Morris Graves

“My first real breakthrough was realizing that my paintings didn't have to be a representation of a thing, but could be the thing itself.”

“You can't do it, and you can't not do it.”

“I paint to evolve a changing language of symbols, a language with which to remark upon the qualities of our mysterious capacities which direct us toward ultimate reality.”

“I paint to rest from the phenomena of the external world.”

“I am interested in the inner eye.”

“The bird is an ancient symbol of the soul.”