Henri Matisse Quotes
Creativity takes courage.
Henri Matisse
I'm growing old, I delight in the past.
What I am after, above all, is expression.
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
You study, you learn, but you guard the original naiveté.
He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.
Derive happiness in oneself from a good day’s work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.
For me all is in the conception. I must therefore have a clear vision of the whole from the beginning.
For my part I have never avoided the influence of others. I would have considered it cowardice and a lack of sincerity toward myself.
Slowly I discovered the secret of my art. It consists of a meditation on nature, on the expression of a dream which is always inspired by reality.
I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have the light joyousness of springtime which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost me...
A picture must possess a real power to generate light ... for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light.
An artist must never be a prisoner. Prisoner? An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc.
There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.
I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some sort of Buddhist. But the essential thing is to put oneself in a frame of mind which is close to that of prayer.
An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.
In the beginning you must subject yourself to the influence of nature. You must be able to walk firmly on the ground before you start walking on a tightrope.
What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.