An artist who is self-taught is taught by a very ignorant person indeed. John Constable More Quotes by John Constable More Quotes From John Constable Constable himself knew the value of such studies, for he rarely parted with them. He used to say of his studies and pictures that he had no objection to part with the corn, but not with the field that grew it. John Constable corn study fields I don't mind parting with the corn, but not with the field in which it was raised. John Constable corn fields mind I know very well what I am about and that my skies have not been neglected, though they often failed in execution - and often no doubt from over anxiety about them. John Constable anxiety doubt sky I have likewise made many 'skies' and effects - for I wish it could be said of me as Fuselli says of Rembrandt, 'he followed nature in her calmest abodes and could pluck a flower on every hedge - yet he was born to cast a steadfast eye on the bolder phenomena of nature'... We have had noble clouds & effects of light & dark & color. John Constable flower eye dark Only think that I am now writing in a room full of Claudes... almost of the summit of my earthly ambitions. John Constable ambition writing thinking I am glad you encouraged me with the 'Stoke' [his painting 'Stoke-by-Nayland', circa 1835] What say you to a summer morning? July or August, at eight or nine o'clock, after a slight shower during the night, to enhance the dews in the shadowed part of the picture, under 'Hedge row elms and hillocks green.' Then the plough, cart, horse, gate, cows, donkey, &c. are all good paintable material for the foreground, and the size of the canvas sufficient to try one's strength, and keep one at full collar. John Constable horse summer morning But the sound of water escaping from mill-dams, &c., willows, old rotten planks, slimy posts, and brickwork, I love such things. Shakespeare could make everything poetical; he tells us of poor Tom's haunts among "sheep cotes and mills." As long as I do paint, I shall never cease to paint such places. They have always been my delight. John Constable escaping sheep water The sky is the source of light in nature - and governs everything. John Constable everything nature light sky Nature is the fountain's head, the source from whence all originality must spring. John Constable head fountain nature spring Painting is but another word for feeling. John Constable word feeling another painting The world is wide. No two days are alike, nor even two hours, neither were there ever two leaves of a tree alike since the creation of all the world; and the genuine productions of art, like those of nature, are all distinct from each other. John Constable nature tree world art The landscape painter must walk in the fields with a humble mind. No arrogant man was ever permitted to see Nature in all her beauty. John Constable walk man nature beauty The sound of water escaping from mill dams, etc., willows, old rotten planks, slimy posts, and brickwork, I love such things. John Constable things sound love water I know dock leaves pretty well, but I should not attempt to introduce them into a picture without having them before me. John Constable picture pretty know me Landscape is my mistress - 'tis to her I look for fame. John Constable her look landscape fame Whatever may be thought of my art, it is my own; and I would rather possess a freehold, though but a cottage, than live in a palace belonging to another. John Constable live thought my-own art My art flatters nobody by imitation; it courts nobody by smoothness, tickles nobody by petiteness... there is no finish in nature. John Constable finish nobody nature art All my indispositions have their source in my mind. It is when I am restless and unhappy that I become susceptible of cold, damp, heats, and such nonsense. John Constable i-am cold unhappy mind
