--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I paint myself because I am so often…" description: "\"“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”\" — Frida Kahlo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg" --- # I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I… ![“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.” quote by Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg) > ““I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”” [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She creates art because solitude makes her turn inward, using herself as the most reliable subject. **In simple terms:** She paints herself when alone. Key Takeaway Use self‑reflection as creative fuel. Themes art solitude self‑exploration Mood introspective creative Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - artistic practice - mental health coping - personal journaling Key Concepts self‑portraiture introspection Questions to Reflect On - How does solitude inspire your work? - What other subjects could expand your vision? A Different Perspective Relying solely on self may limit external perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Know Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-best-236362/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Paint Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint-subject-619658/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Subject](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject/) [Subject Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subject-know-347368/) ## Related quotes > [Draw and paint the subject the way you want it to be, not as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brommer/draw-and-paint-the-subject-the-way-you-want-it-to-be-not-as-it-is/) [Gerald Brommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brommer/) > [“I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to know better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oroma-elewa/i-am-my-own-muse-i-am-the-subject-i-know-best-the-subject-i-want-to/) [Oroma Elewa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oroma-elewa/) > [There must be a subject to know the good and evil. Thatsubject is the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/there-must-be-a-subject-to-know-the-good-and-evil-thatsubject-is-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-am-my-own-muse-i-am-the-subject-i-know-best-the-subject-i-want-to-2/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [“You paint from your subject, not what you see…I rarely paint anything I don’t know very well. It was surprising to me to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/you-paint-from-your-subject-not-what-you-see-i-rarely-paint-anything/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [For an Impressionist to paint from nature is not to paint the subject, but to realize sensations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/for-an-impressionist-to-paint-from-nature-is-not-to-paint-the-subject/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [We would sift through every inch of what it was that worked, or if it didn't, and wonder what was effective in it, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-frankenthaler/we-would-sift-through-every-inch-of-what-it-was-that-worked-or-if-it/) [Helen Frankenthaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-frankenthaler/) > [In school, some of my favorite subjects... I mean, art was my favorite subject. I loved art! I used to go during lunch time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/in-school-some-of-my-favorite-subjects-i-mean-art-was-my-favorite/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [With my students, I always have to sell my subject because I know when you're 19, 20 years old, you've got other things on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/with-my-students-i-always-have-to-sell-my-subject-because-i-know-when/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Let’s not talk about how I am. It’s a subject I know too much about to want to think about anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/let-s-not-talk-about-how-i-am-it-s-a-subject-i-know-too-much-about-to/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Mathematics may be defined as the subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/mathematics-may-be-defined-as-the-subject-in-which-we-never-know-what/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many introverts don't feel as if they know enough about a subject until they know almost everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marti-olsen-laney/many-introverts-don-t-feel-as-if-they-know-enough-about-a-subject/) [Marti Olsen Laney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marti-olsen-laney/) > [“All too often I write to find out what I think about a subject, not because I already know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/all-too-often-i-write-to-find-out-what-i-think-about-a-subject-not/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it. When we enquire into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/knowledge-is-of-two-kinds-we-know-a-subject-ourselves-or-we-know/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Knowledge is of two kinds: we know a subject itself, or know where to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/knowledge-is-of-two-kinds-we-know-a-subject-itself-or-know-where-to/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## More by Frida Kahlo > [Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-absolute-everything-changes-everything-moves-everything/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [“Que todo termina en un instante Planatera doloroso”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/que-todo-termina-en-un-instante-planatera-doloroso/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/tragedy-is-the-most-ridiculous-thing/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Surrealism is the magical surprise of finding a lion in a wardrobe, where you were 'sure' of finding shirts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/surrealism-is-the-magical-surprise-of-finding-a-lion-in-a-wardrobe/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [To trap one's self-suffering is to risk being devoured from the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/to-trap-one-s-self-suffering-is-to-risk-being-devoured-from-the-inside/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I love you more than my own skin and even though you don’t love me the same way, you love me anyways, don’t you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-love-you-more-than-my-own-skin-and-even-though-you-don-t-love-me/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Nothing is worth more than laughter. It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself, to be light. Tragedy is the most ridiculous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/nothing-is-worth-more-than-laughter-it-is-strength-to-laugh-and-to/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [People in general are scared to death of the war and all the exhibition have been a failure, because the rich - don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/people-in-general-are-scared-to-death-of-the-war-and-all-the/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-tried-to-drown-my-sorrows-but-the-bastards-learned-how-to-swim-and/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [“I have not forgotten you — the nights are long and difficult. You too know that all my eyes see, all touch with myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-have-not-forgotten-you-the-nights-are-long-and-difficult-you-too/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Mankind owns its destiny, and its destiny is the earth. We are destroying it until we have no destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/mankind-owns-its-destiny-and-its-destiny-is-the-earth-we-are/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are a bourbon biscuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/take-a-lover-who-looks-at-you-like-maybe-you-are-a-bourbon-biscuit/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I paint flowers so they will not die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-flowers-so-they-will-not-die/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/feet-what-do-i-need-you-for-when-i-have-wings-to-fly/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) > [I leave you my portrait so that you will have my presence all the days and nights that I am away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-leave-you-my-portrait-so-that-you-will-have-my-presence-all-the/) [Frida Kahlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) [Explore all 83 Frida Kahlo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [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 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/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frida Kahlo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alone-and-because-i-am-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alone-and-because-i-am-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34f/frida-kahlo-7157_painting_i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alo_1085573.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.” — Frida Kahlo", "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": "Frida Kahlo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-kahlo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I paint myself because I am...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alone-and-because-i-am-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-kahlo/i-paint-myself-because-i-am-so-often-alone-and-because-i-am-the/#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 } } ] } ```