---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Starting with approaching the spot where…"
description: "\"Starting with approaching the spot where the painting is to be done, meanwhile realising the emptiness of the mind, up to the method of 'the flying whi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/antoni-tapies-18869_apparitions_starting-with-approaching-the-spot-where_3015173.jpg"
---

#  Starting with approaching the spot where the painting is…

![“Starting with approaching the spot where the painting is to be done, meanwhile realising the emptiness of the mind, up to the method of 'the flying white', of the rule of the singular stroke of the brush.. ..there is a proper tradition in which the artist is fully aware of the fact that only the…” quote by Antoni Tapies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/antoni-tapies-18869_apparitions_starting-with-approaching-the-spot-where_3015173.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/antoni-tapies-18869_apparitions_starting-with-approaching-the-spot-where_3015173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35d/antoni-tapies-18869_apparitions_starting-with-approaching-the-spot-where_3015173.jpg)

> “Starting with approaching the spot where the painting is to be done, meanwhile realising the emptiness of the mind, up to the method of 'the flying white', of the rule of the singular stroke of the brush.. ..there is a proper tradition in which the artist is fully aware of the fact that only the pure and empty spontaneity enables him to embrace without hesitating all apparitions and to truly penetrate into the roots of things.”

[Antoni Tapies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoni-tapies/)

## About This Quote

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

The artist must empty the mind, embracing spontaneous, pure brushwork to reach the essence of things.

**In simple terms:** Empty mind, pure brushstroke reveals true essence.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate mental emptiness before painting.

Themes

creativity mindfulness spontaneity

Mood

contemplative inspired

Type

philosophical artistic

When to use this quote

- painting
- meditation
- creative practice
- artistic training

Key Concepts

Zen aesthetic philosophy intuition

Questions to Reflect On

- How does mental emptiness affect your artistic choices?
- Can spontaneity be disciplined?

A Different Perspective

Empty mind alone may not guarantee insight; skill still needed.

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[Apparitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apparitions/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Emptiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emptiness/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Spontaneity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spontaneity/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/)

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> [The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet black bough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/the-apparition-of-these-faces-in-the-crowd-petals-on-a-wet-black-bough/)

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> [It is the human condition to question one god after another, one appearance after another, or better, one apparition after another, always pursuing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-chartier/it-is-the-human-condition-to-question-one-god-after-another-one/)

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## More by Antoni Tapies

> [The artist may rightly venture the opinion that he does not convey ideas, does not preach, nor that he intents to convert people by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoni-tapies/the-artist-may-rightly-venture-the-opinion-that-he-does-not-convey/)

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[Explore all 34 Antoni Tapies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoni-tapies/)

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> [...it was a huge creature, luminous, ghastly, and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-huge-creature-luminous-ghastly-and-spectral-i-have-cross/)

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[Ikkyu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikkyu/)

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