I spent the afternoon at the de Young Museum, totally enthralled by the Diebenkorn exhibit. He has always been a favorite of mine, and when I walked in and was surrounded by his work I felt a total rush and I think I even cried a little. It was so exciting to see his artwork up close as well as from a distance—so very inspiring and a must see!
I was also really struck by his notes to himself on beginning a painting:
- Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
- The pretty, initial position, which falls short of completeness, is not to be valued—except as a stimulus for further moves.
- Do search. But in order to find other that what is searched for.
- Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities, but consider them absolutely expendable.
- Don't "discover" a subject—of any kind.
- Somehow don't be bored—but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
- Mistakes can't be erased, but they move you from your present position.
- Keep thinking about Pollyanna.
- Tolerate chaos.
- Be careful only in a perverse way.
—Richard Diebenkorn
Untitled (Yellow Collage) 1966 Richard Diebenkorn
Cityscape #1, 1963 Richard Diebenkorn