Yesterday I saw the Richard Diebenkorn exhibit in San Francisco.
http://diebenkorn.famsf.org/

If you paint, read the Diebenkorn notes below.

Notes to myself on beginning a painting

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 a 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 by 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.

I like the statements because I can see how he thinks different than I do. I use them to understand his work, and define my own painting.