Robert Henri

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.

Lines are results, do not draw them for themselves.

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

Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them.

A weak background is a deadly thing.

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

Do whatever you do intensely.

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.

Realize that a drawing is not a copy. It is a construction in very different materials. A drawing is an invention.

Drawing is not following a line on the model it is drawing your sense of the thing.

Keep a bad drawing until by study you have found out why it is bad.

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

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

There is nothing more entertaining than to have a frank talk with yourself. Few do it frankly. Educating yourself is getting acquainted with yourself.

To paint is to know how to put nothing on canvas and have it look like something when you stand back.

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

There is weakness in pretending to know more than you know or in stating less than you know.

Color is only beautiful when it means something.

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.