--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He made his colours, built his…" description: "\"He made his colours, built his stretchers, plastered his canvas, painted his pictures, carpentered his frames, and painted them. 'Too bad I can't buy m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/irving-stone-3288_artist_he-made-his-colours-built-his-stretchers_2407984.jpg" --- # He made his colours, built his stretchers, plastered his… ![“He made his colours, built his stretchers, plastered his canvas, painted his pictures, carpentered his frames, and painted them. 'Too bad I can't buy my own pictures,' he murmured aloud. 'Then I'd be completely self-sufficient.'” quote by Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/irving-stone-3288_artist_he-made-his-colours-built-his-stretchers_2407984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/irving-stone-3288_artist_he-made-his-colours-built-his-stretchers_2407984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/irving-stone-3288_artist_he-made-his-colours-built-his-stretchers_2407984.jpg) > “He made his colours, built his stretchers, plastered his canvas, painted his pictures, carpentered his frames, and painted them. 'Too bad I can't buy my own pictures,' he murmured aloud. 'Then I'd be completely self-sufficient.'” [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 narrator envies self‑sufficiency, lamenting dependence on others for art, reflecting a desire for autonomy in creation. **In simple terms:** He wishes to create and own his art without relying on others. Key Takeaway Pursue independent creation where possible. Themes independence artistry self‑reliance creativity envy Mood reflective aspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - artist studios - self‑published work - craftsmanship Key Concepts economics of art personal fulfillment creative control Questions to Reflect On - What resources could help achieve autonomy? - How does collaboration enhance art? A Different Perspective Self‑sufficiency may be unrealistic without resources or collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sufficient/) ## Related quotes > [I've always painted pictures in which human love floods my colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/i-ve-always-painted-pictures-in-which-human-love-floods-my-colors/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [Do I need fifty finger-painted pictures by my toddler, or is one enough to capture this time of life? Mementos work best when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/do-i-need-fifty-finger-painted-pictures-by-my-toddler-or-is-one/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I have always painted pictures where human love floods my colors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/i-have-always-painted-pictures-where-human-love-floods-my-colors/) [Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/) > [All my life I have painted pictures so that certain people would drop dead when they looked at them, but I have not succeeded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/man-ray/all-my-life-i-have-painted-pictures-so-that-certain-people-would-drop/) [Man Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/man-ray/) > [No matter how much you want to be self-sufficient and alone, there is a natural human impulse to need something more than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-e-steinberg/no-matter-how-much-you-want-to-be-self-sufficient-and-alone-there-is/) Jonathan E. Steinberg > [We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-have-been-preserved-these-many-years-in-peace-and-prosperity-we/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Pride; you know that self sufficient, self sustaining ego that may be very well the strength to your entire being but the weakness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-tru-sum/pride-you-know-that-self-sufficient-self-sustaining-ego-that-may-be/) [The Tru Sum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-tru-sum/) > [“The more self-sufficient we are, the less we need others. The less we need others, the less likely we are to form the bonds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-shinabarger/the-more-self-sufficient-we-are-the-less-we-need-others-the-less-we/) [Jeff Shinabarger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-shinabarger/) > [The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/the-snow-itself-is-lonely-or-if-you-prefer-self-sufficient-there-is/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [However self-sufficient we may fancy ourselves, we exist only in relation -- to our friend, family, and life partners; to those we teach and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-bell/however-self-sufficient-we-may-fancy-ourselves-we-exist-only-in/) [Derrick Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-bell/) > [For, behind the scenes, halfway around the world in Mexico, were two decades of aggressive research on wheat that not only enabled Mexico to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-borlaug/for-behind-the-scenes-halfway-around-the-world-in-mexico-were-two/) [Norman Borlaug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-borlaug/) > [Self-sufficiency is the enemy of salvation. If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God. If you have no need of God, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nicholson/self-sufficiency-is-the-enemy-of-salvation-if-you-are-self-sufficient/) [William Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nicholson/) > [Kami'd always retold her fairy tales to make the fair maidens braver and more self-sufficient, but she had never had any real objection to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/kami-d-always-retold-her-fairy-tales-to-make-the-fair-maidens-braver/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [I think the Tata Group's greatest contribution to the growth of the Indian economy and Indian industry probably happened in the pre-independence era. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/i-think-the-tata-group-s-greatest-contribution-to-the-growth-of-the/) [Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/) > [ \[We need to \] select immigrants based on their likelihood of success in U.S. society and their ability to be financially self- sufficient. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-to-select-immigrants-based-on-their-likelihood-of-success-in/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## 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": "He made his colours, built his stretchers, plastered his canvas, painted his pictures, carpentered his frames, and painted them. 'Too bad I can't buy my own pictures,' he murmured aloud. 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