Quotes by Robert Henri

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”

“I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.”

“Good composition is like a suspension bridge - each line adds strength and takes none away.”

“Know what the old masters did. Know how they composed their pictures, but do not fall into the conventions they established. These conventions were right for them, and they are wonderful. They made their language. You make yours. All the past can help you.”

“There are mighty few people who think what they think they think.”

“A tree growing out of the ground is as wonderful today as it ever was. It does not need to adopt new and startling methods.”

“Genius is not a possession of the limited few, but exists in some degree in everyone. Where there is natural growth, a full and free play of faculties, genius will manifest itself.”

“It will stick with you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do.”

“Do whatever you do intensely.”

Dont worry about your originality. You couldnt get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick with you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do.

The object isnt to make art, its to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.

Do whatever you do intensely.

All real works of art look as though they were done in joy.

Art is, after all, only a trace – like a footprint which shows that one has walked bravely and in great happiness.

There is no art without contemplation.

Color is only beautiful when it means something.

A tree growing out of the ground is as wonderful today as it ever was. It does not need to adopt new and startling methods.

A common defect of modern art study is that too many students do not know why they draw.

Genius is not a possession of the limited few, but exists in some degree in everyone. Where there is natural growth, a full and free play of faculties, genius will manifest itself.

A Curve does not exist in its full power until contrasted with a straight line.