Tag Archives: inspiration

Hans Hofmann on Subject Matter

Posted on by Pete Ippel
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Each artist has a way of working…here’s Hans Hofmann’s

Every subject matter depends on how to use meaning. You can use it in a lyrical or dramatic manner. It depends on the personality of the artist. Everyone is clear about himself, as to where he belongs, and in which way he can give aesthetic enjoyment. Painting is aesthetic enjoyment. I want to be a “poet”. As an artist I must conform to my nature. My nature has a lyrical as well as a dramatic disposition. Not one day is the same. One day I feel wonderful to work and I feel an expression which shows in the work. Only with a very clear mind and on a clear day I can paint without interruptions and without food because my disposition is like that. My work should reflect my moods and the great enjoyment which I had when I did the work.

From a Xerox copy I found in my notes from Contemporary Art p. 567

Inspiration Through the Words of Others

Posted on by Pete Ippel
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I was just looking through my Phi Delta Theta Pledge manual from 1999 and I found a series of note cards that I used to use as speaking points at chapter meetings.  We were in the process of re-founding the fraternity and the following are the quotes I used to light the fire of change with my peers. 

“As you walk through life, you may be solo, but not alone.”
- Unknown

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.

“Guard well your spare moments they are like uncut diamonds.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey.”
-Unknown

“I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas, I’m frightened by the old ones.”
-John Cage

“An Idea is salutation by imagination.”
-Frank Lloyd Wright

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.”
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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Success is a By-product…Don Tayor

Posted on by Pete Ippel
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I had this posted over my desk through college, and just found the bit of paper as I am making my scrap book. Thank you to Don Taylor for this inspiring piece.

Success is a by-product of love. I’ve never yet seen anyone achieve greatness without loving what they do. While there is still work involved, if you love what you’re doing, the workload gets lighter.

Success is a by-product of thought. Not thinking of success, but rather think of solving this day’s problems through careful consideration of facts. Thought opens the door of discovery and lets in the light of reason. Sound reason brings clear solutions to difficult problems.

Success is a by-product of focusing on the positive. Only a pessimist succeeds by being negative. By focusing on what you can do, rather than what you cannot, you move forward toward success. Your progress may not be visible to you each day, but you are on your way.

Success is a by-product of planning. Creating a plan will not make you successful. I’ve seen the business plans of some real failures. However, a good plan is a foundation to build on. Executing the elements in your plan will guide you toward success.

Success is a by-product of starting. Many potentially successful projects fail because no one got them started. All success comes from starting. An adage says that well begun is half done.

Success is a by-product of continuing. Thomas Edison achieved great success by starting where others quit. Winston Churchill made a great speech with just six words. He said, “Never, never, never, never give up.” Helen Keller said, “We can do anything we want to do if we stick to it long enough.”

Success is a by-product of time well spent. Productive use of your time is a critical success factor. All people are given the same amount of time every day. Some use it dreaming, some denying, some dodging and some doing. Become a doer. Concentrate on results. Use your time wisely.

Success is a by-product of doing. Results are the outcome of actions. Actions are the by-product of doing.

A lifetime of doing what we love in a positive way, while thinking of others, will create some wonderful products and cause success to surround you.

Work toward other goals and successes will overtake you as certainly as night follows day.

Inspired by Richard Tuttle

Posted on by Pete Ippel
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I got to see Richard Tuttle speak on Friday, it was quite a lecture. He started out by showing 59 slides, Title, Date, Dimensions, Collection. It would have been pretty “Punk Rock” to stop right then as a J. Hittner put it. But honestly he was speaking so slowly and abstractly I was wondering if he had any idea of what he was talking about.

Right as I was getting a little frustrated, it hit…purity. The clarity of the thought and sincerity of his words really blew me away. He was making the parallel between the differences between Ideas and Inspiration, stating that they were analogous between Feelings and Emotions. “No one is interested in your feelings,” he stated ” it’s like if you walk down the street, and say I am so upset, I forgot to sharpen my pencil. No one cares. But if you say, ‘I’ve just found the love of my life we’re getting married’ that is EMOTION.”

He continued dismissing artists with lots of good ideas and ambition without inspiration, in that they will burn out before inspiration even hits.

It was a lot to ponder. I also appreciated his comments on materials. “I was always told that America is the greatest country in the world, and that you could do anything you want. I was like “Woah, America maybe you and I can get together and make some good art.’ I spent the next few years living in a very affordable apartment, with an easy job that paid for the rent it was freedom to do what I want.”

I know that’s not an exact quote, but it’s close as I can remember.