When I started out, I wanted to paint the Sistine Chapel. But I didn't have the content. James Rosenquist More Quotes by James Rosenquist More Quotes From James Rosenquist History is remembered by its art, not its war machines. James Rosenquist machines war art I think being an artist is having the courage to be original. Many great artists, including Picasso, have all been influenced by the great master paintings... And then finally, they leap, they take off... they become themselves. Then it looks like they just came out of nowhere. Just like 'Pow!' James Rosenquist artist looks thinking Paintings are memories. Memories of the painter who painted them. Memories that can be shared as well. Paintings are things to remember things by. James Rosenquist painting remember memories We are attacked by radio and television and visual communication at such speed and with such force that painting seems very old fashioned ...why shouldn't it be done with that power and gusto [of advertising], with that impact. James Rosenquist gusto impact communication I'm always trying to do things that no one has ever seen before. James Rosenquist always-trying trying I tell young people that the greatest paintings in museums are made with minerals mixed in oil smeared on cloth with the hair from the back of a pig's ear. It's that simple. James Rosenquist simple hair museums I was probably born with the ability to draw, but that does not make you an artist. James Rosenquist born artist doe In many ways my paintings are about energy — both in how they are created and the image itself. James Rosenquist painting energy way It fascinates me to create beautiful paintings with the simplest means. James Rosenquist painting beautiful mean If you are close to it, a big painting is just a feeling around you, that's all. James Rosenquist painting bigs feelings Whenever I got a new studio I made the largest possible painting, and since the ceiling was low, the painting became horizontal. As I changed studios and got larger spaces, I made bigger paintings. James Rosenquist painting ceilings space The only thing the Pop Artists had in common is that we all had been commercial artists in some manner. Lichtenstein was a draftsman; I was a billboard painter, but we didn't work together. I didn't meet Andy Warhol until 1964. James Rosenquist meet some together work I'm interested in contemporary vision - the flicker of chrome, reflections, rapid associations, quick flashes of light. Bing! Bang! James Rosenquist bang interested vision light Many of my old friends are gone now. I have a hard time dealing with the fact that they're just not there to talk to. I can't call them up for a rabbit-skin glue recipe anymore. James Rosenquist friends hard old-friends time Popular culture isn't a freeze-frame; it is images zapping by in rapid-fire succession, which is why collage is such an effective way of representing contemporary life. The blur between images creates a kind of motion in the mind. James Rosenquist blur mind life culture The best thing about being an artist is the free clothing and getting to kiss pretty girls. James Rosenquist kiss free best artist I'm the one who gave steroids to Pop art. James Rosenquist steroids pop who art I don't do anecdotes. I accumulate experiences. James Rosenquist accumulate experiences anecdotes Many young artists, they look at the art world and think they can make a lot of money. James Rosenquist look money world art There was one reviewer from the 'New York Times,' I forget his name, who said I was 'death warmed over.' I wrote him back that I knew more about death than he did. The 'Times' fired him, put him in the cooking department! James Rosenquist name cooking forget death