julian Schnabel

I wanted to show painting paintings first, then the plate paintings; now I can show that I've sort of freed myself from…

— Julian Schnabel

What's interesting about making art is that you take everything you know about it and you bring it up to that point,…

— Julian Schnabel

It's a great excuse and luxury, having a job and blaming it for your inability to do your own art. When you…

— Julian Schnabel

I think the nice thing about showing work in New York is that other artists come to see it. When you show…

— Julian Schnabel

There were some types of sanctions that happen in the public world that made my work acceptable, where someone looks at the…

— Julian Schnabel

A lot of what I do is about being in the moment and I think that's hard for people to get. I…

— Julian Schnabel

Maybe my work looks a little crazy, a little insane, but I don't really see myself as a crazy artist or a…

— Julian Schnabel

There's been too much attention on marketing. Can't we just talk about the paintings?

— Julian Schnabel

I want the paintings to take me or the viewer out somewhere else.

— Julian Schnabel

You know, painting has given me a lot of freedom, because for some reason, I've been able to paint things, organize things…

— Julian Schnabel

Paintings are not like the Internet. They're not like movies. They're not electronic-friendly. You have to go see them. You have to…

— Julian Schnabel

I think when somebody's painting they don't necessarily... I'm not illustrating what I know. I'm mapping out, like topographically, some terrain I…

— Julian Schnabel

I guess I am ruthless too because that's what makes a great artist. But I also respect people, I don't go around…

— Julian Schnabel

My early paintings weren't that good - I was very influenced by Francis Bacon. But there was a kind of intensity there.…

— Julian Schnabel

I don't think people are terribly interested in young artists who were doing interesting thing, but I don't think people are terribly…

— Julian Schnabel