--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... a canvas that I have covered is worth…" description: "\"... a canvas that I have covered is worth more than a blank canvas. My pretensions go no further; that is my right to paint, my reason for painting.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/irving-stone-3288_artist_a-canvas-that-i-have-covered-is-worth-mo_1982853.png" --- # ... a canvas that I have covered is worth more than a… ![“... a canvas that I have covered is worth more than a blank canvas. My pretensions go no further; that is my right to paint, my reason for painting.” quote by Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/irving-stone-3288_artist_a-canvas-that-i-have-covered-is-worth-mo_1982853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/irving-stone-3288_artist_a-canvas-that-i-have-covered-is-worth-mo_1982853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6e/irving-stone-3288_artist_a-canvas-that-i-have-covered-is-worth-mo_1982853.png) > “... a canvas that I have covered is worth more than a blank canvas. My pretensions go no further; that is my right to paint, my reason for painting.” [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author values the act of painting and the right to create, seeing a covered canvas as more valuable than a blank one, emphasizing personal expression. **In simple terms:** Creating art is a right; a painted canvas holds meaning. Key Takeaway Honor the right to create. Themes art creativity self‑expression artist rights Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - art workshops - personal projects - gallery exhibitions - educational programs Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy personal autonomy cultural value Questions to Reflect On - What does a painted canvas symbolize for you? - How does artistic freedom impact society? A Different Perspective Art may be inaccessible to some due to resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Blank canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-canvas/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Pretension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretension/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [I painted with acrylic paint, and the reason why I went to oil was mainly because I didn't control it. I was looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-oehlen/i-painted-with-acrylic-paint-and-the-reason-why-i-went-to-oil-was/) Albert Oehlen > [The best reason to paint is that there is no reason to paint... I'd like to pretend that I've never seen anything, never read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/the-best-reason-to-paint-is-that-there-is-no-reason-to-paint-i-d-like/) [Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/) > [The best reason to paint is that there is no reason to paint...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-haring/the-best-reason-to-paint-is-that-there-is-no-reason-to-paint/) [Keith Haring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-haring/) > [The reason for my painting large canvases is that I want to be intimate and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rothko/the-reason-for-my-painting-large-canvases-is-that-i-want-to-be-2/) [Mark Rothko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rothko/) > [I think one's art goes as far and as deep as one's love goes. I see no reason for painting but that. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wyeth/i-think-one-s-art-goes-as-far-and-as-deep-as-one-s-love-goes-i-see-no/) [Andrew Wyeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wyeth/) > [I see no reason for painting anything that can be put into any other form as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/i-see-no-reason-for-painting-anything-that-can-be-put-into-any-other/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [The reason for my painting large canvases is that I want to be intimate and human. 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You can start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tristan-taormino/exercise-creating-authentic-relationships-the-questions-below-deal/) [Tristan Taormino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tristan-taormino/) > [Theres a blank canvas in front of you. You are the artist of your life, and you are free to paint any picture that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishu/theres-a-blank-canvas-in-front-of-you-you-are-the-artist-of-your-life/) [Nishu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishu/) > [The white T-shirt is like a blank canvas - eternally versatile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/the-white-t-shirt-is-like-a-blank-canvas-eternally-versatile/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) ## More by Irving Stone > [ You cannot be the good all the time — sometimes it is necessary to get angry. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/you-cannot-be-the-good-all-the-time-sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-get/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [The brooding is better than the joy because even if the heart fills with happiness, it still mourns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/the-brooding-is-better-than-the-joy-because-even-if-the-heart-fills/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Diligence does not work if there is a lack of innate talent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/diligence-does-not-work-if-there-is-a-lack-of-innate-talent/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“From this vantage point he came to a realization that everything that had happened to him before this had been a journey upward through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/from-this-vantage-point-he-came-to-a-realization-that-everything-that/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [Listen, my friend, all forms that exist in God's universe can be found in the human figure. A man's body and face can tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/listen-my-friend-all-forms-that-exist-in-god-s-universe-can-be-found/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [You cannot be firmly certain about anything. You can only have enough courage and strength to do what you consider to be right. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/you-cannot-be-firmly-certain-about-anything-you-can-only-have-enough/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Only suffering grows big artists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/only-suffering-grows-big-artists/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“The fields that push up the corn, and the water that rushes down the ravine, the juice of the grape, and the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/the-fields-that-push-up-the-corn-and-the-water-that-rushes-down-the/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [Nature always resists the artist at the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/nature-always-resists-the-artist-at-the-beginning/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [Sometimes men are generous and forgiving, sometimes angry and blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/sometimes-men-are-generous-and-forgiving-sometimes-angry-and-blind/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [Reading is a stout-hearted activity, disporting courage, keenness, stick-to-it-ness. It is also, in my experience, one of the most thrilling and enduring delights of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/reading-is-a-stout-hearted-activity-disporting-courage-keenness-stick/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [Do not call yourself old. A man is as old as the creative force within him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/do-not-call-yourself-old-a-man-is-as-old-as-the-creative-force-within/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Art should be linked to abstract things - color, line, tone. It is not an instrument to improve social conditions and chase ugliness. Painting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/art-should-be-linked-to-abstract-things-color-line-tone-it-is-not-an/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [ I will be an artist. I am sure I will. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/i-will-be-an-artist-i-am-sure-i-will-vincent-van-gogh/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [His mind was like a soup dish, wide and shallow; it could hold a small amount of nearly anything, but the slightest jarring spilled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/his-mind-was-like-a-soup-dish-wide-and-shallow-it-could-hold-a-small/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) [Explore all 130 Irving Stone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) ## 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 > [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": "... a canvas that I have covered is worth more than a blank canvas. 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