--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think my work is so much about…" description: "\"I don't think my work is so much about opening up wounds. I think it's about understanding the nature of the wound. I'm not bleeding on the canvas. I, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/eric-fischl-25287_bleeding_i-don-t-think-my-work-is-so-much-about-o_337572.jpg" --- # I don't think my work is so much about opening up wounds… ![“I don't think my work is so much about opening up wounds. I think it's about understanding the nature of the wound. I'm not bleeding on the canvas. I, like most people, have suffered traumatic events. The character of a person's life is determined by the way they deal with those events. I am a…” quote by Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/eric-fischl-25287_bleeding_i-don-t-think-my-work-is-so-much-about-o_337572.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/eric-fischl-25287_bleeding_i-don-t-think-my-work-is-so-much-about-o_337572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a94/eric-fischl-25287_bleeding_i-don-t-think-my-work-is-so-much-about-o_337572.jpg) > “I don't think my work is so much about opening up wounds. I think it's about understanding the nature of the wound. I'm not bleeding on the canvas. I, like most people, have suffered traumatic events. The character of a person's life is determined by the way they deal with those events. I am a creative person and I deal with it creatively.” [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist explores wounds as a metaphor for trauma, focusing on comprehension rather than sensationalism. **In simple terms:** Understanding trauma, not glorifying it. Key Takeaway Use art to process pain. Themes art trauma creativity Mood reflective introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative workshops - personal reflection Key Concepts metaphor healing psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can art balance honesty and sensitivity? - What does “understanding the wound” mean to you? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for direct emotional expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character of a person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-of-a-person/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-person/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Opening up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opening-up/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Traumatic events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traumatic-events/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounds/) ## Related quotes > [Wounds, I think, are never confined to a single skin but reach out to rasp us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-slater/wounds-i-think-are-never-confined-to-a-single-skin-but-reach-out-to/) [Lauren Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-slater/) > [“At Bethesda Naval Medical Center, Biggles was still in a medically induced coma. Just two days had passed since he suffered a traumatic brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-lacz/at-bethesda-naval-medical-center-biggles-was-still-in-a-medically/) Kevin Lacz > [If drugs can heal a heart that is being broken, then I wouldn't mind to take over dosage just to get over your memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/if-drugs-can-heal-a-heart-that-is-being-broken-then-i-wouldn-t-mind/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [“THE TRUE CHARACTER OF A PERSON IN SEEN WHEN HE/SHE IS ALONE...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venkata-naveen-kasagana/the-true-character-of-a-person-in-seen-when-he-she-is-alone/) VENKATA NAVEEN KASAGANA > [True greatness is not measured by the headlines a person commands or the wealth he or she accumulates. The inner character of a person-the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/true-greatness-is-not-measured-by-the-headlines-a-person-commands-or/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“If you want to discover the true character of a person, you have only to observe what they are passionate about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/if-you-want-to-discover-the-true-character-of-a-person-you-have-only/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [The truly rich are stingy. Pretends to be rich showy. Paupers are hard working. The true character of a person without undue, nothing less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/the-truly-rich-are-stingy-pretends-to-be-rich-showy-paupers-are-hard/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/watch-your-thoughts-they-become-words-watch-your-words-they-become-3/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“You can often judge the character of a person by the way he treats his fellow men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/you-can-often-judge-the-character-of-a-person-by-the-way-he-treats/) [Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/) > [It is quite impossible to understand the character of a person from one action, however striking that action may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/it-is-quite-impossible-to-understand-the-character-of-a-person-from/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [I'm a fan of the fan. I'm a fan of the active devotee who lives his life believing in something, who represents to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-saldana/i-m-a-fan-of-the-fan-i-m-a-fan-of-the-active-devotee-who-lives-his/) [Zoe Saldana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-saldana/) > [The character of a person is like a foundation and his reputation is like an aesthetic factor of a skyscraper. The building is stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/the-character-of-a-person-is-like-a-foundation-and-his-reputation-is/) [Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/) > [Growing up I watched examples of how not to treat people. I knew when I got into certain positions that I wasn't going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/growing-up-i-watched-examples-of-how-not-to-treat-people-i-knew-when/) [Charlamagne Tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [“Cars do not reflect the character of a person. A car is tangible, while a soul is spiritual. How can one represent the other?