---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the interesting things an artist…"
description: "\"One of the interesting things an artist does is they keep rediscovering things, whether it's a jazz piece or a role you've done for 3,000 performances ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg"
---

#  One of the interesting things an artist does is they keep…

![“One of the interesting things an artist does is they keep rediscovering things, whether it's a jazz piece or a role you've done for 3,000 performances or a song you're singing for the 3,000th time. My job is to find that spark that keeps it fresh and alive.” quote by Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg)

> “One of the interesting things an artist does is they keep rediscovering things, whether it's a jazz piece or a role you've done for 3,000 performances or a song you're singing for the 3,000th time. My job is to find that spark that keeps it fresh and alive.”

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An artist must continually find new excitement in familiar work to stay vibrant and engaged.

**In simple terms:** Artists need fresh excitement in repeated work.

Key Takeaway

Seek new angles in familiar tasks.

Themes

creativity renewal performance artistry

Mood

enthusiastic reflective

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- theatre rehearsals
- musical gigs
- repeated roles
- song practice

Key Concepts

artistic process mindful practice audience connection

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you keep a long‑run role feeling new?
- What sparks your fresh perspective?

A Different Perspective

Repeated work can become routine, stifling innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Some days I'm very lazy, and some days I'm more inspired. I've got things I've had since I was fifteen-I don't throw anything away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/some-days-i-m-very-lazy-and-some-days-i-m-more-inspired-i-ve-got/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [I see and write things first as an artist, second as a woman, and third as a New Yorker. All three have built-in perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/i-see-and-write-things-first-as-an-artist-second-as-a-woman-and-third/)

[Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/)

> [Being an artist isn't a genetic disposition or a specific talent. It's an attitude we can all adopt. It's a hunger to seize new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/being-an-artist-isn-t-a-genetic-disposition-or-a-specific-talent-it-s/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [You can do one of two things: You can be the artist that paints the picture, or you can be in the picture. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/you-can-do-one-of-two-things-you-can-be-the-artist-that-paints-the/)

[Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/)

> [I get to say 'no' to a lot of things. That, for an artist, is crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daveed-diggs/i-get-to-say-no-to-a-lot-of-things-that-for-an-artist-is-crazy/)

[Daveed Diggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daveed-diggs/)

> [There's just some dysfunctionalism with artists. There are good things and bad things about being an artist, and the good thing is, sometimes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/there-s-just-some-dysfunctionalism-with-artists-there-are-good-things/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [I have had such a satisfying career; I've gotten to do so many amazing things as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lari-white/i-have-had-such-a-satisfying-career-i-ve-gotten-to-do-so-many-amazing/)

[Lari White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lari-white/)

> [I think that putting merchandising into the hands of the artist themselves is one of the best things for the artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/i-think-that-putting-merchandising-into-the-hands-of-the-artist/)

[Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/)

> [Forgiving is rediscovering the shining path of peace that at first you thought others took away when they betrayed you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodinsky/forgiving-is-rediscovering-the-shining-path-of-peace-that-at-first/)

[Dodinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodinsky/)

> [I'm rediscovering Scotland; I'm falling in love with it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-heughan/i-m-rediscovering-scotland-i-m-falling-in-love-with-it-again/)

[Sam Heughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-heughan/)

> [“I’VE BEEN ON A JOURNEY of rediscovering the Bible and the God behind it for over thirty years and I don’t see that journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-enns/i-ve-been-on-a-journey-of-rediscovering-the-bible-and-the-god-behind/)

[Peter Enns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-enns/)

> [“Whether we’re searching for new dreams or rediscovering old ones, we can’t move forward without looking to the past. It’s the only place where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/whether-we-re-searching-for-new-dreams-or-rediscovering-old-ones-we/)

[Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/)

> [I believe if you are not rediscovering yourself and pushing boundaries, then you are not alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/i-believe-if-you-are-not-rediscovering-yourself-and-pushing/)

[Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/)

> [“Many survivors of a narcissist discover that they've sacrificed so much in an attempt to please the narcissist that they've lost sight of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-malone/many-survivors-of-a-narcissist-discover-that-they-ve-sacrificed-so/)

Tracy Malone

> [Fatherhood didn't just happen to me. I am deliberately living it, re-imagining it, and rediscovering it every day. It is as beautiful as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/fatherhood-didn-t-just-happen-to-me-i-am-deliberately-living-it-re/)

[Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/)

## More by Brian Stokes Mitchell

> [Stay as connected as you can. Sometimes that means you're going to do a job that may not pay you much but may give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/stay-as-connected-as-you-can-sometimes-that-means-you-re-going-to-do/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [Cabaret presents different challenges, as it is all on me. I love having the freedom to say anything you want - do anything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/cabaret-presents-different-challenges-as-it-is-all-on-me-i-love/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I love doing theater. It's what I grew up in and is my roots. I get a huge fulfillment from it. But if my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-love-doing-theater-it-s-what-i-grew-up-in-and-is-my-roots-i-get-a/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> ['Kiss Me, Kate' was my 'Ragtime' Tony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/kiss-me-kate-was-my-ragtime-tony/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I've always felt that my career was in wiser hands than mine. Whatever, in its good time, is supposed to happen will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-ve-always-felt-that-my-career-was-in-wiser-hands-than-mine-whatever/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I started out on the stage, then I had a great career in television for quite a few years. The good news about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-started-out-on-the-stage-then-i-had-a-great-career-in-television/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [My favorite music is jazz, actually. It's what I listen to, it's what I was raised on, and it's what I prefer to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/my-favorite-music-is-jazz-actually-it-s-what-i-listen-to-it-s-what-i/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I love the theater, and I just don't love television like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-love-the-theater-and-i-just-don-t-love-television-like-that/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [You need raw talent to be successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/you-need-raw-talent-to-be-successful/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I always say it takes three weeks to know a character and three months to own it. And I think that's probably true of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-always-say-it-takes-three-weeks-to-know-a-character-and-three/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [Oddly enough, I almost never listen to show tunes. But there are some shows I love, like Adam Guettel's 'Floyd Collins.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/oddly-enough-i-almost-never-listen-to-show-tunes-but-there-are-some/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I like being different people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-like-being-different-people/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I kind of feel the career chose me. My motto has always been, 'Go where I'm wanted.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-kind-of-feel-the-career-chose-me-my-motto-has-always-been-go-where/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [I'm one of the few lucky actors in the world. I've never waited tables. I never pumped gas. I've always earned a living. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-m-one-of-the-few-lucky-actors-in-the-world-i-ve-never-waited-tables/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

> [Through most of my life, music has been like a radio that plays and plays in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/through-most-of-my-life-music-has-been-like-a-radio-that-plays-and/)

[Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

[Explore all 100 Brian Stokes Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/)

## 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": "One of the interesting things an artist does is they keep rediscovering things, whether it's a jazz piece or a role you've done for 3,000 performances or a song you're singing for the 3,000th time. My job is to find that spark that keeps it fresh and alive.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brian Stokes Mitchell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist-does-is-they-keep/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist-does-is-they-keep/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec1/brian-stokes-mitchell-6113_art_one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist_1186751.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“One of the interesting things an artist does is they keep rediscovering things, whether it's a jazz piece or…” — Brian Stokes Mitchell",
                "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": "Brian Stokes Mitchell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "One of the interesting things an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist-does-is-they-keep/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/one-of-the-interesting-things-an-artist-does-is-they-keep/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
