To end up with a canvas that is no less beautiful than the empty canvas is to begin with.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of the journey of creation as equal to the beauty of the initial idea or potential.
Robert Motherwell suggests that the process of creating art is as valuable as the untouched canvas. This implies that the creative journey, filled with experimentation and risk, can lead to a fulfilling outcome that reflects the beauty and potential that existed at the start. The development of an artwork is integral to appreciating its final form, as both the beginning and the end possess intrinsic beauty.
In practice
During an art class, I shared this quote to inspire students about the value of their creative process.
A main part of the struggle of art has been to make an art that is direct, simple, humane, unconnected with powers that be in their essence... To the degree that it is connected with the bourgeoisie via the marketplace and so on is not necessarily an artist's problem.
It's not that the creative act and the critical act are simultaneous. It's more like you blurt something out and then analyze it.
Art is an experience, not an object.
Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.
The Japanese have a wonderful sense of design and a refinement in their art. They try to produce beautiful paintings with the minimum number of strokes.
I have a mess in my head sometimes, and there's something very satisfying about putting it into words. Certainly it's not something that you're in charge of, necessarily, but writing about it, putting it into your words, can be a very powerful experience.
While all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.
What's interesting about the process of acting is how often you don't know what you're doing.
Rock & roll is so great, people should start dying for it. You don't understand. The music gave you back your beat so you could dream...The people just have to die for the music. People are dying for everything else, so why not for music? Die for it. Isn't it pretty? Wouldn't you die for something pretty?
I'm not in any rush. I'm not somebody who, if I write a song, I get it out. That's not something I've ever really quite done.
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