Art Quote by David Rakoff
““...hanging out does not make one an artist. A secondhand wardrobe does not make one an artist. Neither do a hair-trigger temper, melancholic nature, propensity for tears, hating your parents, nor even HIV - I hate to say it - none of these make one an artist. They can help, but just as being gay does not make one witty (you can suck a mile of cock, as my friend Sarah Thyre puts it, it still won't make you Oscar Wilde, believe me), the only thing that makes one an artist is making art. And that requires the precise opposite of hanging out; a deeply lonely and unglamorous task of tolerating oneself long enough to push something out.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Being an Artist, published in The New Yorker, 2004
True artistry stems from creating work, not from lifestyle, temperament, or identity.
In simple terms: Being an artist means making art, not just having certain traits.
Key Takeaway
Focus on creation over image.
Themes
creativity
identity
authenticity
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- visual arts
- music
- personal development
Key Concepts
artistic integrity
self‑discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate between image and substance?
- What habits foster true creativity?
A Different Perspective
External markers can distract from genuine practice.
