Reflections: From his sketchbook notes

You must be completely organized within your reach, the essentials. Don't lose time fussing about locating colors, brushes etc. It will take numerous bad days to have a fairly successful time. I have experienced sometimes for no particular reasons a good day and then when one expects the ideal, which seldom does present itself one has a poor time (notes, May 9, 1977).
Preparation for the immediate attack or action is essential for this kind of working. One can train the eye for the plan ahead. Often the best results are the result of quick action. To think may waste away the moment (notes, November 27, 1978).

Try a study when the weather is low, a kind of dullness will often lead to a better reading of different planes of color, lights and darks are more apparent. Lights and values do not change so rapidly. Weather can be an important advantage (notes, May 9, 1977).
The right kind of paper is the paper that is right for your needs. A paper that behaves just the way you like it to act, this is very important to your direct action at a given moment. One cannot stress this point too lightly, often the difference between a successful attack, or a rout. Remember the brush need not rub the paper at all, so to say. You mix the wash that you think will match the tones in the object, or objects you are looking at (notes, April 6, 1977).
Learn to think in a crisis: this takes many years of life. However, too much thinking takes the edge off the first excitement, which means a lot for the fresh quality one desires. One cannot expect too much, but if the attack is strong and direct, your efforts will have heart (Notes, May 9, 1977).
Monet’s idea of returning again and again to the same location on successive days was such a pursuit. Not only did this give him the inner calm which added strength to his pursuits, but at the same time gave him more chances to arrange to reach his individual likes (notes, April 6, 1977).
The importance of being ready to spot the moment and go for the moments, [is] sometimes impractical. Don’t try too much, go for a small bit. Get to love a place (Notes, May 9, 1977).
You want the first commitment to come close to your desires. This may not always happen of course, but it is very satisfying when it does. Make the observation, yet do not attempt too much. It is important to be ready to spot the moment (notes, April 6, 1977).
Quick action and thinking ahead for the attack are essential to the quick sketch, quick impressions (Notes, May 9, 1977).

Have your palette set up before you begin, develop the habit of checking it each day. Often the last minutes of a particular light are the most rewarding (notes, May 9, 1977).
Don’t have others on your mind. Learn to think only of that moment and how much it means to you (notes, April 6, 1977).

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