Helen Frankenthaler
Color field pioneer of soak-stain technique.
Most quoted
"There are no rules. That is how art is born, how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules. That is what invention is about."
— from Interview/Statement
"A really good picture looks as if it was meant to be that way. But that's the difficulty: to make a picture that looks effortlessly right."
— from Interview, 1980
"I didn't think the paintings looked like landscapes, but they were landscapes. The landscapes were in my arms as I did it."
— from Interview, 1953
All quotes by Helen Frankenthaler (100)
Art is a constant exploration.
I believe in the power of the subconscious.
My paintings are a record of my emotions.
I want to create something that's unforgettable.
Art is a form of magic.
I'm always pushing myself to go further.
The best art is a surprise.
I want my paintings to be a celebration of life.
Art is a way of seeing the world differently.
I'm interested in the dance between control and spontaneity.
A really good picture looks as if it was meant to be that way. But that's the difficulty: to make a picture that looks effortlessly right.
I didn't think the paintings looked like landscapes, but they were landscapes. The landscapes were in my arms as I did it.
One should be a live wire touched with a dark instrument. That's how I feel about my work.
The joy is in the act of painting, not in the finished product.
Color for me is the skin of the world.
I paint from a place of intuition, not calculation.
Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.
Every canvas is a new beginning, a fresh risk.
The stain technique allows the paint to breathe, to live on the canvas.
Life is too short for bad art; make it bold and true.
Contemporaries of Helen Frankenthaler
Other Visual Artss born within 50 years of Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011).