William Morris
William Morris
William Morriswas an English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist. Associated with the British Arts and Crafts Movement, he was a major contributor to the revival of traditional British textile arts and methods of production. His literary contributions helped to establish the modern fantasy genre, while he played a significant role in propagating the early socialist movement in Britain...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth24 March 1834
giving-up dark color
Give up the idea of 'color' for awhile! Consider masses - values, only... One dark and one light place in every picture.
strength light add
There is force and vitality in a first sketch from life which the after-work rarely has... In your sketches keep the first vivid impression! Add no details that shall weaken it! Look first for the big things! 1st. Proportions! 2nd. Values - or masses of light and shade. 3rd. Details that will not spoil the beginnings!
simple squares giving
Let me give you a few simple rules for learning to draw. First, see of what shape the whole thing is. Next, put in the line that marks the movement of the whole. Don't have more than one movement in a figure; you can't patch parts together. Simple lines; then simple values. Establish the fact of the whole. Is it square, oblong, cube, or what is it?
pain fall giving
It gives a fellow an awful shiver to hear the first shovelful of dirt and gravel rattle down upon the coffin; but after it is covered, it falls gently and makes no sound. The feeling of rest is perfect. There's no more nagging, no more pain!
artist people occupation
When an artist leaves his work to amuse people, he loses his time and their respect. If people are to be amused by artists, it must be by employing them in their legitimate occupation.
eggs white drawing
How are things visible? Can you see an egg against a white background? Not by drawing a line around it can you make it evident.
impossible bases ifs
It's impossible to make a picture without values. Values are the basis. If they are not, tell me what is the basis.
canvas wells draws
You can always draw as well as you know how to. I flatter myself that I feel more than I express on canvas; but I know that is not so.
doubters painting conviction
How are we going to make painters by lecturing to them? We are going to make questioners, doubters, and talkers. We are going to make painters by painting ourselves, and by showing the paintings of others. By working frankly from our convictions, we are going to make them work frankly from theirs.
simple thinking despair
I tell you it's no joke to paint a portrait. I wonder that I am not more timid when I begin. I feel almost certain that I can do it. It seems very simple. I don't think of the time that is sure to come when I almost despair, when the whole thing seems hopeless.
vulnerable
We are potentially vulnerable in just about anything we do anywhere.
few home knows others
When he understands, as few others do, something of his home that is funny, or sad, or tragic, or cruel, or beautiful, or true, he knows he must do so as a stranger.