"Art is the Highest Form of Hope & Other Quotes From Artists"

“Art is the Highest Form of Hope & Other Quotes By Artists” is a book published by Phaidon that I received t from the Aaron Rosenstreich memorial fund from RIT (along with a very nice Jenny Saville book). I figured I’d select a few quotes I actually like and give my reaction to it.

Spoiler: After writing this I realized these are a little depressing? But these resonated with me and I wanted to give my honest reaction.

To start, let's talk about the book title:

“Art is the Highest Form of Hope” -Gerhard Richter. 

I think this might even be the reason I paint at all. My whole life, as I’ve learned more

about the world around me, I’ve felt completely defeated and hopeless in having even the slightest ability to help this planet. I’ve hated and cried over the terrible things people do to each other globally and even in our own neighborhoods. I’ve been frustrated over the fact the solution to climate change, equality, health care, etc is so obvious and yet no one implements the changes because those in charge care about profits more than people. And since from a young age people told me I was good at art, I kept working towards it. Now that I’ve been working as an artist, have a deeper knowledge about painting, and years of experience, I make art because I have to. That's all I can do. I paint portraits of the people I know because I want people to see the world as I do. To see the beauty, value, and complexity of human existence in the everyday. And maybe I paint to find hope for myself. If I paint portraits to remind people of everyday vulnerabilities and human connection (things I struggle with), then maybe they’re reminders to myself to not push people away. Hope that others will see the value in my work, therefore the world, and I’ll see the value in myself. 

“Learn to say ‘fuck you’ to the world once in a while.” -Sol Lewitt. 

I like this one because it’s funny. Sol Lewitt became most known for his instructional wall drawings, part of conceptual art; a movement that often felt like a “fuck you” to the art world. I also think this is just good advice for me. During college especially, I struggled trying to find an artistic direction. Now that I had these skills, what do I use them for? Lately, it feels like I’ve finally begun making work that I want to make that excites me, and not what I think other people want. I can make paintings that are a little weird, or use myself for paintings, or are giant portraits that don’t sell cause it’s what I want and not what others want. 

“What is it about people that since the dawn of time we’ve wanted to mark our presence so that other people will see it?” -Chuck Close. I read an essay once about how pictures or intentional mark making is believed to be an evolutionary step in people. It long predates writing as a form of visual communication. If this is true, then humans drawing and making art is instinctive. This quote I think also touches on our innate resistance to existentialism. Our desire to be remembered. At least this is something I struggle with. In my lifetime I want respect and acknowledgement from others. As an artist I want to be remembered in the same sentences as past artists like Sargent, Manet, Van Gogh, etc (No surprise I like Chris Burden’s “TV Commercial” (1976) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w62YgveZY9E )

“I do what I’m feeling and what I’m feeling is monstrous. And I do it in the nicest way possible.” -Kara Walker. 

It’s interesting to me that Walker said this, she’s most known for her silhouette cutouts confronting slavery in America. I’m “classically trained” and focus on oil painting, a pretty tame medium compared to newer art forms. I love exploring beauty and art history. But I’m also angry at the world, and while music is a great art form for expressing pure emotions, how do I capture anger, beauty, and deeper ideals on a canvas? Maybe this goes with the Lewitt quote. Exploring the dirty, immoral, strange in a refined, intellectual presentation.

And I’ll leave it on this quote from Claude Monet; scandalous in his early work, successful by the end of his lifetime. One of the French artists who started Impressionism. I personally love the work from later in his life. Even if you don’t study art, you’ve probably heard of Monet. That’s why this quote stuck out to me. I one hundred percent feel like this when I’m struggling with a painting, looking at old work, trying to apply to shows and I can’t get in or even find anywhere to show, any time I look at my finances, driving to work so I can pay my loans instead of painting more (still have to live with my mom), looking at what I paint versus what’s popular. You get the idea. 

“I am distressed, almost discouraged, and fatigued to the point of feeling slightly ill. What I am doing is no good, and in spite of your confidence I am very much afraid that my efforts will all lead to nothing.” -Claude Monet

Originally published in the July 2024 edition of my newsletter, "From the Artist's Studio"