--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You only do exercises in art school…" description: "\"You only do exercises in art school. That's not the real thing. A little bit tells you so much. You have to find your own self. And you don't know what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png" --- # You only do exercises in art school. That's not the real… ![“You only do exercises in art school. That's not the real thing. A little bit tells you so much. You have to find your own self. And you don't know what you are! But that's what you have to search for.” quote by Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png) > “You only do exercises in art school. That's not the real thing. A little bit tells you so much. You have to find your own self. And you don't know what you are! But that's what you have to search for.” [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art practice requires personal discovery beyond formal exercises; true expression emerges from self‑exploration. **In simple terms:** Find your own voice beyond school drills. Key Takeaway Seek personal authenticity. Themes creativity self‑discovery authenticity Mood introspective inspired Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - photography projects - creative writing - career transitions - personal growth Key Concepts artistic identity personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How can you explore your inner self in your work? - What habits limit your creative authenticity? A Different Perspective Formal training alone may not unlock inner vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-school/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Exercises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercises/) [Exercises Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercises-art-1135354/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-things/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Tells Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells-self-1135355/) ## Related quotes > [“Every action that you take - that your disorder tells you to take - is self-harming in the short and long term.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyavrat-thareja/every-action-that-you-take-that-your-disorder-tells-you-to-take-is/) [Priyavrat Thareja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyavrat-thareja/) > [I went to art school, but I didn't last because in those days you couldn't take comics as a course. And they weren't even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trina-robbins/i-went-to-art-school-but-i-didn-t-last-because-in-those-days-you/) [Trina Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trina-robbins/) > [I can't say what makes a picture. I can't say. It's mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-can-t-say-what-makes-a-picture-i-can-t-say-it-s-mysterious/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [To be a photographer, one must photograph. No amount of book learning, no checklist of seminars attended, can substitute for the simple act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/to-be-a-photographer-one-must-photograph-no-amount-of-book-learning/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [The photographs that excite me are photographs that say something in a new manner; not for the sake of being different but ones that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/the-photographs-that-excite-me-are-photographs-that-say-something-in/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I do believe strongly in photography and hope by following it intuitively that when the photographs are looked at they will touch the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-do-believe-strongly-in-photography-and-hope-by-following-it/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I don't force myself to exercise; I find going to gyms really boring. I find it easier to go for a fast walk or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brightman/i-don-t-force-myself-to-exercise-i-find-going-to-gyms-really-boring-i/) [Sarah Brightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brightman/) > [We do scales, vocal exercises every day. I run the voice up and down, get as high as I can and as low as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-buck/we-do-scales-vocal-exercises-every-day-i-run-the-voice-up-and-down/) [Joe Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-buck/) > [Frankly, I've never considered my own figure so exceptional; until quite recently, I seldom gave it any thought at all. My biggest single concern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/frankly-i-ve-never-considered-my-own-figure-so-exceptional-until/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [Sometimes, things are just exercises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/sometimes-things-are-just-exercises/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [“These exercises are the squat, deadlift, bench press, and military press, and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-matthews/these-exercises-are-the-squat-deadlift-bench-press-and-military-press/) [Michael Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-matthews/) > [“I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-believe-that-every-human-has-a-finite-number-of-heart-beats-i-don-t/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I did weightlifting and bodyweight-focused exercises such as chin-ups, pull-ups and press-ups with my personal trainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-did-weightlifting-and-bodyweight-focused-exercises-such-as-chin-ups/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [I like to do varied exercises, even just going for a hike with my friends or taking my dog for a walk, then going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-maxwell/i-like-to-do-varied-exercises-even-just-going-for-a-hike-with-my/) [Stella Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-maxwell/) > [I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/i-get-very-frustrated-by-this-term-genre-exercise-i-mean-what-exactly/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) ## More by Harry Callahan > [Experience is the best teacher of all. And for that, there are no guarantees that one will become an artist. Only the journey matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/experience-is-the-best-teacher-of-all-and-for-that-there-are-no/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [Only the journey matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/only-the-journey-matters/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [The difference between the casual impression and the intensified image is about as great as that separating the average business letter from a poem.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/the-difference-between-the-casual-impression-and-the-intensified/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [The photographs that excite me are photographs that say something in a new manner; not for the sake of being different but ones that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/the-photographs-that-excite-me-are-photographs-that-say-something-in/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I do believe strongly in photography and hope by following it intuitively that when the photographs are looked at they will touch the spirit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-do-believe-strongly-in-photography-and-hope-by-following-it/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [To be a photographer, one must photograph. No amount of book learning, no checklist of seminars attended, can substitute for the simple act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/to-be-a-photographer-one-must-photograph-no-amount-of-book-learning/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I can't say what makes a picture. I can't say. It's mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-can-t-say-what-makes-a-picture-i-can-t-say-it-s-mysterious/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [A man's got to know his limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/a-man-s-got-to-know-his-limitations/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [My project could be only to photograph as I felt and desired, to regulate a pleasant form of living, to get up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/my-project-could-be-only-to-photograph-as-i-felt-and-desired-to/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I photograph continuously, often without a good idea or strong feelings. During this time the photos are nearly all poor, but I believe they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-photograph-continuously-often-without-a-good-idea-or-strong/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [It's the subject matter that counts. I'm interested in revealing the subject in a new way to intensify it. A photo is able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/it-s-the-subject-matter-that-counts-i-m-interested-in-revealing-the/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I wish more people felt that photography was an adventure the same as life itself and felt that their individual feelings were worth expressing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-wish-more-people-felt-that-photography-was-an-adventure-the-same-as/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I think I came alive when I started photography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-think-i-came-alive-when-i-started-photography/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [It's a question of methods. Everybody wants results, but nobody wants to do what they have to do to get them done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/it-s-a-question-of-methods-everybody-wants-results-but-nobody-wants/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [I think nearly every artist continually wants to reach the edge of nothingness - the point where you can’t go any further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/i-think-nearly-every-artist-continually-wants-to-reach-the-edge-of/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) [Explore all 35 Harry Callahan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) ## 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": "You only do exercises in art school. That's not the real thing. A little bit tells you so much. You have to find your own self. And you don't know what you are! But that's what you have to search for.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Callahan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that-s-not-the-real-thing-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that-s-not-the-real-thing-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2f/harry-callahan-18095_art_you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that_2508708.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You only do exercises in art school. That's not the real thing. A little bit tells you so much. You have to…” — Harry Callahan", "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": "Harry Callahan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You only do exercises in art...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that-s-not-the-real-thing-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/you-only-do-exercises-in-art-school-that-s-not-the-real-thing-a/#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 } } ] } ```