Aphorisms for Artists by Walter Darby Bannard

Aphorism #62

Planning is fine. Preparing is better.

Larry Poons once said to me, “Setup is everything.”

Making art is a state of continual invention. Invention causes change and subverts planning. You cannot know what is going to happen, so you’d better be ready do the right thing at the right time.

I always have a plan for my next painting, and part of my plan is to abandon my plan as soon as it crumbles. My materials, however, are always right at hand, ready and waiting.

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