With rare exceptions, I respond most to painting that cuts across grain rather than following it. I think the artist here can get in touch with that grain rather than simply feel its flow. And he really can't cut right across it anyway. Richard Diebenkorn More Quotes by Richard Diebenkorn More Quotes From Richard Diebenkorn Don't 'discover' a subject of any kind. Richard Diebenkorn subjectskind Do search, but in order to find other than what is searched for. Richard Diebenkorn order My freedom consists in my moving about within the narrow frame that I have assigned myself for each one of my undertakings. Richard Diebenkorn undertakingsmoving I want painting to be difficult to do. Richard Diebenkorn paintingdifficultwant My father didn't think being an artist was a respectable or worthy goal for a man. He hoped I would see my way to more serious work and would find myself turning towards medicine, law, or business. Richard Diebenkorn menfatherthinking And I can just see that sometimes the technique is blasting powder rather than steady struggle. Richard Diebenkorn techniquestrugglesometimes As a work progresses, its power to elicit and dictate response mounts. There seems to be an optimum moment when this power is at its greatest which just precedes the point where 'elicit' is no longer apt usage. 'Dictates' is the word for this condition and tyranny is the adversary. Richard Diebenkorn progressmomentspower Maybe the given person, cup, or landscape is lost before one gets to painting. A figure exerts a continuing and unspecified influence on a painting as the canvas develops. The represented forms are loaded with psychological feeling. It can't ever just be painting. Richard Diebenkorn landscapecupsfeelings My insights come in periods of working. There are wonderful moments of surprise, but I'm superstitious enough not to want to talk about them. Richard Diebenkorn surprisemomentsenoughwant In abstract painting, I worried about the limited range of possibilities that, as time went on, became increasingly important to me. I wanted to express or deal with differences that an all-over paint and canvas 'presence' neutralized. Richard Diebenkorn mepaintingimportanttime I want a painting to be difficult to do. The more obstacles, obstructions, problems - if they don't overwhelm - the better. I would like to feel that I am involved at any stage of the painting with all its moments, not just this 'now' moment where a superficial grace is so available. Richard Diebenkorn i-ammomentpaintinggrace
