Inspiring Words from Legendary Artists

Alongside their visual flair, great artists often have a wonderful way with words. Here's some poetic wisdom from ten of the best.


“Action is the foundational key to success.” —Pablo Picasso

“If we go for the easy way, we never change.” —Marina Abramovic

“Amateurs look for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” —Chuck Close

“Have no fear of perfection, you’ll never reach it.” —Salvador Dali

“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” —Vincent Van Gogh

“Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only by those willing to take risks.” —Mark Rothko

“I have been absolutely terrified every moment of my life — and I have never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” —Georgia O’Keeffe

“It isn’t until the painter has no idea what he’s doing that he makes good paintings.” —Edgar Degas

“I have no secret but hard work. This is a secret that many never learn, and they don’t succeed because they don’t learn it. Labor is the genius that changes the world from ugliness to beauty, and the great curse to a great blessing.” —JMW Turner

“What an artist is trying to do for people is bring them closer to something, because of course art is about sharing. You wouldn’t be an artist unless you wanted to share an experience, a thought.” —David Hockney

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