"It is very good advice to believe only what an artist does, rather than what he says about his work"

This quote by David Hockney motivates us to concentrate on the work of an artist, rather than their words. He is suggesting that the very best method to understand an artist's work is to take a look at the art itself, instead of depending on the artist's analysis of it. This is since the artist's words may be prejudiced or subjective, whereas the art work is a tangible representation of their ideas and feelings. Hockney is highlighting the significance of looking at the artwork itself, rather than counting on the artist's words to interpret it. He is suggesting that the art work promotes itself which it is the best way to understand the artist's intentions. By looking at the art work, we can gain a better understanding of the artist's vision and the message they are trying to communicate.