--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically everything I've done in art, I…" description: "\"Basically everything I've done in art, I was in possession of when I was 20 years old. I use a waste retrieval method of working. I'll go back and use ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/edward-ruscha-14231_art_basically-everything-i-ve-done-in-art-i_1639999.jpg" --- # Basically everything I've done in art, I was in possession… ![“Basically everything I've done in art, I was in possession of when I was 20 years old. I use a waste retrieval method of working. I'll go back and use something that disgusted me 15 years ago but that I had enough sense to think about. Some artists change dramatically. I see my work more like…” quote by Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/edward-ruscha-14231_art_basically-everything-i-ve-done-in-art-i_1639999.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/edward-ruscha-14231_art_basically-everything-i-ve-done-in-art-i_1639999.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05f/edward-ruscha-14231_art_basically-everything-i-ve-done-in-art-i_1639999.jpg) > “Basically everything I've done in art, I was in possession of when I was 20 years old. I use a waste retrieval method of working. I'll go back and use something that disgusted me 15 years ago but that I had enough sense to think about. Some artists change dramatically. I see my work more like history being written.” [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) ## 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 describes reusing past ideas, treating earlier work as material to revisit, emphasizing art as a continuous historical narrative rather than isolated creations. **In simple terms:** He recycles old concepts, viewing art as history. Key Takeaway Revisit, revise, and contextualize past work. Themes continuity revision history Mood introspective analytical Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - gallery exhibitions - personal retrospectives - educational curricula Key Concepts artistic methodology memory cultural narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does revisiting old work inspire new directions? - What role does nostalgia play in artistic evolution? A Different Perspective Reliance on past ideas may limit innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-possession-558037/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists-change-558038/) [Disgusted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgusted/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Had enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had-enough/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/method/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Think Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-artists/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-waste-558039/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Art is not the possession of the few who are recognized writers, painters, musicians; it is the authentic expression of any and all individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/art-is-not-the-possession-of-the-few-who-are-recognized-writers/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [There's a lot of politics in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There's a lot us artists would change about the induction ceremony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/there-s-a-lot-of-politics-in-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-there-s-a/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [Artists change how we see the world - and that can have value in the way people do business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maeda/artists-change-how-we-see-the-world-and-that-can-have-value-in-the/) [John Maeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maeda/) > [As artists, we have to change our style to match each concept. We're always changing, ever changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-tae-hyung/as-artists-we-have-to-change-our-style-to-match-each-concept-we-re/) [Kim Tae-hyung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-tae-hyung/) > [I really admire the great Japanese artists who could change their name three times in a lifetime. You could get rid of one and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-harrison/i-really-admire-the-great-japanese-artists-who-could-change-their/) [Tony Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-harrison/) > [I think artists are interested in what people think of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/i-think-artists-are-interested-in-what-people-think-of-them/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-know-and-what-creatively-comes/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I think artists can influence only through making music that challenges people, excites them and flips them out. Music that repeats what you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-think-artists-can-influence-only-through-making-music-that/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [We're all given a window of opportunity, I think all artists are, of any genre. A window when you're truly relevant, the spotlight's on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-church/we-re-all-given-a-window-of-opportunity-i-think-all-artists-are-of/) [Eric Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-church/) > [I'm constantly working on something new, whether it's a Garbage song, or for someone I'm producing or a song for film or TV whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-vig/i-m-constantly-working-on-something-new-whether-it-s-a-garbage-song/) [Butch Vig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-vig/) > [I think artists who are attracted to working on the Net will adjust their work to the capabilities of a very small screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/i-think-artists-who-are-attracted-to-working-on-the-net-will-adjust/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [I think that what most artists are trying to do is trying to understand. I think what distinguishes creative people and/or artists from another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/i-think-that-what-most-artists-are-trying-to-do-is-trying-to/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Edward Ruscha > [I don't do social media of any kind. If I did, I may as well join Scientology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-don-t-do-social-media-of-any-kind-if-i-did-i-may-as-well-join/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [When I paint a picture of a house, that goes back to my roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/when-i-paint-a-picture-of-a-house-that-goes-back-to-my-roots/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [Perhaps there would be more anxiety in my work if I lived in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/perhaps-there-would-be-more-anxiety-in-my-work-if-i-lived-in-new-york/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I wasn't captivated by the romance of Paris or London. I love visiting, but I'd rather be in L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-wasn-t-captivated-by-the-romance-of-paris-or-london-i-love-visiting/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I think the most interesting stuff comes from people who've just got nothing to lose. You know, let's kamikaze this thing - just throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-think-the-most-interesting-stuff-comes-from-people-who-ve-just-got/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [Yes, there's a certain power to a photograph. The camera has a way of disorienting a person, if it wants to and, for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/yes-there-s-a-certain-power-to-a-photograph-the-camera-has-a-way-of/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [ The subject \[of Los Angeles\] became a general metaphor for anxiety and the speed of modern life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/the-subject-of-los-angeles-became-a-general-metaphor-for-anxiety-and/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [As an artist, I gotta stand up to my own work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/as-an-artist-i-gotta-stand-up-to-my-own-work/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I'm very stodgy. I'm always looking at old photos of California and Los Angeles, knowing that what I'm looking at is now full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-m-very-stodgy-i-m-always-looking-at-old-photos-of-california-and/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [There was no hope for any kind of big opportunity. I'm not saying it was hopeless. The big pay-off was to work as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/there-was-no-hope-for-any-kind-of-big-opportunity-i-m-not-saying-it/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I believe in intuition and approaching things as instant gratification. Just do the things you want to do, make the kind of pictures you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-believe-in-intuition-and-approaching-things-as-instant/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [My friends and neighbors were always fixing their cars. Soldiers who felt restless wanted to work on something, and they understood cars. Me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/my-friends-and-neighbors-were-always-fixing-their-cars-soldiers-who/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I have no social agenda with my work. I'm deadpan about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-have-no-social-agenda-with-my-work-i-m-deadpan-about-it/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [ I just use \[the camera\]. I just pick it up like an axe when I've got to chop down a tree. I pick up… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-just-use-the-camera-i-just-pick-it-up-like-an-axe-when-i-ve-got-to/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [I knew I wanted to be some kind of artist from about 12. I met a neighbour who drew cartoons, and I had an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-some-kind-of-artist-from-about-12-i-met-a/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) [Explore all 47 Edward Ruscha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Basically everything I've done in art, I was in possession of when I was 20 years old. 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