--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm more interested in character…" description: "\"I'm more interested in character. Character comes out of the work. Style is applied or imposed on it.\" — Elaine de Kooning" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/elaine-de-kooning-44764_character_i-m-more-interested-in-character-charact_1405990.png" --- # I'm more interested in character. Character comes out of… ![“I'm more interested in character. Character comes out of the work. Style is applied or imposed on it.” quote by Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/elaine-de-kooning-44764_character_i-m-more-interested-in-character-charact_1405990.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/elaine-de-kooning-44764_character_i-m-more-interested-in-character-charact_1405990.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60d/elaine-de-kooning-44764_character_i-m-more-interested-in-character-charact_1405990.png) > “I'm more interested in character. Character comes out of the work. Style is applied or imposed on it.” [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Character is revealed through diligent work; style is a superficial layer applied later. **In simple terms:** Work reveals character; style is optional. Key Takeaway Focus on substance before appearance. Themes art character style authenticity Mood analytical reflective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - portfolio development - career mentorship - creative workshops - branding Key Concepts aesthetics creative process integrity Questions to Reflect On - How does style influence audience perception? - Is it possible to separate character from style? A Different Perspective Style can also shape perception of character, not just adorn. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-character/) [Character Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-comes-468579/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Interested Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interested-character-622707/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Work Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-style-804098/) ## Related quotes > [There is really no practical help that one can offer; it is a matter of self-discovery, of one's own convictions, or working with one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/there-is-really-no-practical-help-that-one-can-offer-it-is-a-matter/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You know, comments about style always seem strange to me - 'why do you work in this style, or in that style' - as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-guston/you-know-comments-about-style-always-seem-strange-to-me-why-do-you/) [Philip Guston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-guston/) > [So there is a personal sense of style for a given work - I don't like a general style, but every work has its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karlheinz-stockhausen/so-there-is-a-personal-sense-of-style-for-a-given-work-i-don-t-like-a/) [Karlheinz Stockhausen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karlheinz-stockhausen/) > [I believe less in my ability & more in the ability of the one who comes to meet me. That's the speciality of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/i-believe-less-in-my-ability-more-in-the-ability-of-the-one-who-comes/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Work is style, and there is style without thought; not in theory, only in fact. When I take a sentence in my hand, raise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-hall/work-is-style-and-there-is-style-without-thought-not-in-theory-only/) [Donald Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-hall/) > [Sci-fi fans are so interested in your character and so attached to the world that you've created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-john-kamen/sci-fi-fans-are-so-interested-in-your-character-and-so-attached-to/) [Hannah John-Kamen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-john-kamen/) > [I think I'm one of those people that needed to be seen by someone else to see myself. But then on the other hand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicky-krieps/i-think-i-m-one-of-those-people-that-needed-to-be-seen-by-someone/) [Vicky Krieps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicky-krieps/) > [That was one of the things that interested me about the character. He doesn't want to be a hero, and has no real desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-jones/that-was-one-of-the-things-that-interested-me-about-the-character-he/) [Orlando Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-jones/) > [I'm interested in character and dialogue and exchange of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/i-m-interested-in-character-and-dialogue-and-exchange-of-ideas/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [I'm sure my agents would like me to play leading roles, and I guess I should, but I'm more interested in the character parts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-punch/i-m-sure-my-agents-would-like-me-to-play-leading-roles-and-i-guess-i/) [Lucy Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-punch/) > [I'm interested in character and people and motivations and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-m-interested-in-character-and-people-and-motivations-and-things/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [I'm not interested in a character's goodness. I'm interested in what makes them human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-paulson/i-m-not-interested-in-a-character-s-goodness-i-m-interested-in-what/) [Sarah Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-paulson/) > [I gradually work myself into a frenzy as the shoot approaches, while we're choosing the costumes or working with the make-up artist. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/i-gradually-work-myself-into-a-frenzy-as-the-shoot-approaches-while/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [Be more interested in character than reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/be-more-interested-in-character-than-reputation/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Part of accepting a role is being interested in the character and part of it is being interested in the movie or what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brie-larson/part-of-accepting-a-role-is-being-interested-in-the-character-and/) [Brie Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brie-larson/) ## More by Elaine de Kooning > [Every artist returns to things. The drawings that you make as a child or as an adolescent and the ideas that you have as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/every-artist-returns-to-things-the-drawings-that-you-make-as-a-child/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [A painting to me is primarily a verb, not a noun, an event first and only secondarily an image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/a-painting-to-me-is-primarily-a-verb-not-a-noun-an-event-first-and/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [I made my first trip west of the Hudson and it was a revelation. The naked musculature of the Rockies was overpowering and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/i-made-my-first-trip-west-of-the-hudson-and-it-was-a-revelation-the/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [Artists are like cockroaches; everything is grist for the mill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/artists-are-like-cockroaches-everything-is-grist-for-the-mill/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [For one thing, I want gesture-any kind of gesture, all kinds of gesture-gentle or brutal, joyous or tragic; the gesture of space soaring, sinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/for-one-thing-i-want-gesture-any-kind-of-gesture-all-kinds-of-gesture/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [Inspiration is indispensable to my work, but it is hard to come by. It is there or it is not; it is a gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/inspiration-is-indispensable-to-my-work-but-it-is-hard-to-come-by-it/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [Art has been hijacked by nonartists. It's been taken over by bookkeeping. The whole thing is so corrupt. But I suppose that's okay. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/art-has-been-hijacked-by-nonartists-it-s-been-taken-over-by/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) > [Women can also be creative in total isolation. I know excellent women artists who do original work without any response to speak of. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-de-kooning/women-can-also-be-creative-in-total-isolation-i-know-excellent-women/) [Elaine de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) [Explore all 9 Elaine de Kooning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-de-kooning/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/) [Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/) [Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm more interested in character. 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