Sunday, June 3, 2007

Diebenkorn's Notes to Self


I was perusing my The Art of Richard Diebenkorn book this morning and came across the following:

Notes to myself on beginning a painting

1. Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.


2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued - except as a stimulus for further moves.


3. Do search. But in order to find other than what is searched for.


4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.


5. Don't "discover" a subject - of any kind.

6. Somehow don't be bored - but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.


7. Mistakes can't be erased but they move you from your present position.


8. Keep thinking about Polyanna.


9. Tolerate chaos.


10. Be careful only in a perverse way.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm going to hang this in my new studio and pretend that's you telling me these things! It sounds very much like the good type of advice you give Nola.