28 Quotes by Mark Tobey

On pavements and the bark of trees I have found whole worlds.

Every artist's problem today is: What will we do with the human?

We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate outside ourselves.

The dimension that counts for the creative person is the space he creates within himself. This inner space is closer to the infinite than the other, and it is the privilege of the balanced mind... and the search for an equilibrium is essential - to be as aware of inner space as he is of outer space.

All of the artists congregated at our place. My folks were an anomaly since so many of the others were gay. The young guys appreciated getting a home-cooked meal there on Sunday.

Problems are an important part of maturing – meet them straight on. Work them out. It’s like the chick in the egg. It has to break through the eggshell on its own. That’s how it gains its first strength. If you break the shell for the chick, you end up with a puny little runt.

Every artist’s problem today is: What will we do with the human?

I’ve tried to decentralize and interpenetrate so that all parts of a painting are of related value...

But there was escape, too, even in those days, for there was Whistler living in the grey mists with a faded orange moon. The nocturne transformed itself into dreamy rooms with Chopin’s music creating a mood that softened the hard core of self.