Of course, it is well to go abroad and see the works of the old masters, but Americans... must strike out for themselves, and only by doing this will we create a great and distinctly American art. Thomas Eakins More Quotes by Thomas Eakins More Quotes From Thomas Eakins A teacher can do very little for a pupil and should only be thankful if he don't hinder him, and the greater the master, mostly the less he can say. Thomas Eakins being-thankful littles teacher Strain your brain more than your eye... You can copy a thing to a certain limit. Then you must use intellect. Thomas Eakins eye use brain The big artist .. . keeps a sharp eye on Nature and steals her tools. Thomas Eakins eye tools art How beautiful an old woman's skin is! All those wrinkles! Thomas Eakins wrinkles skins beautiful Strain your brain more than your eye. Thomas Eakins eye brain thinking When you first commence painting everything is a muddle. Even the commonest colors seem to have the devil in them. Thomas Eakins devil color firsts In mathematics the complicated things are reduced to simple things. So it is in painting. Thomas Eakins painting simplicity simple My honors are misunderstanding, pesecution and neglect, enhanced because unsought. Thomas Eakins misunderstanding neglect honor Enthusiasm for one's goal lessens the disagreeableness of working toward it. Thomas Eakins goal enthusiasm The brush is a more powerful and rapid tool than the point or the stump... the main thing that the brush secures is the instant grasp of the grand construction of a figure. Thomas Eakins construction powerful tools No man, and least of all myself, could ever disentangle the feelings that animated him. Thomas Eakins animated feelings men When a man paints a naked woman he gives her less than poor Nature did. I can conceive of few circumstances wherein I would have to paint a woman naked, but if I did I would not mutilate her for double the money. She is the most beautiful thing there is except a naked man, but I never saw a study of one exhibited. Thomas Eakins beautiful giving men I once painted a concert singer and on the chestnut frame I carved the opening bars of Mendelssohn's Rest in the Lord. It was ornamental unobtrusive and to musicians I think it emphasized the expression of the face and pose of the figure. Thomas Eakins musician expression thinking I taught in the Academy from the opening of the schools until I was turned out, a period much longer than I should have permitted myself to remain there. My honors are misunderstanding, persecution and neglect, enhanced because unsought. Thomas Eakins honor should-have school I have never discovered that the nude could be studied in any way except the way I have adopted. All the muscles must be pointed out. To do this all the drapery must be removed. Thomas Eakins adopted muscles way The big artist keeps an eye on nature and steals her tools. Thomas Eakins nature eye tools artist
