Drawing is the representation of form - the graphic expression of a visual experience. Walter J. Phillips More Quotes by Walter J. Phillips More Quotes From Walter J. Phillips The student's ambition should be to become a painter's painter, rather than a popular painter. The approbation of fellow artists based on sympathy and understanding is manifestly better than the fickle or fast homage of the greater public. Walter J. Phillips understanding artist ambition The artist reserves the right to remove a blot on the landscape, to change positions of things, to suit his composition, providing only that he does not transgress the laws of probability. Walter J. Phillips artist law doe The syllogism art for art's sake refers to that kind of painting which disregards, or is contrary to, public taste. Walter J. Phillips taste sake art When spring is here the sketcher begins to look over his equipment and relishes in anticipation the soothing hours he will spend in the open, warmed by the sun, fanned by the breeze, charmed by the manifold delights of nature. Walter J. Phillips delight spring looks The character of the subject must influence the choice of the method of its representation. Walter J. Phillips influence choices character Rhythm is as necessary in a picture as pigment; it is as much a part of painting as of music. Walter J. Phillips pigment rhythm painting The rewards of art are not always commensurate with its quality. It affords a precarious living. Walter J. Phillips rewards quality art Realism is condemned by those artists whose poverty of technique does not permit them to express it. Walter J. Phillips technique artist doe Is the artist impelled by spiritual forces, by the divine afflatus, by conscious or unconscious emulation of others? Do angles whisper in the ears of the chosen few, and create for them visions of aethereal beauty? Do landscape painters of genius walk the plains of Heaven? Or is it only vanity that urges him to paint? Walter J. Phillips vanity artist spiritual Many a painter has lived in affluence, in high esteem, who lacked the divine spark, and who is utterly forgotten to-day. Walter J. Phillips sparks affluence forgotten Every successful painter has worked hard. He cannot rest after having gained a certain degree of facility in drawing, and expect to retain it. He must advance or fall behind. Without practice he will forget; his eye will fail him; and his hand will deny its master. Walter J. Phillips eye successful fall The portrait painter... If he insults his sitters his occupation is gone. Whether he paints the should instead of the features, or the latter with all its natural blemishes, he is as presumptuous as if he shouted, 'What a face. Hide it.' which would never do, although it is analogous to what landscape painters are doing every day. Walter J. Phillips portraiture portraits gone Not only does a lens distort forms, but the ordinary plate makes an unholy mess of colour in its tone relations. Yellow becomes black, and blue white. Black sunflowers against a white sky - what a travesty! Walter J. Phillips photography sky blue It is not in the nature of lenses to tell the whole truth. They are instruments of exaggeration and belittlement. Walter J. Phillips lenses instruments photography Many cherish the idea that a photograph is an exact presentment of nature, and accept without question the paradox that a photograph cannot lie. Actually there never was a more unmitigated liar. Walter J. Phillips photography liars lying Aerial perspective has nothing to do with line, but concerns tones and colours, by the delicate manipulation of which an artist can suggest infinite distance. Walter J. Phillips distance perspective artist Many rules for the creation of colour schemes have been published in recent years, but, while they are popular in commercial studies, I know of no creative artist who employs them. They are, per se, restrictive; their use precludes any chance of adventuring in this interesting field. Walter J. Phillips artist years interesting However exquisite the contours or the colours of clouds, trees, rivers or hills, may be in themselves, they must be sacrificed if they do not conform with the general plan. Walter J. Phillips sacrifice clouds rivers Watercolour painting is notoriously difficult - so much depends on directness and speed, and certainty of intention. Tentative or fumbling touches are disastrous, for they cannot be obliterated easily. Walter J. Phillips painting intention speed Take away a painter's vanity, said a famous landscape painter, and he will never touch a pencil again. Walter J. Phillips landscape vanity said
