What Do I Ask Of A Painting?

And, Since The Model He Faithfully Copies Is Not Going To Be Hung Up Next To The Picture, Since The Picture Is Going To Be There On Its Own, It Is Of No Interest Whether It Is An Accurate Copy Of The Model.

What Do I Ask Of A Painting? I Ask It To Astonish, Disturb, Seduce, Convince.

When I Look At A Body It Gives Me Choice Of What To Put In A Painting, What Will Suit Me And What Won't. There Is A Distinction Between Fact And Truth. Truth Has An Element Of Revelation About It. If Something Is True, It Does More Than Strike One As Merely Being So.

A Painter Must Think Of Everything He Sees As Being There Entirely For His Own Use And Pleasure.

A Moment Of Complete Happiness Never Occurs In The Creation Of A Work Of Art. The Promise Of It Is Felt In The Act Of Creation But Disappears Towards The Completion Of The Work. For It Is Then The Painter Realises That It Is Only A Picture He Is Painting. Until Then He Had Almost Dared To Hope The Picture Might Spring To Life.