Artist Quotes · Page 249

I do see a big difference in the American work ethic compared to the British work ethic in a lot of artists.

— Simon Cowell

The artist has a special task and duty... reminding people of their humanity and the promise of their creativity.

— Lewis Mumford

I think we need to radically reimagine the future - citizens, artist, writers, politicians, everyone.

— Mohsin Hamid

A true artist does not depend on radio for success. A true fan does not let radio determine what they support

— Talib Kweli

Art should be something like a good armchair in which to rest from physical fatigue.

— Henri Matisse

The sole art that suits me is that which, rising from unrest, tends toward serenity.

— Andre Gide

After giving up being a session/touring drummer I decided to pursue this crazy dream I had of being a solo artist.

— G Flip

My function at Verve was that of a genuine producer in artists and repertoire.

— Norman Granz

The least-challenging way to make art for me would be to reinforce decorative formalism or find a way to extend entertainment values.…

— Josephine Meckseper

Painting is the only universal language. All nature is creation's picture book. Painting alone can describe every thing which can be seen,…

— William Morris Hunt

“So long as we exalt artists as beautiful liars or as the world’s most profound truth-tellers, we remain locked in a moralistic…

— Maggie Nelson

I started to draw desert islands. They were just rough, shapes in the middle of the page. Then I began drawing shapes…

— Billy Connolly

Life and art had a nice parallel, in the sense of coming together as strangers who are separate in prison who need…

— Keanu Reeves

Then very slowly I go to slightly lighter colors until little by little, the forms begin to take shape and I start…

— Anonymous

There is always a struggle, a striving for something bigger than yourself in all forms of art. And even if you don't…

— Rex Harrison

If you can tune into an emotion or experience that is universal, and draw it, sing it or write it so that…

— Anonymous

I've always wanted to do pieces that have an integral sense of realism and aren't just there for titillation.

— Tom Weston-Jones

Nothing frustrates me about the art world. It is a lovely place. There are many daft things that amuse me about it…

— Grayson Perry

I tour whether I have album out or not. I tour more than any other hip-hop artist.

— Talib Kweli

You know, it's such an insult to actual martial artists that I say that I do martial arts.

— Cam Gigandet

I like to paint something that leads me on and on into the unknown, something that I want to see away on…

— Grandma Moses

I never had the... common anxiety as to whether abstract painting had a given 'meaning.

— Robert Motherwell

The end of lower art is to please, the end of average art is to raise the top, the end of superior…

— Fernando Pessoa

People aren't interested in blueprints; they want to sense the painter's involvement and pleasure in the subject. . . . Paint a sense of place.

— Paul Strisik

Music is art, and once you become an artist, you need to learn how to accept criticism.

— Yanni

I think that variety is the key to our success. It is what makes us [artists] different, and long may that continue.

— Piers Morgan

I'm connecting and that's really what any artist wants at the end of the day which is to connect with their fans…

— Adrian Marcel

... it is certain that the real function of art is to increase our self-consciousness

— J. W. N. Sullivan

As an artist, you have to maintain focus and eliminate the distraction of second-guessing yourself based on the opinions of others.

— Dwight Yoakam

I always want to be growing in my craft. Any artist should - whether you paint, whether you do music or film…

— LeCrae

Mix CDs are interesting. I'm known more for my artist albums and less for my mix CDs.

— Kaskade

It has been an honor to paint on stage and have my art grace the albums and stage sets of renowned musicians.

— Alex Grey

I've taught, and the first thing I did when I taught art, was not to teach art.

— Louise Berliawsky Nevelson

The invitation for artists to compete to see who can be the most charitable is a wonderful thing.

— Bruce Cockburn

Record contracts are just like - I'm gonna say the word - slavery. I would tell any young artist... don't sign.

— Prince

Fear just crushes creativity, and if I let fear into the studio and into the songwriting, I was going to let it…

— Mark Foster

In ART as in Life the Best Way to REMEDY mistakes is to take advantage of them.

— Walter Darby Bannard

I cannot belong to a nonprofit organization because when you receive grants, you have to make such great compromises with your artistic…

— Mikhail Baryshnikov

Nothing seems more like a whorehouse to me than a museum. In it you find the same equivocal aspect, the same frozen…

— Michel Leiris

If I didn't find art valuable, I would stop doing my work and only work for justice.

— Zoe Kazan