There is force and vitality in a first sketch from life which the after-work rarely has. You want a picture to seize you as forcibly as if a man had seized you by the shoulder! It should impress you like reality!

How are things visible? Can you see an egg against a white background? Not by drawing a line around it can you make it evident.

The mission of art is to represent nature not to imitate her.

It gives a fellow an awful shiver to hear the first shovelful of dirt and gravel rattle down upon the coffin; but after it is covered, it falls gently and makes no sound. The feeling of rest is perfect. There's no more nagging, no more pain!

There's lots of fun in this world, after all. And if there isn't, there is in the next. And we're going there, sure.

It's impossible to make a picture without values. Values are the basis. If they are not, tell me what is the basis.

Don't put needless expense into painting a head! Don't try to match tints! Rose and pearly colours blend into each other so that no one can unite them if painted separately. Keep the impression of your subject as one thing!