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The Painter's Keys, a book by Robert Genn

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Paul de Marrais Art Quotes - (13 quotes)

Paul de Marrais - From the Beginning category:

It takes a lot more energy to start a painting than it takes to finish up... Pastel is a fast medium and I take advantage of the energy and intuition to get out of the gate fast. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Energy category:

Artists need to learn to manage their energy level. We are not machines. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Finishing category:

-after a plein air session...
It is as if I am awakened from an intense daydream. Where did the time go? The effort is very tiring but not unpleasantly so. If I can get away with it, a nice nap tops off the experience. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Greatness category:

One must be able to strike a balance between the opposing forces of self-esteem and self-doubt. Great artists have both in generous quantities. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Optimism category:

We have to dig deep and plumb our inner resources to keep positive and productive. This may mean finding new friends who aren't depressed, anxious artists. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Originality category:

All art is derivative. There is no form of art that is totally original... 'originality' is a modern art construct... a silly concession to marketing concerns. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Painting category:

You need both a bit of mind and a bit of mindlessness to make a painting. It's a play between control and surrender. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Plein Air category:

Plein air paintings are a bit like short poems. These poems are not deep and heavy but more light and breezy. A good poet might write a bunch of them and throw away more than a few. A plein air painting is rough and reveals a good deal more about the artist than a studio job. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Survival category:

I hope to be one of the survivors but, as in painting, there are no guarantees. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Technology category:

There are no cops on the Internet. Dishonesty, deceit, manipulation are the norm and not the exception. It is a depressing example of unrestrained human nature in action. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Theory category:

Theorists seem to quiver over Cezanne's paintings and puff them up to mythological proportions... We ought to look at them without this theoretical baggage and appreciate them for their actual qualities. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Thinking category:

Contrary to the modernist dogma, painting is a brainy activity. Thinking, in my view, is always welcome at the easel. (Paul de Marrais)

Paul de Marrais - From the Values category:

When beginning artists understand and use values for the first time, there is usually a quantum leap in the quality of their painting. (Paul de Marrais)

Editor: Robert Genn

Consultants: Sara Genn, Richard Thompson
Technical Support and Presentation: Andrew Niculescu

Associate Editors:
Scott Altman, Bonnie Austin, Karen Austin, Michele Becker, Joe Blodgett, Norman Brown, Alyce Bryson, Leanne Cadden, Penny Duane, Max Elliot, Derek Franklin, Mardy Grothe, Harry Hartley, Sue Holland, Shawn Jackson, Sue Legault, Tammy McManus, Eric Mewhinney, Bruce Miller, Laura Parrish, Andrea Pratt, Dan Roberts, Shirley Rochon, Gilbert Roy, John Sherlock, Victor Wong,

And many others who have so far contributed one or a few. Please join us and add more at