--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My son's a painter. All through school…" description: "\"My son's a painter. All through school his teachers tell him he's a genius. I tell him to paint me an apple that looks like an apple before he paints m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg" --- # My son's a painter. All through school his teachers tell… ![“My son's a painter. All through school his teachers tell him he's a genius. I tell him to paint me an apple that looks like an apple before he paints me one that doesn't. Go where you can go, but start from someplace recognizable.” quote by Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg) > “My son's a painter. All through school his teachers tell him he's a genius. I tell him to paint me an apple that looks like an apple before he paints me one that doesn't. Go where you can go, but start from someplace recognizable.” [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourage artists to master fundamentals before experimenting creatively. **In simple terms:** Master basics before innovation. Key Takeaway Teach fundamentals, then explore. Themes education creativity discipline Mood encouraging practical Type inspirational instructional When to use this quote - art lessons - creative workshops - personal mentorship Key Concepts artistic development skill mastery Questions to Reflect On - How can you blend skill with imagination? - What basic skill do you need to improve? A Different Perspective Rigid focus on basics may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) ## Related quotes > [First draw dog, then fleas. First paint apple, then worm holes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/first-draw-dog-then-fleas-first-paint-apple-then-worm-holes/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Don't paint the apple; paint the red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-lismer/don-t-paint-the-apple-paint-the-red/) [Arthur Lismer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-lismer/) > [“I'd see him do things that didn't fit with his face or hands, things like painting a picture at OT with real paints on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/i-d-see-him-do-things-that-didn-t-fit-with-his-face-or-hands-things/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [People ask me how I keep my figure, and I tell them it's because I paint. When you're covered in paint, it's quite hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-seymour/people-ask-me-how-i-keep-my-figure-and-i-tell-them-it-s-because-i/) [Jane Seymour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-seymour/) > [“Tell people there's an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/tell-people-there-s-an-invisible-man-in-the-sky-who-created-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Let me tell you, you can paint pictures and get people indicted for just about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-d-amato/let-me-tell-you-you-can-paint-pictures-and-get-people-indicted-for/) [Al D'Amato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-d-amato/) > [Relationship is like apple it require care and refreshment. Your relation will damage shortly if you are not serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohd-aariff-khan/relationship-is-like-apple-it-require-care-and-refreshment-your/) [Mohd Aariff Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohd-aariff-khan/) > [Xiaomi looks a bit like Apple but is really more like Amazon with some elements of Google.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lei-jun/xiaomi-looks-a-bit-like-apple-but-is-really-more-like-amazon-with/) [Lei Jun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lei-jun/) > [I've never owned an Apple product. I like the fact that PCs are open architecture and not locked down like Apple products. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-peli/i-ve-never-owned-an-apple-product-i-like-the-fact-that-pcs-are-open/) [Oren Peli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-peli/) > [I often wonder what the world would be like if more companies were like Apple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/i-often-wonder-what-the-world-would-be-like-if-more-companies-were/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [I want to live in an America where we are able to marshal all the resources we have at our disposal and that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levar-burton/i-want-to-live-in-an-america-where-we-are-able-to-marshal-all-the/) [LeVar Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levar-burton/) > [“The world is ripe, and we'll pluck it like an apple from a tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rash/the-world-is-ripe-and-we-ll-pluck-it-like-an-apple-from-a-tree/) [Ron Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rash/) > [“It's time to walk to the cider mill Through air like apple wine, And watch the moon rise over the hill, stinging and hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/it-s-time-to-walk-to-the-cider-mill-through-air-like-apple-wine-and/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. I've been, like, an Apple geek my whole life and have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-read-the-steve-jobs-book-and-that-kind-of-changed-everything-i-ve/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [You have to be fruitful, just like an apple with perfect color receiving good sunlight. When the people come to know about this apple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/you-have-to-be-fruitful-just-like-an-apple-with-perfect-color/) Senoraroy ## More by Charles Mingus > [Tastes are created by the business interests. How else can you explain the popularity of Al Hirt?