Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

61 Thought-Provoking Quotes By Chuck Close That Will Foster New Gusto

Famous As: Painter
Born On: July 5, 1940
Died On: August 19, 2021
Born In: Monroe, Washington, U.S.
Died At Age: 81
Chuck Close is an American painter respected for his photorealist portraits. All through his career, he has repeatedly proved to be versatile. He never sticks to one technique of painting and keeps on inventing new ways. His airbrush technique was so unique that it inspired the development of the present day ink jet printer. He started off by re-creating Polaroid of women on large canvases. He was soon popular among the masses and he painted the portrait of some of the most famous personalities including former President Bill Clinton. His portrait of composer Philip Glass continues to be the most notable work of his career. This abstract painter suffers from a neurological disorder called face blindness, which prevents him from recognizing faces. The inspiring thing is that this medical condition couldn’t stop him from drawing perfect portraits of faces. His career has witnessed various wall-size tapestry portraits which have proved his mettle as an artist. A spinal artery collapse in 1988 that left him critically paralyzed could not deter his passion for painting and till date he expresses his thoughts through his work, life and paintings which are sought after by collectors and museums. Let is browse through inspiring thoughts and quotes by Chuck Close which will incite you about life.
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Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.

Amateurs look for inspiration; the rest of us just get up and go to work.

Chuck Close
All the fingerprint paintings are done without a grid.

All the fingerprint paintings are done without a grid.

Chuck Close
I wanted to translate from one flat surface to another. In fact, my learning disabilities controlled a lot of things. I don't recognize faces, so I'm sure it's what drove me to portraits in the first place.

I wanted to translate from one flat surface to another. In fact, my learning disabilities controlled a lot of things. I don't recognize faces, so I'm sure it's what drove me to portraits in the first place.

Chuck Close
I'm very interested in how we read things, especially the link between seeing two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, because of how I read.

I'm very interested in how we read things, especially the link between seeing two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, because of how I read.

Chuck Close
Never let anyone define what you are capable of by using parameters that don't apply to you.

Never let anyone define what you are capable of by using parameters that don't apply to you.

Chuck Close
You don't have to reinvent the wheel every day. Today you will do what you did yesterday, and tomorrow you will do what you did today. Eventually you will get somewhere.

You don't have to reinvent the wheel every day. Today you will do what you did yesterday, and tomorrow you will do what you did today. Eventually you will get somewhere.

Chuck Close
I always thought that one of the reasons why a painter likes especially to have other painters look at his or her work is the shared experience of having pushed paint around.

I always thought that one of the reasons why a painter likes especially to have other painters look at his or her work is the shared experience of having pushed paint around.

Chuck Close
My mother was a piano teacher, my father an inventor. He invented the reflective paint they still use on airstrips. They had faith in my ambition, and I think that made all the difference.

My mother was a piano teacher, my father an inventor. He invented the reflective paint they still use on airstrips. They had faith in my ambition, and I think that made all the difference.

Chuck Close
Inspiration is highly overrated. If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it's not liable to ever happen. More often than not, work is salvation.

Inspiration is highly overrated. If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it's not liable to ever happen. More often than not, work is salvation.

Chuck Close
A face is a road map of someone's life. Without any need to amplify that or draw attention to it, there's a great deal that's communicated about who this person is and what their life experiences have been.

A face is a road map of someone's life. Without any need to amplify that or draw attention to it, there's a great deal that's communicated about who this person is and what their life experiences have been.

Chuck Close
Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.

Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.

Chuck Close

There are so many artists that are dyslexic or learning disabled, it's just phenomenal. There's also an unbelievably high proportion of artists who are left-handed, and a high correlation between left-handedness and learning disabilities.

Chuck Close
I don't work with inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.

I don't work with inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.

Chuck Close
I'm plagued with indecision in my life. I can't figure out what to order in a restaurant.

I'm plagued with indecision in my life. I can't figure out what to order in a restaurant.

Chuck Close
Every child should have a chance to feel special.

Every child should have a chance to feel special.

Chuck Close

I discovered about 150 dots is the minimum number of dots to make a specific recognizable person. You can make something that looks like a head, with fewer dots, but you won't be able to give much information about who it is.

Chuck Close
Far more interesting than problem solving is problem creation.

Far more interesting than problem solving is problem creation.

Chuck Close
What difference does it make whether you're looking at a photograph or looking at a still life in front of you? You still have to look.

What difference does it make whether you're looking at a photograph or looking at a still life in front of you? You still have to look.

Chuck Close
Art saved my life

Art saved my life

Chuck Close
A photograph doesn't gain weight or lose weight, or change from being happy to being sad. It's frozen. You can use it, then recycle it.

A photograph doesn't gain weight or lose weight, or change from being happy to being sad. It's frozen. You can use it, then recycle it.

Chuck Close
Every idea occurs while you are working. If you are sitting around waiting for inspiration, you could sit there forever.

Every idea occurs while you are working. If you are sitting around waiting for inspiration, you could sit there forever.

Chuck Close
You know, the way art history is taught, often there's nothing that tells you why the painting is great. The description of a lousy painting and the description of a great painting will very much sound the same.

You know, the way art history is taught, often there's nothing that tells you why the painting is great. The description of a lousy painting and the description of a great painting will very much sound the same.

Chuck Close
Painting is the frozen evidence of a performance.

Painting is the frozen evidence of a performance.

Chuck Close
There's something Zen-like about the way I work - it's like raking gravel in a Zen Buddhist garden.

There's something Zen-like about the way I work - it's like raking gravel in a Zen Buddhist garden.

Chuck Close

Painting is the most magical of mediums. The transcendence is truly amazing to me every time I go to a museum and I see how somebody figured another way to rub colored dirt on a flat surface and make space where there is no space or make you think of a life experience.

Chuck Close
Photography is the easiest medium with which to be merely competent. Almost anybody can be competent. It's the hardest medium in which to have some sort of personal vision and to have a signature style.

Photography is the easiest medium with which to be merely competent. Almost anybody can be competent. It's the hardest medium in which to have some sort of personal vision and to have a signature style.

Chuck Close
I think I was driven to paint portraits to commit images of friends and family to memory. I have face blindness, and once a face is flattened out, I can remember it better.

I think I was driven to paint portraits to commit images of friends and family to memory. I have face blindness, and once a face is flattened out, I can remember it better.

Chuck Close
I think women realise that I love women, and very often women seem to love me.

I think women realise that I love women, and very often women seem to love me.

Chuck Close
No one was more surprised than me when my paintings started selling, except maybe my dealer.

No one was more surprised than me when my paintings started selling, except maybe my dealer.

Chuck Close
Sometimes I really want to paint somebody and I don't get a photograph that I want to work from.

Sometimes I really want to paint somebody and I don't get a photograph that I want to work from.

Chuck Close