Artist Quote by Sean Scully
“I work on stretched linen canvas, sized so that the surface already has a sense of tension when I begin. It is a very rich and reactive surface. I begin by drawing on the canvas with a kind of loose line, very simply and freely. I paint very thinly, which allows me to change the drawing if I want to.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Sean Scully on Process, 2015
He prepares a tense canvas, draws loosely, paints thinly, allowing flexibility to revise.
In simple terms: He uses a tense surface and light strokes for adaptable art.
Key Takeaway
Embrace flexibility in creative work.
Themes
artistic process
adaptability
materiality
Mood
contemplative
inspired
Type
practical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- painting workshops
- studio practice
- art education
- creative problem solving
Key Concepts
tension
layering
spontaneity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tension influence your creative decisions?
- When is it best to revise early?
A Different Perspective
Thin layers may limit depth of color.
![“I've started to experiment [in the studio] with texturing the canvas, building up the surface with large brushes, palette knife or fingers. I want to say more in my art.” quote by T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9f5/t-allen-lawson-50265_art_i-ve-started-to-experiment-in-the-studio_2881344.jpg)
![“Most of the paint I use is a liquid, flowing kind of paint. The brushes I use are more a sticks rather than brushes – the brush doesn’t touch the surface on the canvas, it’s just above [so] I am able to be more free and to have greater freedom and move about the canvas, with greater ease.” quote by Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9f6/jackson-pollock-8264_able_most-of-the-paint-i-use-is-a-liquid-flow_2018458.jpg)
