--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of my work comes from ideas. I can…" description: "\"Most of my work comes from ideas. I can usually do only a few versions of each idea. Land Art and Body Art were particularly strong concepts which allo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg" --- # Most of my work comes from ideas. I can usually do only a… ![“Most of my work comes from ideas. I can usually do only a few versions of each idea. Land Art and Body Art were particularly strong concepts which allowed for a lot of permutations. But nevertheless, I found myself wanting to move onward into something else.” quote by Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg) > “Most of my work comes from ideas. I can usually do only a few versions of each idea. Land Art and Body Art were particularly strong concepts which allowed for a lot of permutations. But nevertheless, I found myself wanting to move onward into something else.” [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His work stems from ideas, but he seeks new directions beyond repetitive concepts. **In simple terms:** Ideas spark work, but he wants fresh creative paths. Key Takeaway Pursue evolving artistic concepts. Themes creativity evolution art Mood reflective curious Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - exhibitions - artist residencies - collaborations Key Concepts conceptual art process innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance novelty with audience engagement? - When is repetition valuable? A Different Perspective Staying too experimental can alienate audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Body art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-art/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ## Related quotes > [There's a definite connection in terms of objects at hand - dealing with objects or material at hand. Pop art was very much enamored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/there-s-a-definite-connection-in-terms-of-objects-at-hand-dealing/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [People tend to view land art as something that happened at a certain historical moment - like minimal art, which I was also very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/people-tend-to-view-land-art-as-something-that-happened-at-a-certain/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I didn't know Michael Heizer until I was preparing for my "Earthworks" show in 1968, and somebody called and told me to look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-didn-t-know-michael-heizer-until-i-was-preparing-for-my-earthworks/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [I think the four land artists I showed all worked within a few years of each other. And they were standard bearers, I suppose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-dwan/i-think-the-four-land-artists-i-showed-all-worked-within-a-few-years/) [Virginia Dwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-dwan/) > [This is the funny thing about me. People think John just comes up with all the ideas. I'm honored. People think I have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/this-is-the-funny-thing-about-me-people-think-john-just-comes-up-with/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [I want technology to work for me, and my readers. People get confused that technology comes first. The ideas come first. You need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-bailey/i-want-technology-to-work-for-me-and-my-readers-people-get-confused/) [Glenda Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-bailey/) > [I just start writing, and in the process, one hopefully comes up with ideas and solutions and explores all the little nooks and crannies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-just-start-writing-and-in-the-process-one-hopefully-comes-up-with/) [Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/) > [“Huh! Mankind always comes up with ideas to make up for the follies of the status quo. But what happens if those ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janvier-chouteu-chando/huh-mankind-always-comes-up-with-ideas-to-make-up-for-the-follies-of/) [Janvier Chouteu-Chando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janvier-chouteu-chando/) > [My writing comes from ideas that make a sound in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/my-writing-comes-from-ideas-that-make-a-sound-in-my-heart/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [What is to be done about these literary people, who will never understand that painting is a craft and that the material side comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/what-is-to-be-done-about-these-literary-people-who-will-never/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Big ideas are usually simple ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/big-ideas-are-usually-simple-ideas/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [My ideas usually come not at my desk writing but in the midst of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/my-ideas-usually-come-not-at-my-desk-writing-but-in-the-midst-of/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [The writing gets done away from the keyboard and away from the studio in my head, in solitude. And then I come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/the-writing-gets-done-away-from-the-keyboard-and-away-from-the-studio/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [I'm a brand type guy and we want to make sure that 'Gas Monkey' is out there in every arena that we can be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rawlings/i-m-a-brand-type-guy-and-we-want-to-make-sure-that-gas-monkey-is-out/) [Richard Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rawlings/) > [“And then sometimes Actors have what they call “ideas.” Usually it involves them talking more, or, in the case of more experienced actors, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/and-then-sometimes-actors-have-what-they-call-ideas-usually-it/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) ## More by Dennis Oppenheim > [An artist works through exposed wounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/an-artist-works-through-exposed-wounds/) [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) > [You can't understand how strange it was to be a sculptor who exhibited photographs. (On exhibitions of his earthworks and land art pieces.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/you-can-t-understand-how-strange-it-was-to-be-a-sculptor-who/) [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) > [Turning something upside-down elicits a reversal of content and pointing a steeple into the ground directs it to hell as opposed to heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/turning-something-upside-down-elicits-a-reversal-of-content-and/) [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) > [Make things that carry with them the residue of where they have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/make-things-that-carry-with-them-the-residue-of-where-they-have-been/) [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) > [The photograph gives constant reference to the rectangle. This forces any idea into the confines of pictorial illusionism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/the-photograph-gives-constant-reference-to-the-rectangle-this-forces/) [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) > [ \[The photographs\] were there simply to indicate a radical art that had already vanished. The photograph was necessary only as a residue for communication. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/the-photographs-were-there-simply-to-indicate-a-radical-art-that-had/) [Dennis Oppenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) [Explore all 7 Dennis Oppenheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/) ## 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": "Most of my work comes from ideas. I can usually do only a few versions of each idea. Land Art and Body Art were particularly strong concepts which allowed for a lot of permutations. But nevertheless, I found myself wanting to move onward into something else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dennis Oppenheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-usually-do-only-a-few-versions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-usually-do-only-a-few-versions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db4/dennis-oppenheim-50499_art_most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-u_846613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most of my work comes from ideas. I can usually do only a few versions of each idea. Land Art and Body Art…” — Dennis Oppenheim", "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": "Dennis Oppenheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-oppenheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most of my work comes from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-usually-do-only-a-few-versions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-oppenheim/most-of-my-work-comes-from-ideas-i-can-usually-do-only-a-few-versions/#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 } } ] } ```