--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As soon as I start reading, drawing comes…" description: "\"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 complet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/barry-mcgee-23113_about_as-soon-as-i-start-reading-drawing-comes_1431610.jpg" --- # As soon as I start reading, drawing comes to me more… ![“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.” quote by Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/barry-mcgee-23113_about_as-soon-as-i-start-reading-drawing-comes_1431610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/barry-mcgee-23113_about_as-soon-as-i-start-reading-drawing-comes_1431610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/barry-mcgee-23113_about_as-soon-as-i-start-reading-drawing-comes_1431610.jpg) > “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.” [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-yorkers/) [Plane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plane/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Sketchbooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketchbooks/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Yorkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yorkers/) ## Related quotes > [It was an incredible resource. I'd sit with a big stack of bound New Yorkers in the library and read through, especially the 'Talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/it-was-an-incredible-resource-i-d-sit-with-a-big-stack-of-bound-new/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Oh yes, I'm at my happiest when I have a good idea and I'm drawing it well, and it comes out well and somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/oh-yes-i-m-at-my-happiest-when-i-have-a-good-idea-and-i-m-drawing-it/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [When I draw it feels very natural - intuitive. I don't think about it, I just do it. My visual vocabulary is self-selecting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-jones/when-i-draw-it-feels-very-natural-intuitive-i-don-t-think-about-it-i/) [Arthur Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-jones/) > [And after drawing comes composition. A well-composed painting is half done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bonnard/and-after-drawing-comes-composition-a-well-composed-painting-is-half/) [Pierre Bonnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bonnard/) > [“Sketchbooks and journals are the street lamps that illuminate the artist's journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-waldman/sketchbooks-and-journals-are-the-street-lamps-that-illuminate-the/) Neil Waldman > [I filled my sketchbook with drawings, very much as any educated girl of my generation might have kept a diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriele-munter/i-filled-my-sketchbook-with-drawings-very-much-as-any-educated-girl/) Gabriele Munter > [For me, the sketchbooks are more like a secret and wholly spontaneous jeu d'esprit and some of them I like as much as anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-motherwell/for-me-the-sketchbooks-are-more-like-a-secret-and-wholly-spontaneous/) [Robert Motherwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-motherwell/) > [ 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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/now-he-s-cinna-arranging-things-around-my-living-room-clothing/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [When I was either 7 or 8 years old, I did a sketch every day of my teacher and what she wore. At the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/when-i-was-either-7-or-8-years-old-i-did-a-sketch-every-day-of-my/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) > [When I was young I drew constantly in my sketchbooks to learn to see things. My first teacher in school, Gilbert Stone, taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-florian/when-i-was-young-i-drew-constantly-in-my-sketchbooks-to-learn-to-see/) [Douglas Florian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-florian/) > [Ever since I was very young, as far back as I can remember, I have loved making pictures. I knew even as a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-carle/ever-since-i-was-very-young-as-far-back-as-i-can-remember-i-have/) [Eric Carle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-carle/) > [She was a Jew feeder without a question in the world on that man's first night in Molching. She was an arm reacher, deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/she-was-a-jew-feeder-without-a-question-in-the-world-on-that-man-s/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [ Learn how to draw. It's the basis of what we \[animation directors\] do. Keep a sketchbook. Try making a very simple little film. Try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-musker/learn-how-to-draw-it-s-the-basis-of-what-we-animation-directors-do/) [John Musker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-musker/) > [The sketch hunter moves through life as he finds it, not passing negligently the things he loves, but stopping to know them, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/the-sketch-hunter-moves-through-life-as-he-finds-it-not-passing/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [When I see someone with an immaculate sketchbook, I don't trust that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kody-chamberlain/when-i-see-someone-with-an-immaculate-sketchbook-i-don-t-trust-that/) Kody Chamberlain ## More by Barry McGee > [I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids-from-every-social-extraction/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [If I could get the respect of 14-year-olds, I'm happy. They're the toughest audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/if-i-could-get-the-respect-of-14-year-olds-i-m-happy-they-re-the/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I like the idea that you can paint something outdoors, and anyone can see it. It's open to anyone, and people have to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-like-the-idea-that-you-can-paint-something-outdoors-and-anyone-can/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [Some of my favorite pieces are from thrift shops. When I find something I really love, I live, work and sleep in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/some-of-my-favorite-pieces-are-from-thrift-shops-when-i-find/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [That's immediately how I gauge how healthy a city is-by the amount of tags. It's just in direct competition with advertising. It's still one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/that-s-immediately-how-i-gauge-how-healthy-a-city-is-by-the-amount-of/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [Street artists need to get back to actually doing things on the streets instead of in the galleries where they all seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/street-artists-need-to-get-back-to-actually-doing-things-on-the/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [The parts of graffiti I like are really antagonizing still - it's not something that a museum would really embrace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/the-parts-of-graffiti-i-like-are-really-antagonizing-still-it-s-not/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I just try to get away with as much as I can. I don't think that's very radical in the art world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-just-try-to-get-away-with-as-much-as-i-can-i-don-t-think-that-s/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I want to do just, like, regular art. Whatever is made today on canvas goes up against all of art history. Its the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-want-to-do-just-like-regular-art-whatever-is-made-today-on-canvas/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I read in a weird way. It comes in waves, and then I start, like, five different books at once. It takes me six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-read-in-a-weird-way-it-comes-in-waves-and-then-i-start-like-five/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I have tons of art books. I have them all over the place. They are in my car, in my bag, and in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-have-tons-of-art-books-i-have-them-all-over-the-place-they-are-in/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [Most inspiration still comes from bicycling around San Francisco. This city never fails to inspire me. It is one of the most vibrant cities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/most-inspiration-still-comes-from-bicycling-around-san-francisco-this/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I see a really good tag on a building, a man passed out in the middle of the street, a couple hugging, a cop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-see-a-really-good-tag-on-a-building-a-man-passed-out-in-the-middle/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [For me, graffiti means making marks on surfaces using just about anything, be it markers, spray, paint, chalk, lipstick, varnish, ink. Or it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/for-me-graffiti-means-making-marks-on-surfaces-using-just-about/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) > [I'm really into California art from the '60s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-m-really-into-california-art-from-the-60s/) [Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) [Explore all 26 Barry McGee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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