About Quote by Barry McGee
“As soon as I start reading, drawing comes to me more easily. I find I work in my sketchbooks more. But if I'm working on a new show, my reading completely stops except when I'm on a plane. I take a stack of New Yorkers with me. I feel awful about those stacks of New Yorkers.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art magazine feature, 2018
Reading fuels artistic inspiration, but focus shifts when creating new work, leading to selective consumption of material.
In simple terms: Reading sparks drawing, but focus changes.
Key Takeaway
Balance reading and creating for artistic growth.
Themes
creativity
focus
inspiration
process
Mood
contemplative
energetic
Type
practical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- studio work
- travel research
- concept development
- creative blocks
Key Concepts
artistic practice
cognitive flow
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide what to read for a project?
- What helps you transition from research to creation?
A Different Perspective
Over‑consumption of reference material can stifle originality.
![“Now he's [Cinna] arranging things around my living room: Clothing, fabrics, and sketchbooks with designs he's drawn. I pick one up and examine one of the dresses I supposedly created. You know, I think I show a lot of promise," I say. Get dressed, you worthless thing.” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/38f/suzanne-collins-60_arranging-things_now-he-s-cinna-arranging-things-around-m_473799.jpg)
