David Smith

I belong to the generation that was born with the machine.

The object is to make a thing that is a thing, not a representation of a thing.

I don't want to make a sculpture that looks like a man, I want to make a sculpture that is a man.

My work is not about steel, it's about life.

I am a welder, not a sculptor.

Art is a way of life, not a profession.

I don't think about art when I'm working. I think about how to make the thing.

The artist is a man who has to make his own rules.

I don't believe in inspiration. I believe in work.

My sculptures are like drawings in space.

I want to make things that are alive, not dead.

The best way to learn is to do.

I don't have a style. I have a way of working.

I'm not interested in making pretty things. I'm interested in making real things.

The artist's job is to make people see things they haven't seen before.

I don't care what people think of my work. I care what I think of my work.

Art is a continuous process of discovery.

I don't start with an idea. I start with materials.

The most important thing is to be true to yourself.

I want my sculptures to be experienced, not just looked at.