Notes to Myself on Beginning a Painting - Richard Deibenkorn

I came across this at Deibenkorn, the Berkeley Years, currently at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.  Some of these are useful to me as I contemplate getting back to the studio after a summer of traveling.

More on that amazing exhibit later......

Notes to Myself on Beginning a Painting - R Diebenkorn

1.  Attempt what is not certain.  Certainty may or may not come later.  It may then be a valuable delusion.

2.  The pretty initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued --except as stimulus for further moves.

3.  Do search but in order to find other than what is searched for.

4.  Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.

5.   Don't "discover" a subject of any kind.

6.  Somehow don't be bored but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.

7.  Mistakes can't be erased but they move you from your present position.

8.  Keep thinking about Pollyanna.

9.  Tolerate chaos.

10.  Be careful only in a perverse way.