Scully Nuggets

June 9, 2012 in Art Making, Wisdom | 18 comments

Two from Sean Scully:

The power of a painting has to come from the inside out, not the outside in. It’s not just an image; it’s an image with a body, and that body has to contain its spirit. A painting, really, is made by its reason for being there. What’s behind it decides everything. It’s not just a question of attrractiveness or correctness; it can’t be fixed afterwards or by additions. How it starts will define how it ends. So it’s the weight of the intention that defines everything.

My paintings talk of relationships. How bodies come together. How they touch. How they separate. How they live together, in harmony and disharmony. The character of bodies changes constantly through my work. According to color. The opacity and transparency of how the surface is made. This gives it its character and its nature. Its edge defines its relationship to its neighbor and how it exists in context. My paintings want to tell stories that are an abstracted equivalent of how the world of human relationships is made and unmade. How it is possible to evolve as a human being, in this.

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18 comments

  1. Stephanie Hobart’s avatar

    Stephanie Hobart on June 9, 2012 at 7:20 pm

    Great paintings, wonderful writing. Thanks so much for this, Deb. Stephanie

    1. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

      Deborah Barlow on June 9, 2012 at 7:54 pm

      Thanks Steph. They are keepers, both of them.

  2. Nancy Natale’s avatar

    Nancy Natale on June 9, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    All so true and what a photo! Thanks, Deborah! I was talking about intention with my students at the conference and how changing intentions mid-painting just makes an unsuccessful piece. I think I’m going to borrow this quote (with attribution to you) for a post about my conference workshops.

    1. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

      Deborah Barlow on June 9, 2012 at 7:55 pm

      Nancy, go for it in your conference workshop post. So insightful. Both of these quotes spoke to me.

  3. Maureen’s avatar

    Maureen on June 9, 2012 at 9:53 pm

    A few years ago I attended a small gathering at Phillips Collection where Scully spoke in advance of his show. It was a delight to meet and hear him speak, and the show was terrific.

    Great photo.

    1. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

      Deborah Barlow on June 10, 2012 at 11:09 am

      Lucky you Maureen. I’ve been a long time fan of his work but never had the pleasure to hear him speak.

  4. sbmacinnis’s avatar

    sbmacinnis on June 10, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Scully is one of the greats!

  5. sbmacinnis’s avatar

    sbmacinnis on June 10, 2012 at 10:44 am

    Reblogged this on Painter's Progress and commented:
    I love this image of Scully.

    1. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

      Deborah Barlow on June 10, 2012 at 11:10 am

      Thanks for the reblog!

  6. Molecules of Emotion’s avatar

    Molecules of Emotion on June 10, 2012 at 11:05 am

    Truly inspirational, excellent post.

  7. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

    Deborah Barlow on June 10, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Thanks for finding your way here. I took a look at your work–very evocative and memorable.

    1. Molecules of Emotion’s avatar

      Molecules of Emotion on June 10, 2012 at 11:29 am

      Thank you Deborah, that’s appreciated, kind regards.

  8. Tamar Zinn’s avatar

    Tamar Zinn on June 10, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    Excellent nuggets indeed! And a terrific photo.

    1. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

      Deborah Barlow on June 10, 2012 at 5:27 pm

      Thanks Tamar. Glad you connected with these two as well.

  9. BURGESSART’s avatar

    BURGESSART on June 10, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    Delighted to discover these Scully Nuggets on your post. He, like Agnes Martin, is a master of the profound from the simple. Thank you.

    1. Deborah Barlow’s avatar

      Deborah Barlow on June 10, 2012 at 6:51 pm

      I would add Philip Guston and Tom Nozkowski to that list of “profound but simple.” Thanks for stopping by.

  10. Sonali Dalal’s avatar

    Sonali Dalal on June 11, 2012 at 4:28 am

    Lovely Indigoes..

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