Quotes by Georgia O'Keeffe

“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldnt say any other way - things I had no words for.”

“To create ones own world in any of the arts takes courage.”

“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, its your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not.”

“Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we havent time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time”

“I hate flowers. I only paint them because theyre cheaper than models and they dont move.”

“I have things in my head that are not like what anyone has taught me ... shapes and ideas so near to me ... so natural to my way of being and thinking that it hasnt occurred to me to put them down.”

“I know now that most people are so closely concerned with themselves that they are not aware of their own individuality. I can see myself, and it has helped me to say what I want to say ... in paint.”

“My first memory is of the brightness of light ... light all around. I was sitting among pillows on a quilt on the ground ... very large white pillows ...”

I have already settled it for myself so flattery and criticism go down the same drain and I am quite free.

Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small it takes time - we havent time - and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.

Its not enough to be nice in life. Youve got to have nerve.

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldnt say any other way... things I had no words for.

I have things in my head that are not like what anyone taught me — shapes and ideas so near to me, so natural to my way of being and thinking.

My first memory is of light -- the brightness of light -- light all around.

Someone elses vision will never be as good as your own vision of your self. Live and die with it cause in the end it’s all you have. Lose it and you lose yourself and everything else. I should have listened to myself.

Nothing is less real than realism. Details are confusing. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get at the real meaning of things.

I have been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I have never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.

The unexplainable thing in nature that makes me feel the world is big fat beyond my understanding – to understand maybe by trying to put it into form. To find the feeling of infinity on the horizon line or just over the next hill.

Ive been absolutely terrified every moment of my life—and Ive never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.

Ive been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and Ive never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.