Favourite Quotes

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"     Van Gogh

"Creativity takes courage"   Henri Matisse

These quotes resonate with me because they are from favourite artists.  Van Gogh was a Dutch artist who was thought not to sell many paintings in his lifetime, but he sold more than a couple.  His Uncle Cor commissioned him and he sold to an Art Dealer, Julian Tanguy.  Also his brother, Theo sold another to a gallery in London.  He often traded with other artists - often in exchange for food or art supplies.  He actually was very experimental with his work and very influential, creating  very colourful and painterly, using pattern and textures.  He actually created 2,100 works, 860 were paintings that he did in the last 2 years of his life.  He was known as a manic  depressive and had some problems and died at 37 years old.  He kind of puts me to shame.  Tremendous courage!

Henri Matisse was a French artist known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship.  Also he was a printmaker and sculptor and lived to 85 years old.  He was known for significant developments in painting and sculpture.  Initially labelled a Fauve, which means "wild beast".  Also known for his radical outrageous use of colour and pattern.  Originally he trained to be a lawyer but because of a case of appendicitis at 20, his mother brought him some paints, which inspired him so he became an artist.  This disappointed his father however.  He was influenced and became a good friend of Picasso and he loved cats and doves.  Unfortunately in the last years of his life he was confined to a wheelchair.

Both of these artists were influential and independent.  They didn't just attempt at doing things - they achieved so much.  As an artist, it takes courage to keep painting, keep striving, keep experimenting and to keep going.  Another quote:

"Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant; there's no such thing.  Making you unknown known is the most important thing".    Georgia O'Keefe  

I share my wok because a lot of work goes into making each piece, hours of time, paint, colour, organisation and design.  A determination and grit to keep painting, even when you don't get any sales.  It is something I have to do because God wired me with creativity, which takes courage.  

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​Thanks for reading.