--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unlike my father, who blindly churned out…" description: "\"“Unlike my father, who blindly churned out one canvas after another, I had real ideas about the artistic life. Seated at my desk, my beret as tight as ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/david-sedaris-333_art_unlike-my-father-who-blindly-churned-out_966876.jpg" --- # Unlike my father, who blindly churned out one canvas after… ![“Unlike my father, who blindly churned out one canvas after another, I had real ideas about the artistic life. Seated at my desk, my beret as tight as an acorn’s cap, I projected myself into the world represented in the art books I’d borrowed from the public library. Leafing past the paintings, I…” quote by David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/david-sedaris-333_art_unlike-my-father-who-blindly-churned-out_966876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/david-sedaris-333_art_unlike-my-father-who-blindly-churned-out_966876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42b/david-sedaris-333_art_unlike-my-father-who-blindly-churned-out_966876.jpg) > ““Unlike my father, who blindly churned out one canvas after another, I had real ideas about the artistic life. Seated at my desk, my beret as tight as an acorn’s cap, I projected myself into the world represented in the art books I’d borrowed from the public library. Leafing past the paintings, I would admire the photographs of the artists seated in their garrets, dressed in tattered smocks and frowning in the direction of their beefy nude models. To spend your days in the company of naked men – that was the life for me. ‘Turn a bit to the left, Jean-Claude. I long to capture the playful quality of your buttocks.”” [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator idealizes an artistic life of bohemian freedom, contrasting it with his father's conventional work. **In simple terms:** Idealizes bohemian artistic life over conventional work. Key Takeaway Pursue authentic creative expression. Themes art bohemian lifestyle individualism Mood reflective hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career change - artistic pursuits - personal identity - creative projects Key Concepts creative authenticity nonconformity Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are needed for artistic freedom? - Can you balance art and livelihood? A Different Perspective Romanticizing art can overlook practical challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistic life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nude/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Public library](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-library/) ## Related quotes > [“There were several paintings to admire, one of them very fine indeed. Many were urban, industrial landscapes. Paul was generous with his praise, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-barker/there-were-several-paintings-to-admire-one-of-them-very-fine-indeed/) [Pat Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-barker/) > [To spend your days in the company of naked men - that was the life for me. 'Turn a bit to the left, Jean-Claude.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-spend-your-days-in-the-company-of-naked-men-that-was-the-life-for-2/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“To spend your days in the company of naked men - that was the life for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/to-spend-your-days-in-the-company-of-naked-men-that-was-the-life-for/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Men's magazines often feature pictures of naked women. Women's magazines also feature pictures of naked women. This is because the female body is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/men-s-magazines-often-feature-pictures-of-naked-women-women-s/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [“The people of this island and of all the other islands which I have found and seen, or have not seen, all go naked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-stannard/the-people-of-this-island-and-of-all-the-other-islands-which-i-have/) [David E. Stannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-stannard/) > [“I’m just not used to...” His voice lowered. “Having multiple naked men around me while another...you know.” “Sucks. Your. Cock.” The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cox/i-m-just-not-used-to-his-voice-lowered-having-multiple-naked-men/) [James Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cox/) > [“Well, there was a lack of naked men throwing themselves at me in your absence unfortunately so I’ve got nothing to help boost your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skyla-madi/well-there-was-a-lack-of-naked-men-throwing-themselves-at-me-in-your/) [Skyla Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skyla-madi/) > [ I never want to see a naked man again. \[naked men run past\] -Mulan ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mulan/i-never-want-to-see-a-naked-man-again-naked-men-run-past-mulan/) [Mulan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mulan/) > [Wrestling is nothing but just 2 half naked men rolling around the ring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakhi-amin/wrestling-is-nothing-but-just-2-half-naked-men-rolling-around-the-ring/) Rakhi Amin > [Truth is, I think naked men are kind of strange looking what with their doodles and ding-dong hanging loose like they do. Nevertheless, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/truth-is-i-think-naked-men-are-kind-of-strange-looking-what-with/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“I wish I could line up naked the men I've slept with and just gloat for a hot minute. Beautiful creatures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-woods/i-wish-i-could-line-up-naked-the-men-i-ve-slept-with-and-just-gloat/) [Crystal Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-woods/) > [“I wouldn't mind showering in the rain, if there weren't so many naked men holding umbrellas standing behind me. Who invited Congress?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wouldn-t-mind-showering-in-the-rain-if-there-weren-t-so-many-naked/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I hate computers. My hatred is entrenched, and I nourish it daily. I’m comfortable with it, and no community outreach program will change my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hate-computers-my-hatred-is-entrenched-and-i-nourish-it-daily-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-is-art-that-makes-life-makes-interest-makes-importance/) [Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/) > [It is fatal to one's artistic life to talk about something this is in process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/it-is-fatal-to-one-s-artistic-life-to-talk-about-something-this-is-in/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) ## More by David Sedaris > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“never fall asleep in a Dumpster, never underestimate a bee, never drive a convertible behind a flatbed truck, never get old, never get drunk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/never-fall-asleep-in-a-dumpster-never-underestimate-a-bee-never-drive/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“It was a father, one hand resting teapot-style on his hip, and the other - what would be the spout - formed into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/it-was-a-father-one-hand-resting-teapot-style-on-his-hip-and-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“A Japanese woman we’d met in Paris came to the apartment yesterday and spent several hours explaining our appliances. 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"I'm guessing you must be Catholic, am I right?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-have-how-many-children-in-your-family-the-teacher-would-ask-i-m/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“Like most seasoned phonies, I roundly suspect that everyone is as disingenuous as I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/like-most-seasoned-phonies-i-roundly-suspect-that-everyone-is-as/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [As a child I assumed that when I reached adulthood, I would have grown-up thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/as-a-child-i-assumed-that-when-i-reached-adulthood-i-would-have-grown/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [“You just take and take don´t you? Out there with your thumb in the air—not a care in the world, just grabbing whatever you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/you-just-take-and-take-don-t-you-out-there-with-your-thumb-in-the-air/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [In other parts of the country people tried to stay together for the sake of the children. In New York they tried to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/in-other-parts-of-the-country-people-tried-to-stay-together-for-the/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [My boyfriend got me a computer three years ago. I'll admit it does make things a lot easier. When I was working on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/my-boyfriend-got-me-a-computer-three-years-ago-i-ll-admit-it-does/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I spent months searching for some secret code before I realized that common sense has nothing to do with it. Hysteria, psychosis, torture, depression:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-spent-months-searching-for-some-secret-code-before-i-realized-that/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I hated leaving a hole in the smoking world, and so I recruited someone to take my place. People have given me a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-hated-leaving-a-hole-in-the-smoking-world-and-so-i-recruited/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [Write relentlessly, until you find your voice. Then, use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/write-relentlessly-until-you-find-your-voice-then-use-it/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) [Explore all 667 David Sedaris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## 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": "“Unlike my father, who blindly churned out one canvas after another, I had real ideas about the artistic life. Seated at my desk, my beret as tight as an acorn’s cap, I projected myself into the world represented in the art books I’d borrowed from the public library. Leafing past the paintings, I would admire the photographs of the artists seated in their garrets, dressed in tattered smocks and frowning in the direction of their beefy nude models. To spend your days in the company of naked men – that was the life for me. ‘Turn a bit to the left, Jean-Claude. 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