William Morris Hunt Quotes

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

Don't talk of what you are 'going to do!' Do it!

Imagination comes in after we have experience.

You are to draw not reality, but the appearance of reality!

You can always draw as well as you know how to. I flatter myself that I feel more than I express on canvas; but I know that is not so.

Elaboration is not beauty, and sand-paper never finished a piece of bad work.

You can't do a fine thing without having seen fine examples.

Believe that time is going to help you do what you want.

Give up the idea of 'color' for awhile! Consider masses - values, only... One dark and one light place in every picture.

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

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.

Nature is economical. She puts her lights and darks only where she needs them.

When an artist leaves his work to amuse people, he loses his time and their respect. If people are to be amused by artists, it must be by employing them in their legitimate occupation.

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.

Inspiration is nothing without work.

I don't like persuaded sitters. I never could paint a cat if the cat had any scruples, religious, superstitious, or otherwise, about sitting.

What is nobler than a man wresting and wringing his bread from the stubborn soil by the sweat of his brow and the break of his back for his wife and children!