--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I often wonder whether I would have done…" description: "\"I often wonder whether I would have done as well in painting.\" — Arnold Newman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png" --- # I often wonder whether I would have done as well in… ![“I often wonder whether I would have done as well in painting.” quote by Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png) > “I often wonder whether I would have done as well in painting.” [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker doubts their artistic talent, questioning if they could succeed in painting. **In simple terms:** Self‑doubt about painting ability. Key Takeaway Explore creative potential. Themes self‑reflection artistic ambition confidence Mood inquisitive hopeful Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - art classes - personal projects - mentorship Key Concepts creative expression skill development Questions to Reflect On - What blocks your creative confidence? - How could you test your painting skills? A Different Perspective Talent may be nurtured, not innate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wonder Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder-painting-4903404/) ## Related quotes > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It is well for young men to have a model, but let them draw the curtain over it while they are painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/it-is-well-for-young-men-to-have-a-model-but-let-them-draw-the/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [When I look back on the years of excessive self-doubt, I wonder how I was able to make my paintings. In part, I managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-schapiro/when-i-look-back-on-the-years-of-excessive-self-doubt-i-wonder-how-i/) [Miriam Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-schapiro/) > [It all has to do with art - writing, painting, things I've done for a long time but just never had enough time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-newsted/it-all-has-to-do-with-art-writing-painting-things-i-ve-done-for-a/) [Jason Newsted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-newsted/) > [I had always planned to make a large painting of the early spring, when the first leaves are at the bottom of the trees,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hockney/i-had-always-planned-to-make-a-large-painting-of-the-early-spring/) [David Hockney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hockney/) > [I am a frayed and nibbled survivor in a fallen world, and I am getting along. I am aging and eaten and have done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/i-am-a-frayed-and-nibbled-survivor-in-a-fallen-world-and-i-am-getting/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Philosophy begins in wonder. And, at the end, when philosophic thought has done its best, the wonder remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/philosophy-begins-in-wonder-and-at-the-end-when-philosophic-thought/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“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/) > [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I love painting. I love writing. I love creating and being around people who are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-love-painting-i-love-writing-i-love-creating-and-being-around/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [I saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [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/) ## More by Arnold Newman > [It seems to me that no one picture can ever be a final summation of a personality. There are so many facets in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/it-seems-to-me-that-no-one-picture-can-ever-be-a-final-summation-of-a/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [We don't take pictures with cameras, we take them with our hearts and minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/we-don-t-take-pictures-with-cameras-we-take-them-with-our-hearts-and/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [I am convinced that any photographic attempt to show the complete man is nonsense. We can only show, as best we can, what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/i-am-convinced-that-any-photographic-attempt-to-show-the-complete-man/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [Visual ideas combined with technology combined with personal interpretation equals photography. Each must hold it's own; if it doesn't, the thing collapses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/visual-ideas-combined-with-technology-combined-with-personal/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [We do not make photographs with our cameras. We make them with our minds, with our hearts, with our ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/we-do-not-make-photographs-with-our-cameras-we-make-them-with-our/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [Photography is 1% talent and 99% moving furniture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/photography-is-1-talent-and-99-moving-furniture/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [There are no rules and regulations for perfect composition. If there were we would be able to put all the information into a computer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/there-are-no-rules-and-regulations-for-perfect-composition-if-there/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [We don't take photographs with our cameras, we take them with our hearts and our minds. They are a reflection of ourselves...wha t we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/we-don-t-take-photographs-with-our-cameras-we-take-them-with-our/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [Those who call themselves art photographers are pompous, arrogant egoists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/those-who-call-themselves-art-photographers-are-pompous-arrogant/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [The subject must be thought of in terms of the 20th century, of houses he lives in and places he works, in terms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/the-subject-must-be-thought-of-in-terms-of-the-20th-century-of-houses/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [Photography, as we all know, is not real at all. It is an illusion of reality with which we create our own private world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/photography-as-we-all-know-is-not-real-at-all-it-is-an-illusion-of/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they'll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/a-lot-of-photographers-think-that-if-they-buy-a-better-camera-they-ll/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [Influences come from everywhere but when you are actually shooting you work primarily by instinct. But what is instinct? It is a lifetime accumulation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/influences-come-from-everywhere-but-when-you-are-actually-shooting/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [The camera is a mirror with a memory, but it cannot think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/the-camera-is-a-mirror-with-a-memory-but-it-cannot-think/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) > [I didn't set out to do something different so much as do something that interested me. I wasn't trying to be avant-garde - that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/i-didn-t-set-out-to-do-something-different-so-much-as-do-something/) [Arnold Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) [Explore all 17 Arnold Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/) ## 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. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. 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 often wonder whether I would have done as well in painting.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arnold Newman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done-as-well-in-painting/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done-as-well-in-painting/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b82/arnold-newman-29454_artist_i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done_601571.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I often wonder whether I would have done as well in painting.” — Arnold Newman", "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": "Arnold Newman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-newman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I often wonder whether I would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done-as-well-in-painting/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-newman/i-often-wonder-whether-i-would-have-done-as-well-in-painting/#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 } } ] } ```