June 13, 1943 edition of the New York Times, brief manifesto: Adolph Gottlieb with Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman.
1940s
“It is a widely accepted notion among painters that it does not matter what one paints as long as it is well painted. This is the essence of academism. There is no such thing as good painting about nothing. We assert that only that subject matter is valid which is tragic and timeless. That is why we profess spiritual kinship with primitive and archaic art.”
Joint statement with Adolph Gottlieb, to Edwin A. Jewell, often referred to as a Manifesto. (written 7 June 1943; published 13 June 1943)
1940's
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Mark Rothko 36
American painter 1903–1970Related quotes

As quoted in The Quotable Artist (2002) by Peggy Hadden, p. 71.
As quoted in The Quotable Artist (2002) by Peggy Hadden, p. 72.
undated quotes
Variant: They who are compelled to paint by force, without being in the necessary mood, can produce only ungainly works, because this profession requires an unruffled temper.

“Painting it's a blind man profession. Painter is painting not what he sees but what he feels.”

Quote from De Cirico's text 'A DISCOURSE ON THE MATERIAL SUBSTANCE OF PAINT', 1942 http://www.fondazionedechirico.org/wp-content/uploads/541-547Metafisica5_6.pdf, p. 542
1920s and later

Source: 1960's, What is Pop Art? Interviews with eight painters' (1963), pp. 25-27

Quoted in Brian Sherwin, "Art Space Talk: James Rosenquist," http://www.myartspace.com/blog/2008/04/art-space-talk-james-rosenquist.html myartspace.com (2008-04-04)

“It does not matter how badly you paint so long as you don't paint badly like other people.”
Source: Confessions of a Young Man http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12278/12278-h/12278-h.htm (1886), Ch. 6.

Source: 1930s, On my Painting (1938), pp. 12-13

1946 - 1963, interview with John Richardson' (1957)