---
title: "3 Canvas Quotes By Richard Diebenkorn"
description: "3 Canvas quotes by Richard Diebenkorn. Plus more from Richard Diebenkorn and more Canvas sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/richard-diebenkorn-18615_arbitrary_i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea_271534.png"
---

> [I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea-of-saying-something-what-i/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/richard-diebenkorn-18615_arbitrary_i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea_271534.png)

> [In abstract painting, I worried about the limited range of possibilities that, as time went on, became increasingly important to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/in-abstract-painting-i-worried-about-the-limited-range-of/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/richard-diebenkorn-18615_about_in-abstract-painting-i-worried-about-the_1860757.png)

> [Maybe the given person, cup, or landscape is lost before one gets to painting. A figure exerts a continuing and unspecified influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/maybe-the-given-person-cup-or-landscape-is-lost-before-one-gets-to/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/richard-diebenkorn-18615_artist_maybe-the-given-person-cup-or-landscape_3142398.jpg)

## Other authors on Canvas

- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b004/author-anna-bartlett-warner-13611.jpg) Philip Guston 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/philip-guston/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b019/author-pablo-picasso-73081.jpg) Pablo Picasso 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/pablo-picasso/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b011/author-henry-david-thoreau-41473.jpg) Henry David Thoreau 8 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/henry-david-thoreau/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b007/author-danny-kaye-26721.jpg) Danny Kaye 7 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/danny-kaye/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-vincent-van-gogh-93793.jpg) Vincent Van Gogh 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/vincent-van-gogh/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b005/author-bernard-beckett-17293.jpg) Charles Webster Hawthorne 6 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/charles-webster-hawthorne/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b024/author-wassily-kandinsky-94601.jpg) Wassily Kandinsky 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/wassily-kandinsky/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b003/author-alfred-jodl-11301.jpg) John Constable 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/john-constable/)
- [ ![](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b013/author-joan-miro-50198.jpg) Joan Miro 5 quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/joan-miro/)

## More by Richard Diebenkorn

> [I trust the symbol that is arrived at in the making of the painting. Meaningful symbols aren't invented as such, they are made or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-trust-the-symbol-that-is-arrived-at-in-the-making-of-the-painting/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or-separate-in-this-sense-every/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea-of-saying-something-what-i/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [And I can just see that sometimes the technique is blasting powder rather than steady struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/and-i-can-just-see-that-sometimes-the-technique-is-blasting-powder/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [I want painting to be difficult to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-want-painting-to-be-difficult-to-do/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/all-paintings-start-out-of-a-mood-out-of-a-relationship-with-things/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [In a successful painting everything is integral - all the parts belong to the whole. If you remove an aspect or element you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/in-a-successful-painting-everything-is-integral-all-the-parts-belong/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [One wants to see the artifice of the thing as well as the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/one-wants-to-see-the-artifice-of-the-thing-as-well-as-the-subject/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [I would like the colors, their shapes and positions to be arrived at in response to and dictated by the condition of the total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-would-like-the-colors-their-shapes-and-positions-to-be-arrived-at/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [With rare exceptions, I respond most to painting that cuts across grain rather than following it. I think the artist here can get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/with-rare-exceptions-i-respond-most-to-painting-that-cuts-across/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [Somehow don't be bored, but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/somehow-don-t-be-bored-but-if-you-must-use-it-in-action-use-its/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [I want a painting to be difficult to do. The more obstacles, obstructions, problems - if they don't overwhelm - the better. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-want-a-painting-to-be-difficult-to-do-the-more-obstacles/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [Mistakes can't be erased, but they move you from your present position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/mistakes-can-t-be-erased-but-they-move-you-from-your-present-position/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/use-and-respond-to-the-initial-fresh-qualities-but-consider-them/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

> [My father didn't think being an artist was a respectable or worthy goal for a man. He hoped I would see my way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/my-father-didn-t-think-being-an-artist-was-a-respectable-or-worthy/)

[Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/#itemlist",
            "name": "3 Canvas Quotes By Richard Diebenkorn",
            "numberOfItems": 3,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put a few arbitrary marks on it that start me on some sort of dialogue.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Richard Diebenkorn"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea-of-saying-something-what-i/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/richard-diebenkorn-18615_arbitrary_i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea_271534.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/richard-diebenkorn-18615_arbitrary_i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea_271534.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/richard-diebenkorn-18615_arbitrary_i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea_271534.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put a…” — Richard Diebenkorn",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "In abstract painting, I worried about the limited range of possibilities that, as time went on, became increasingly important to me. I wanted to express or deal with differences that an all-over paint and canvas 'presence' neutralized.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Richard Diebenkorn"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/in-abstract-painting-i-worried-about-the-limited-range-of/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/richard-diebenkorn-18615_about_in-abstract-painting-i-worried-about-the_1860757.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/richard-diebenkorn-18615_about_in-abstract-painting-i-worried-about-the_1860757.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4af/richard-diebenkorn-18615_about_in-abstract-painting-i-worried-about-the_1860757.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“In abstract painting, I worried about the limited range of possibilities that, as time went on, became…” — Richard Diebenkorn",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Maybe the given person, cup, or landscape is lost before one gets to painting. A figure exerts a continuing and unspecified influence on a painting as the canvas develops. The represented forms are loaded with psychological feeling. It can't ever just be painting.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Richard Diebenkorn"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/maybe-the-given-person-cup-or-landscape-is-lost-before-one-gets-to/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/richard-diebenkorn-18615_artist_maybe-the-given-person-cup-or-landscape_3142398.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/richard-diebenkorn-18615_artist_maybe-the-given-person-cup-or-landscape_3142398.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/richard-diebenkorn-18615_artist_maybe-the-given-person-cup-or-landscape_3142398.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Maybe the given person, cup, or landscape is lost before one gets to painting. A figure exerts a continuing…” — Richard Diebenkorn",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/",
            "name": "Canvas Quotes by Richard Diebenkorn",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c44/richard-diebenkorn-18615_arbitrary_i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea_271534.png"
            },
            "description": "3 Canvas quotes by Richard Diebenkorn. Plus more from Richard Diebenkorn and more Canvas sayings from other authors.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Canvas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "name": "Richard Diebenkorn",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/richard-diebenkorn/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```