--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leanoardo wrote that a painter should…" description: "\"“Leanoardo wrote that a painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/ian-caldwell-26135_artist_leanoardo-wrote-that-a-painter-should-be_3051987.jpg" --- # Leanoardo wrote that a painter should begin every canvas… ![“Leanoardo wrote that a painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light. Most painters do the opposite, starting with a whitewash and adding the shadows last. But Paul, who knows Leonardo so well you'd thing the old man…” quote by Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/ian-caldwell-26135_artist_leanoardo-wrote-that-a-painter-should-be_3051987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/ian-caldwell-26135_artist_leanoardo-wrote-that-a-painter-should-be_3051987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/ian-caldwell-26135_artist_leanoardo-wrote-that-a-painter-should-be_3051987.jpg) > ““Leanoardo wrote that a painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light. Most painters do the opposite, starting with a whitewash and adding the shadows last. But Paul, who knows Leonardo so well you'd thing the old man slept on the bottom bunk, understands the value of starting with the shadows. The only things people can ever know about you are the ones you let them see.”” [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leonardo’s advice to start with darkness suggests embracing uncertainty and hidden aspects before adding light, implying depth precedes clarity. **In simple terms:** Begin with the unknown before revealing truth. Key Takeaway Explore hidden foundations first. Themes creativity uncertainty depth knowledge Mood thoughtful inquisitive inspirational Type philosophical metaphorical advice When to use this quote - artistic creation - problem solving - research - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy of art perception learning process Questions to Reflect On - What shadows must you acknowledge before clarity? - How does starting with darkness shape insight? A Different Perspective Focusing only on light may overlook essential complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Begin Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-canvas-326755/) [Knows Leonardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-leonardo-5080550/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Old man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-man/) [Painter Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter-begin-326754/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Wash Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wash-black-326753/) [Wrote Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrote-painter-5080549/) ## Related quotes > [A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-painter-should-begin-every-canvas-with-a-wash-of-black-because-all/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“You’d better keep her tied.” “Why?” A yawn stretched Hunter’s dark face. “Because she’s looking skittish.” “She’s naked.” Sheathing his knife, Hunter flopped on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/you-d-better-keep-her-tied-why-a-yawn-stretched-hunter-s-dark-face/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/you-don-t-get-to-choose-if-you-get-hurt-in-this-world-old-man-but-you/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The barman sidled toward them out of a back room. He was a grump-looking old man with a great deal of a long gray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-barman-sidled-toward-them-out-of-a-back-room-he-was-a-grump/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I’m 59 and people call me middle aged. 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He terrorised us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hunt/my-old-man-was-ruthless-he-terrorised-us/) [Mark Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hunt/) > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That's baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-harwell/a-tall-thin-old-man-waving-a-scorecard-from-the-corner-of-his-dugout/) [Ernie Harwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-harwell/) ## More by Ian Caldwell > [The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/the-strong-take-from-the-weak-but-the-smart-take-from-the-strong/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [The only things people can ever know about you are the ones that you let them see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/the-only-things-people-can-ever-know-about-you-are-the-ones-that-you/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [“Time is what disperses us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/time-is-what-disperses-us/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [“With that in mind, I try to imagine the greatest gift I could've given my father. 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Coal becomes diamonds, sand becomes pearls, apes become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/perfection-is-the-natural-consequence-of-eternity-wait-long-enough/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [A son is a promise that time makes to a man,the guarantee every father receives that whatever he holds dear will someday be considered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/a-son-is-a-promise-that-time-makes-to-a-man-the-guarantee-every/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [“They could never quite reconcile themselves to the idea that our lives don't follow the dramatic arc that a good author gives to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/they-could-never-quite-reconcile-themselves-to-the-idea-that-our/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [“Hope...which is whispered from Pandora's box only after all the other plagues and sorrows had escaped, is the best and last of all things.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/hope-which-is-whispered-from-pandora-s-box-only-after-all-the-other/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [Two people who think they're in love can find out, when left alone, exactly how little they know about each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/two-people-who-think-they-re-in-love-can-find-out-when-left-alone/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [“The magic of Paul’s intelligence is that he has more patience than anyone I’ve ever met, and with it he simply wears problems down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/the-magic-of-paul-s-intelligence-is-that-he-has-more-patience-than/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [Adulthood it a glacier encroaching quietly on youth. When it arrives, the stamp of childhood suddenly freezes, capturing us for good in the image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/adulthood-it-a-glacier-encroaching-quietly-on-youth-when-it-arrives/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [“Inde fernut, titidem qui vivere debeat annos, corpre de patrio parvum phenica renasci' It's from Ovid. It means, 'A little phoenix is born anew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/inde-fernut-titidem-qui-vivere-debeat-annos-corpre-de-patrio-parvum/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) > [Time is the guy at the amusement park who paints shirts with an airbrush. He sprays out the color in a fine mist until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-caldwell/time-is-the-guy-at-the-amusement-park-who-paints-shirts-with-an/) [Ian Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) [Explore all 22 Ian Caldwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-caldwell/) ## 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. 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