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/tastes-are-created-by-the-business-interests-how-else-can-you-explain/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [Whatever coast he's on, a man should be himself. I don't write in any particular idiom, I write Charles Mingus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/whatever-coast-he-s-on-a-man-should-be-himself-i-don-t-write-in-any/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [If someone has been escaping reality, I don't expect him to dig my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/if-someone-has-been-escaping-reality-i-don-t-expect-him-to-dig-my/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [Everything I do is Mingus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/everything-i-do-is-mingus/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [I've got a feeling that, if it's so easy for you, the struggle and the initiative are not as strong as they are for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/i-ve-got-a-feeling-that-if-it-s-so-easy-for-you-the-struggle-and-the/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [I never heard my music played the way I heard it in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/i-never-heard-my-music-played-the-way-i-heard-it-in-my-head/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [That sound in tune to you? Sounds sharp to me. Sounds like I'm playing sharp all the time. My singing teacher told us you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/that-sound-in-tune-to-you-sounds-sharp-to-me-sounds-like-i-m-playing/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [Our nights didn't begin until after noon. Because in the old days, you'd start Birdland at 8:30 or 9 pm and play until 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/our-nights-didn-t-begin-until-after-noon-because-in-the-old-days-you/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [“Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/anyone-can-make-the-simple-complicated-creativity-is-making-the/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [I always wanted to be a spontaneous composer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-spontaneous-composer/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [I always thought that no matter what kind of work people did, they should involve themselves totally with all the discrimination they ran into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/i-always-thought-that-no-matter-what-kind-of-work-people-did-they/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [I was born swinging and clapped my hands in church as a little boy, but I've grown up and I like to do things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/i-was-born-swinging-and-clapped-my-hands-in-church-as-a-little-boy/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [“Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can play weird-- that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/creativity-is-more-than-just-being-different-anybody-can-play-weird/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [Let my children have music! Let them hear live music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/let-my-children-have-music-let-them-hear-live-music/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) > [Bach is how buildings got taller. It's how we got to the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/bach-is-how-buildings-got-taller-it-s-how-we-got-to-the-moon/) [Charles Mingus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) [Explore all 49 Charles Mingus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/) ## More Apples quotes > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [“In the back of the fridge I checked out some stewed apples destined to fester. I examined them closely and reckoned they had only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-brown/in-the-back-of-the-fridge-i-checked-out-some-stewed-apples-destined/) [Helen Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-brown/) > [Fortunately, like most children, I had learned what is most valuable, most indispensable for life before school years began, taught by apple trees, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/fortunately-like-most-children-i-had-learned-what-is-most-valuable/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I'm not only a fan of Apple products, I have stock in the company. I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I have a friend who is a juggler. If I'm at his house, I don't like to take food from him, if it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-have-a-friend-who-is-a-juggler-if-i-m-at-his-house-i-don-t-like-to/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [A comely sight indeed it is to see, a world of blossoms on an apple tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/a-comely-sight-indeed-it-is-to-see-a-world-of-blossoms-on-an-apple/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Therein lies the rub of a place like Berkeley Bowl. You get seduced by an 11-pound apple that turns out to be a fake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jad-abumrad/therein-lies-the-rub-of-a-place-like-berkeley-bowl-you-get-seduced-by/) [Jad Abumrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jad-abumrad/) > [Now it is autumn and the falling fruit and the long journey towards oblivion. The apples falling like great drops of dew to bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-h-lawrence/now-it-is-autumn-and-the-falling-fruit-and-the-long-journey-towards/) [D. H. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-h-lawrence/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead; ask about the scale of their dreams -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of-2/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) [Browse all 1,262 Apples quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apples/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My son's a painter. All through school his teachers tell him he's a genius. I tell him to paint me an apple that looks like an apple before he paints me one that doesn't. Go where you can go, but start from someplace recognizable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Mingus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-his-teachers-tell-him-he-s-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apples" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-his-teachers-tell-him-he-s-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f5/charles-mingus-13816_apples_my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-hi_733397.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My son's a painter. All through school his teachers tell him he's a genius. I tell him to paint me an apple…” — Charles Mingus", "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": "Charles Mingus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mingus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My son's a painter. All through...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-his-teachers-tell-him-he-s-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mingus/my-son-s-a-painter-all-through-school-his-teachers-tell-him-he-s-a/#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 } } ] } ```