Art Quote by Paul Caponigro
“Under all of the factors that make up the art world, it's up to the individual artist to discern which of those influences are present and at what time and what really serves the deeper process that is constantly running like a stream underground. Influence is incessant. Influence is a fact. But, carry a big shovel and dig constantly to clear away all the unessentials so that the origins of mystery and the poetic force of life can get into and inspire the work.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Photography Art Talk, 2015
Artists must constantly sift through pervasive influences, removing excess to reveal deeper creative forces.
In simple terms: Artists filter influences to find deeper meaning.
Key Takeaway
Regularly prune distractions to uncover core inspiration.
Themes
creativity
influence
focus
Mood
contemplative
determined
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- studio work
- concept development
- art criticism
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
artistic process
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- Which influences truly serve your work?
- How do you balance removal and retention?
A Different Perspective
Over‑filtering may strip valuable context or tradition.
![“Some years ago I was working on some forms which were vase forms with a fairly narrow base, and it was after [Hans] Coper had died that I saw an exhibition of his, a catalogue from an exhibition, and he was showing some forms which were made by cutting and joining a lot of different parts together…” quote by Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/16b/warren-mackenzie-4654_bits_some-years-ago-i-was-working-on-some-for_61245.jpg)
