William Dobell Quotes & Sayings

Honing a thing down until you can still get through with economy, that's power. — William Dobell

I am always worried whether I am doing my best work. — William Dobell

The real artist is striving to depict his subject's character and to stress the caricature, but at least it is art which is alive. — William Dobell

I never wanted to be commissioned to paint portraits. I like to choose my own subject and make a character study from it. — William Dobell

So long as people expect paintings to be simply coloured photographs they get no individuality and, in the case of portraits, no characterisation. — William Dobell

A sincere artist is not one who makes a faithful attempt to put on to canvas what is in front of him, but one who tries to create something which is, in itself, a living thing. — William Dobell

My sitters get tired waiting for commissioned portraits. If they commission me they have to wait years sometimes because I discard so many. — William Dobell

My best work is always done ... when I'm experimenting. If I stop experimenting I feel it just becomes a drudgery. — William Dobell

I paint as I want to with no holds barred. I am more contented lately than I have been for a long time about my work. But not dangerously so. — William Dobell