David Hockney

"No matter what the illusion created, it is a flat canvas and it has to be organized in shape."

— David Hockney

English Painter

1937 - 

All art is illusionary.  Whether we are talking about a painting, a novel or a film, we are talking about the art of creating reality out of nothing.  For the painter, the canvas is blank.  For the writer, the page is blank.  For the actor, the character is blank.  Out of nothing the artist creates the illusion of reality.  The better the illusion, the more likely we are to believe that we are experiencing reality.  Creative leaders are masters of illusion, magicians of mystery.

Fernando Botero

"When you start painting, it is somewhat outside you.  At the conclusion, you seem to move inside the painting."

— Fernando Botero

Columbian Artist

1932 - 

Do you become a part of your art?  Your writing?  When you are finished, do you leave a part of yourself on the canvas or on the page?  Do you leave a part of yourself inside the characters you create?  Those who believe that they are separate from what they create are not being honest with themselves.  You and your art are connected at a very deep level.

Woman Drinking with Cat

Leopold Stokowski

"A painter paints pictures on canvas.  But musicians paint their pictures on silence."

— Leopold Stokowski

1882 - 1977

British Orchestral Conductor

Have you ever listened to silence?  These days it is hard to find silence, because there is so much white noise.  Even in nature there is little silence.  We hear the wind, the insects, the birds and the animals.  We fill our days with noise from the moment we wake until the moment we sleep.  We turn on the television, plug in our I-Pods, and turn on our computers.   And some of us are afraid of silence.  If silence appears in a conversation, we become nervous.  Many of us can't be home by ourselves without turning on the TV or the radio so we have noise.  And cell phones allow us to stay connected to human voices so we don't feel alone even if we are deep in the woods.  I believe silence is a good thing and that we need to find ways to enjoy it more.  As an artist and writer I need silence to hear the voice of my muse.  Too much chaotic noise blocks the sweet voice of my muse.  Do you run from silence or have you learned to appreciate it?

Here is a video of Leopold Stokowski conducting Tchaikovsky.  Watch his hands paint the silence.  Fantastic1

   

Mother Teresa

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

— Mother Teresa

Catholic Nun/Humanitarian

1910 - 1997

In my experience, I have often found writers and artists to be judgmental and critical of each other's works.  I have participated in writing groups where a writer would present his work and then the others would proceed to tear it apart under the guise of constructive criticism.  Beginning writers and artists do not need criticism.  They need support and encouragement.  For established writers, every new book is a new beginning.  For established artists, every blank canvas is a new beginning.  Both need encouragement and support.  Constructive opinion even at its best is only opinion and often the opinion is way off base.  At its worst, criticism can be vicious and absurd.  As critics we often bring our own prejudices to the table and attempt to impose them on others.  In the words of Mother Teresa, we need to criticize and judge other creative leaders less and love them more.  Look for the good in the creative work and praise the good.  

Danny Kaye

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can."

— Danny Kaye
American Actor

1913 - 1987

We are in charge of our lives.  We make choices every day that lead us where we want to be.  Life is like a canvas and we are the artists of our lives.  We paint the person we want to be.  Or we paint the person we think we are.  We tell our stories through the art.  Are you painting the life you want?  Have you chosen a large enough canvas?  Are you too stingy with the paint?

Henry David Thoreau

"The world is but a canvas to the imagination."

— Henry David Thoreau

1817 - 1862

What we create in the world and how we live begins with our imagination.  We can create the life we want to live by simply applying our creativity.  So pick up your paint brush and paint the beauty of your life.  Pick up your pen and write the story of your life.  Your mind is fertile soil for your imagination.