10 Quotes by John Marin

A true work of art can stand many seeings, revealing anew at each seeing.

How to paint the landscape: First you make your bow to the landscape. Then you wait, and if the landscape bows to you, then, and only then, can you paint the landscape.

Art is just a series of natural gestures. For God’s sake, don’t try to be artistic – all wild animals walk the same way.

Painting is like golf; the fewer strokes I take, the better the picture.

I must for myself insist that when finished, that is when all the parts are in place and are working, that now it has become an object and will therefore have its boundaries as definite as the prow, the stern, the sides, and bottom bound as a boat.

Don’t everlastingly read messages into paintings – there’s the Daisy – you don’t rave over or read messages into it – you just look at that bully little flower – isn’t that enough?

Give the paint a chance. Give the brush a chance.

Art is not great. Music is not great. It’s just that they tickle us. When one steadfastly refuses greatness – then and then only can the wonderful thing we call art be created.

Give paint a chance to show itself entirely as paint.