“One has to believe in what one is doing, one has to commit oneself inwardly, in order to do PAINTING. Once obsessed, one ultimately carries it to the point of believing that one might change human beings through painting. But if one lacks this passionate commitment, there is nothing left to do. Then it is best to leave it alone. For basically painting is idiocy”.
(from Gerhard Richter, ‘Notes 1973”, in “The Daily Practice of Painting”, p. 78)
This reminds me of a Neil Young quote. Not about music, about LIFE, actually.
“You have to be ready to give everything that you have, and you have to make sure you’ve really got a lot to give. Because if you go out there and you’re not ready to give everything you have - and you’re not strong enough to give as much as you possibly can - to go right to the end of the candle, to right where it’s gonna melt and be gone, then you’re nothing. You shouldn’t even be here. You’re just markin’ time”.
Neil Young.
This poem below was also VERY important to me. Still is.
(this poem by Bukowski).
roll the dice
if you’re going to try, go all the way
otherwise, don’t even start.
if you’re going to try, go all the way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind.
go all the way
it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
it could mean freezing on a park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation,
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your endurance,
of how much you really want to do it.
and you’ll do it
dispite rejection and the worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.
if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like that.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with fire.
do it, do it, do it, do it.
all the way
all the way
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter, it’s the only good fight
there is.
