Alex Katz Quotes

I like to make an image that is so simple you can't avoid it, and so complicated you can't figure it out.

If you know what you're doing, you're doing dull stuff.

You have to be a little scared of what you're doing. Otherwise, you just paint the same masterpiece a little worse.

Part of what Im about is seeing how I can paint the same thing differently instead of different things the same way.

Paint faster than you can think.

What's in front of me is what's most interesting.

If you're going to go for 'it' you have a common thing you share with other artists; that's desperation. You jump out a window style-wise. Try to put it together before you hit the ground.

You usually want to get something out of a painting other than the ideas that you had in your head.

I know people can be a little nervous about swimsuits, but have some fun with it. Believe you can hold it down. If you believe you can hold it down, you can wear it.

Sometimes it takes me days or weeks to get something clear in my head on what I want to do. Everything is in steps. One thing leads to another.

Painting seems an old man's business. After a certain time you're out of it, and you just paint masterpieces.

Most important, for openers, work six hours a day, seven days a week for six years. Then if you like it you can get serious about it.

Actually, you want to go into an area where you're frightened. Otherwise, you're just going to be repainting beautiful paintings, but a little duller each time.

Make a painting you can work on for a long period, and make it look like it doesn't show any effort.

What makes everything one is the style.