more words by agnes martin

Inspiration is there all the time for anyone whose mind is not covered over with thoughts and concerns...


Adults are very busy, taught to run all the time.  You can not run and be very aware of your inspirations.


I am saying wake up to your inspirations and nothing at all about what you should do in this life.


If you are an artist the intellectual way has to be given up.


I want to emphasize this point.  An inspired work of art is not like the artist.  If inspiration is only possible when we are not functioning - and it is - then it really is like a gift and not of our experience, best of all it is not like us.


If your sensibilities (your response to higher feelings) respond, THAT'S IT.


If your sensibilities are awake, you will respond,  It will be a pleasant experience recalling happy times.  You must see that no talking will help and that no defense is necessary...


...they can tell just where you are in your work by looking at you without seeing your work.  When they come to see the work it is not to judge it but to enjoy it.  They already know what the quality of it will be by having met you.


With it's changing trends, (the art scene) bears very little relation to ART...I particularly don't want to be on the art scene.  If you come on with the scene, you go off with the scene.

excerpts from the book, Agnes Martin: Paintings, Writings, Remembrances by Arne Glimcher

And just in case you didn't see this.