Asks Quote by Robert Motherwell

Painters hate having to explain what their work is about. They always say, 'It's whatever you want it to be' - because I think…

— Helen Mirren

Why was the painting made? What ideas of the artist can we sense? Can the personality and sensitivity of the artist be felt when…

— Gerald Brommer

A painter must think of everything he sees as being there entirely for his own use and pleasure.

— Lucian Freud

A painter's tastes must grow out of what so obsesses him in life that he never has to ask himself what it is suitable…

— Lucian Freud

It is through observation and perception of atmosphere that he [the artist] can register the feeling that he wishes his painting to give out.

— Lucian Freud

What do I ask of a painting? I ask it to astonish, disturb, seduce, convince.

— Lucian Freud

It's always hopeless to talk about painting - one never does anything but talk around it.

— Francis Bacon

If what you want to paint is the emotive mood in all its strength... then you must not sit and stare at everything and…

— Edvard Munch

If I feel a painting I'm working on doesn't have imagery or emotion, I paint it out and work over it until it does.

— Franz Kline

Painting is an unspoken and largely unrecognized dialogue, where paint speaks silently in masses and colors and the artist responds in moods.

— James Elkins

I don't know what a painting is; who knows what sets off even the desire to paint? It might be things, thoughts, a memory,…

— Philip Guston

You know, why does a painter paint? You need to communicate, you need to challenge preconceived ideas.

— Stacy Martin