1. To overcome his limitations: Close suffered from a rare neurological condition called prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, which made it difficult for him to recognize faces. He felt a strong urge to confront this condition and to try to understand how faces worked, leading him to create his signature grid-based portraits.
2. To explore the human form: Close was fascinated by the complexity and individuality of human faces, and his paintings became a way to dissect and understand the subtle variations that make each person unique.
3. To experiment with artistic techniques: Close was a relentless innovator, constantly pushing the boundaries of art. He experimented with different mediums, techniques, and scales, often using unconventional methods like using his own body as a paintbrush.
4. To create a visual dialogue: Close's paintings were not merely about creating realistic representations, but about creating a dialogue with the viewer. He wanted to challenge the way we look at faces and to force us to confront the inherent biases and assumptions we bring to our perception.
5. To express his own identity: Close's artwork was deeply personal, and his exploration of the human face was often a reflection of his own struggles and triumphs. His work explored themes of identity, perception, and the human condition, ultimately revealing his own unique artistic vision.
In addition to these motivations, Close also painted for the sheer joy of creating art, and for the satisfaction of mastering his craft. His dedication to his work and his relentless experimentation led him to become one of the most influential artists of his generation.