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-williams/cars-do-not-reflect-the-character-of-a-person-a-car-is-tangible-while/) Simon Williams ## More by Eric Fischl > [I think of art as a glue, a cultural and social glue. It's one of the means that has served to show us the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/i-think-of-art-as-a-glue-a-cultural-and-social-glue-it-s-one-of-the/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Connecting to another is one of the most important things in the world and you can keep expanding that connection - one person, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/connecting-to-another-is-one-of-the-most-important-things-in-the/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [If you worry about how good the art is, you're never going to make your own art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/if-you-worry-about-how-good-the-art-is-you-re-never-going-to-make/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Nudity is a problem for Americans. It disrupts our social exchange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/nudity-is-a-problem-for-americans-it-disrupts-our-social-exchange/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Artists don't really want to be marginalized. They believe that everybody should be able to appreciate the experience that an artist gives them, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/artists-don-t-really-want-to-be-marginalized-they-believe-that/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Art should create an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/art-should-create-an-experience/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Almost all of my early art dealt with the fallout from middle-class taboos, the messy, the ambivalent emotions couples felt, the inherent racism, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/almost-all-of-my-early-art-dealt-with-the-fallout-from-middle-class/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Artists of my generation were not educated. We were not given the equipment because it was generally believed to be irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/artists-of-my-generation-were-not-educated-we-were-not-given-the/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [A precision of composition and figuration is what I'm working toward. I've always felt viewers should have an experience without having to ask what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/a-precision-of-composition-and-figuration-is-what-i-m-working-toward/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [The truth is that painting is all about scale; you use scale to create experience. A lot of artists have lost that ability. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/the-truth-is-that-painting-is-all-about-scale-you-use-scale-to-create/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [Personally, I never believe an artist saying "I do it for myself" is saying the truth, because why would you go through the trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/personally-i-never-believe-an-artist-saying-i-do-it-for-myself-is/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [I think making art is something where you think you know, you also know you don't know and you hope - all these things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/i-think-making-art-is-something-where-you-think-you-know-you-also/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [The saying "the business of art is different than the purpose of art" makes sense, and what are you going to do about that?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/the-saying-the-business-of-art-is-different-than-the-purpose-of-art/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [One of the things I love within music and within sports is how often musicians and athletes thank their audience. In the art world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/one-of-the-things-i-love-within-music-and-within-sports-is-how-often/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [I think people who make objects like the distance; they're not there when the other person is taking it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/i-think-people-who-make-objects-like-the-distance-they-re-not-there/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) [Explore all 23 Eric Fischl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) ## More Bleeding quotes > [I have three words for you," EMT Guy said. "Possible internal bleeding." I turned back to him. "Don't you think if I was bleeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-have-three-words-for-you-emt-guy-said-possible-internal-bleeding-i/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“Women's regular bleeding engenders phantoms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paracelsus/women-s-regular-bleeding-engenders-phantoms/) [Paracelsus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paracelsus/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [I do know I felt as if my heart had been shredded when I found you in our storeroom, unconscious and bleeding. And leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-v-snyder/i-do-know-i-felt-as-if-my-heart-had-been-shredded-when-i-found-you-in/) [Maria V. Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-v-snyder/) > [Much can they praise the trees so straight and high, The sailing pine,the cedar proud and tall, The vine-prop elm, the poplar never dry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/much-can-they-praise-the-trees-so-straight-and-high-the-sailing-pine/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [The country is so wounded, bleeding, and hurt right now. The country needs to be healed-it's not going to be healed from the top,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/the-country-is-so-wounded-bleeding-and-hurt-right-now-the-country/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Those who criticize, they desire our blood not our pain. But still I must achieve I must seek truth in all things. I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/those-who-criticize-they-desire-our-blood-not-our-pain-but-still-i/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [The saints are sinners still. Our best tears need to be wept over, the strongest faith is mixed with unbelief, our most flaming love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-saints-are-sinners-still-our-best-tears-need-to-be-wept-over-the/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I love watching people get hit in the crotch. But only if they get back up. If their teeth are bleeding, if they're really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/i-love-watching-people-get-hit-in-the-crotch-but-only-if-they-get/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [I'm drowning in your wake shit rubbed in my face. 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