--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my…" description: "\"I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my identity in the earlier work, though a lot of people have brought up the fact that I drew myself without eyeba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg" --- # I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my identity in the… ![“I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my identity in the earlier work, though a lot of people have brought up the fact that I drew myself without eyeballs.” quote by Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg) > “I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my identity in the earlier work, though a lot of people have brought up the fact that I drew myself without eyeballs.” [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He did not intend to conceal his identity, but his self‑portrait without eyes draws attention. **In simple terms:** He unintentionally revealed himself through art. Key Takeaway Recognize how artistic choices affect perception. Themes identity art self‑portrait Mood reflective analytical Type interpretive commentary When to use this quote - gallery exhibition - comic strip - personal branding - public perception Key Concepts visual metaphor self‑representation Questions to Reflect On - How does omission shape identity perception? - What does the missing gaze symbolize? A Different Perspective Viewers may misinterpret artistic intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Consciously Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciously-hiding-4448578/) [Earlier Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier-work-2363225/) [Eyeballs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyeballs/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Hiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding/) [Hiding Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiding-identity-4448580/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Identity Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity-earlier-4448579/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Wasn Consciously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-consciously-2311049/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm not consciously hiding anything.' After Ruth said that she wondered whether it was true. Then again, who revealed everything - the irritation, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/i-m-not-consciously-hiding-anything-after-ruth-said-that-she-wondered/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [Back then, it's weird, because I wasn't consciously thinking about it and I think that's why the doors opened and I had the opportunity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-hervey/back-then-it-s-weird-because-i-wasn-t-consciously-thinking-about-it/) [Jillian Hervey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-hervey/) > [“Regret implies that one wasn't consciously present during a key moment in their life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/regret-implies-that-one-wasn-t-consciously-present-during-a-key/) [Dr. Jacinta Mpalyenkana, Ph.D, MBA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-jacinta-mpalyenkana-ph-d-mba/) > [It wasn't something that I was consciously aware of - being obsessed with obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-peters/it-wasn-t-something-that-i-was-consciously-aware-of-being-obsessed/) [Maisie Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-peters/) > [When I think of some of my earlier work, it really seems a fortunate coincidence that I succeeded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-jahn/when-i-think-of-some-of-my-earlier-work-it-really-seems-a-fortunate/) [Helmut Jahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-jahn/) > [If I look at Dad's earlier work - 'Bandini,' 'Satyakam,' 'Chupke Chupke,' 'Jeevan Mrityu' - and then his later work, I realize that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay-deol/if-i-look-at-dad-s-earlier-work-bandini-satyakam-chupke-chupke-jeevan/) [Abhay Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay-deol/) > [That said, be mindful, to someone who's never seen any of my work, it's just a movie with actors. So it's only those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/that-said-be-mindful-to-someone-who-s-never-seen-any-of-my-work-it-s/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [Most of the criticism of my work was pretty good, but occasionally it would not be. And I just sort of felt that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/most-of-the-criticism-of-my-work-was-pretty-good-but-occasionally-it/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [Sarvam'... has no gloss that you associate with my earlier work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/sarvam-has-no-gloss-that-you-associate-with-my-earlier-work/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [When I look at my earlier work, I often wonder why I acted like that, why I wore that dress, why I said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riya-sen/when-i-look-at-my-earlier-work-i-often-wonder-why-i-acted-like-that/) [Riya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riya-sen/) > [Real communication is an attitude, an environment. It is the most interactive of all processes. It requires countless hours of eyeball to eyeball, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/real-communication-is-an-attitude-an-environment-it-is-the-most/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I've got a good set of eyeballs on me, so I can spot talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rollins/i-ve-got-a-good-set-of-eyeballs-on-me-so-i-can-spot-talent/) [Seth Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rollins/) > [TV is a level playing field, and you're competing for eyeballs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/tv-is-a-level-playing-field-and-you-re-competing-for-eyeballs/) [Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/) > [Treat your eyeballs to people who are truly joyful, escapist or interesting for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasia-demetriou/treat-your-eyeballs-to-people-who-are-truly-joyful-escapist-or/) [Natasia Demetriou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasia-demetriou/) > [I want to roll my eyes right now, but the doctor says that if I keep doing it, my ocular muscles might spasm and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz/i-want-to-roll-my-eyes-right-now-but-the-doctor-says-that-if-i-keep/) [LIZ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz/) ## More by Adrian Tomine > [I started publishing my comic while I was still living with my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-started-publishing-my-comic-while-i-was-still-living-with-my-parents/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [The experience of reading a comic should not be the time it takes to turn each page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/the-experience-of-reading-a-comic-should-not-be-the-time-it-takes-to/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [Especially for people of our generation, who really celebrated certain attitudes - the outsider, the loner - it can have a real impact on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/especially-for-people-of-our-generation-who-really-celebrated-certain/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [I think in terms of getting new artists who are not in that sort of stereotypical teenage boy demographic; there's been a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-think-in-terms-of-getting-new-artists-who-are-not-in-that-sort-of/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [I feel like if people are going to go to the effort to get a stamp and, you know, put it on an envelope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-feel-like-if-people-are-going-to-go-to-the-effort-to-get-a-stamp/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [The first time I did a reading/signing thing at Cody's, the woman who did the introduction said something like that, and I wasn't the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/the-first-time-i-did-a-reading-signing-thing-at-cody-s-the-woman-who/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [Basically, I know there's no turning back the clock, and it's sort of pointless to mourn what has passed, but I don't know if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/basically-i-know-there-s-no-turning-back-the-clock-and-it-s-sort-of/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [For a stretch of time, I got really caught up in the idea that what people liked about my work was that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/for-a-stretch-of-time-i-got-really-caught-up-in-the-idea-that-what/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [I wanted all the responsibility to rest on the content of the story. I tried to make the visual style almost invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-wanted-all-the-responsibility-to-rest-on-the-content-of-the-story-i/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [I was just a guy who did adult or alternative comic books. And then suddenly to be, like, a New Yorker cover artist was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-was-just-a-guy-who-did-adult-or-alternative-comic-books-and-then/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [I've always been really impressed with some of the longer graphic novels and thought it would be really amazing if one day I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-ve-always-been-really-impressed-with-some-of-the-longer-graphic/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [There were certainly some people who wanted me to do a feel-good story that affirmed a lot of very commonly held beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/there-were-certainly-some-people-who-wanted-me-to-do-a-feel-good/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [Without fail, every cartoonist that I asked advice from bent over backward to be helpful and encouraging. It took many forms: some of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/without-fail-every-cartoonist-that-i-asked-advice-from-bent-over/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [I'm always pointing things out to native New Yorkers that I think are weird about this place and their culture and all that. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-m-always-pointing-things-out-to-native-new-yorkers-that-i-think-are/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [For me, as much about being a parent as it is about being a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/for-me-as-much-about-being-a-parent-as-it-is-about-being-a-child/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) [Explore all 58 Adrian Tomine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my identity in the earlier work, though a lot of people have brought up the fact that I drew myself without eyeballs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adrian Tomine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my-identity-in-the-earlier-work/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my-identity-in-the-earlier-work/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2cb/adrian-tomine-11778_eyeballs_i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my_1328368.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my identity in the earlier work, though a lot of people have brought…” — Adrian Tomine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adrian Tomine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I certainly wasn't consciously hiding my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my-identity-in-the-earlier-work/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-certainly-wasn-t-consciously-hiding-my-identity-in-the-earlier-work/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```