Ben Shahn Artist Quotations

Personal style, be it that of Michelangelo, or that of Tintoretto... has always been that peculiar personal rapport which has developed between an artist and his medium.

What is it about conformity itself that causes us all to require it of our neighbors and of our artists and then, with consummate fickleness, to forget those who fall into line and eternally celebrate those who do not?

I've been asked often what is the difference between an amateur and a professional artist, and I will tell you. An amateur artist is one who works all week at something else so he can paint on Saturday and Sunday. A professional artist is one whose wife works so he can paint all the time.

The natural reaction of the artist will be strongly towards bringing man back into focus as the center of importance.

The artist is likely to be looked upon with some uneasiness by the more conservative members of society.

Being an artist is not only what you do, but how you live your life.

An ametuer is an artist who supports himself with outside jobs which enable him to paint. A professional is someone whose wife works to enable him to paint.

I believe that if it were left to artists to choose their own labels, most would choose none.