--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess if you take yourself seriously as…" description: "\"I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there starts either the problem or the beauty of doing good artwork.\" — Bill Griffith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg" --- # I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there… ![“I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there starts either the problem or the beauty of doing good artwork.” quote by Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg) > “I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there starts either the problem or the beauty of doing good artwork.” [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking one's artistic practice seriously brings both challenges and the potential for creating meaningful work. **In simple terms:** Serious art brings difficulty and beauty. Key Takeaway Commitment yields artistic depth. Themes art creativity self‑discipline beauty Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical creative advice When to use this quote - painting a series - writing a graphic novel - curating an exhibition Key Concepts creative tension authenticity Practical Applications - set regular creative goals - embrace constructive critique Questions to Reflect On - What does ‘taking seriously’ mean for a hobbyist? - When does artistic struggle become counterproductive? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize struggle, overlooking practical constraints like time and income. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artwork/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Good art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-art/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [Mike Judge, who I've become friends with over the years never took himself seriously as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/mike-judge-who-i-ve-become-friends-with-over-the-years-never-took/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [“The problem with beauty is you will always be in trouble, when you don’t know what beauty is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/the-problem-with-beauty-is-you-will-always-be-in-trouble-when-you-don/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/questlove/i-feel-like-the-downfall-of-any-person-is-the-second-an-artist-starts/) [Questlove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/questlove/) > [The biggest problem with the beauty industry is that it treats its customers as if they have a lot to be corrected rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rain-dove/the-biggest-problem-with-the-beauty-industry-is-that-it-treats-its/) [Rain Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rain-dove/) > [Everything I do, whether it's producing or signing an artist, always starts with the songs. When I'm listening, I'm looking for a balance that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/everything-i-do-whether-it-s-producing-or-signing-an-artist-always/) [Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/) > [If the artist starts evaluating himself, it’s an enormous block, isn’t it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-guston/if-the-artist-starts-evaluating-himself-it-s-an-enormous-block-isn-t/) [Philip Guston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-guston/) > [The problem with beauty is that it's like being born rich and getting poorer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-collins/the-problem-with-beauty-is-that-it-s-like-being-born-rich-and-getting/) [Joan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-collins/) > [I was thinking that people have to believe you're crazy in order to take you seriously as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danger-mouse/i-was-thinking-that-people-have-to-believe-you-re-crazy-in-order-to-2/) [Danger Mouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danger-mouse/) > [I was thinking that people have to believe you're crazy in order to take you seriously as an artist. If you're wandering the streets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-soderbergh/i-was-thinking-that-people-have-to-believe-you-re-crazy-in-order-to/) [Steven Soderbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-soderbergh/) > [One needs to be on guard against expecting external powers to decide when you can take yourself seriously as an artist. It can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-hawthorne-deming/one-needs-to-be-on-guard-against-expecting-external-powers-to-decide/) [Alison Hawthorne Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-hawthorne-deming/) > [You want to be taken seriously as an artist and not just known as 'that girl wrestler who sings.' So you want to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickie-james/you-want-to-be-taken-seriously-as-an-artist-and-not-just-known-as/) [Mickie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickie-james/) > [It's not easy to go from reality TV to being taken seriously as an artist, so I don't think I'll be doing reality TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-west-coast/it-s-not-easy-to-go-from-reality-tv-to-being-taken-seriously-as-an/) [Chanel West Coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-west-coast/) > [I want people to take me seriously as an artist and to hear that I have something to truly say and to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-fletcher/i-want-people-to-take-me-seriously-as-an-artist-and-to-hear-that-i/) [Darren Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-fletcher/) > [CD's are amazing because you get the artwork, you get to look at the lyrics, you get to look at the behind-the-scenes photos or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/cd-s-are-amazing-because-you-get-the-artwork-you-get-to-look-at-the/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) ## More by Bill Griffith > [Everybody that loves Nancy loves it in a slightly condescending way. Nancy is comics reduced to their most elemental level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/everybody-that-loves-nancy-loves-it-in-a-slightly-condescending-way/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [“My life is a patio of fun.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/my-life-is-a-patio-of-fun/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Well, I've done a lot of strips since I've been here about Zippy and me being in Connecticut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/well-i-ve-done-a-lot-of-strips-since-i-ve-been-here-about-zippy-and/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [The down side of Americans being obsessed with pop culture is that they kind of like it light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/the-down-side-of-americans-being-obsessed-with-pop-culture-is-that/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Everyone says how Calvin and Hobbes is about a real kid, to me there's nothing real about it; it's an adult using a kid's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/everyone-says-how-calvin-and-hobbes-is-about-a-real-kid-to-me-there-s/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/frivolity-is-a-stern-taskmaster/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Unfortunately what came out of it was also kind of an imitation community with a lot of mindless conformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/unfortunately-what-came-out-of-it-was-also-kind-of-an-imitation/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Mike Judge, who I've become friends with over the years never took himself seriously as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/mike-judge-who-i-ve-become-friends-with-over-the-years-never-took/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [What I do is draw but if you make an animated feature obviously it takes a whole team of people, and Zippy is my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/what-i-do-is-draw-but-if-you-make-an-animated-feature-obviously-it/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Then I abandoned comics for fine art because I had some romantic vision of being like Vincent Van Gogh Jr.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/then-i-abandoned-comics-for-fine-art-because-i-had-some-romantic/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [My first character was Mr. Toad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/my-first-character-was-mr-toad/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [I had a very diametrically opposite set of parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-had-a-very-diametrically-opposite-set-of-parents/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [I went to an art school in Brooklyn and painted Fine Art, if that's what you'd call it for eight years in New York,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-went-to-an-art-school-in-brooklyn-and-painted-fine-art-if-that-s/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [I had a mixture, my father was a career army man and my mother was a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-had-a-mixture-my-father-was-a-career-army-man-and-my-mother-was-a/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [Zippy is living in the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/zippy-is-living-in-the-moment/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) [Explore all 37 Bill Griffith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“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 > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there starts either the problem or the beauty of doing good artwork.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Griffith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-as-an-artist-there-starts/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-as-an-artist-there-starts/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5db/bill-griffith-17495_art_i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-a_110001.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I guess if you take yourself seriously as an artist there starts either the problem or the beauty of doing…” — Bill Griffith", "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": "Bill Griffith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I guess if you take yourself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-as-an-artist-there-starts/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/i-guess-if-you-take-yourself-seriously-as-an-artist-there-starts/#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 } } ] } ```