--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I start with an idea in my head. I sketch…" description: "\"I start with an idea in my head. I sketch it out quickly as a line drawing, using pencil. It never comes out quite right - usually a bit better than my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/jamie-hewlett-16330_artist_i-start-with-an-idea-in-my-head-i-sketch_1040277.png" --- # I start with an idea in my head. I sketch it out quickly… ![“I start with an idea in my head. I sketch it out quickly as a line drawing, using pencil. It never comes out quite right - usually a bit better than my mental picture.” quote by Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/jamie-hewlett-16330_artist_i-start-with-an-idea-in-my-head-i-sketch_1040277.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/jamie-hewlett-16330_artist_i-start-with-an-idea-in-my-head-i-sketch_1040277.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/jamie-hewlett-16330_artist_i-start-with-an-idea-in-my-head-i-sketch_1040277.png) > “I start with an idea in my head. I sketch it out quickly as a line drawing, using pencil. It never comes out quite right - usually a bit better than my mental picture.” [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sketching ideas quickly captures their essence, though the final drawing often differs from the mental image. **In simple terms:** Fast sketches capture core ideas, but differ from thoughts. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfect drafts as stepping stones. Themes creativity iteration visualization Mood thoughtful encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - concept art - storyboarding - product design Key Concepts design process artistic development perfectionism Questions to Reflect On - How do you refine sketches into final art? - What value lies in imperfect drafts? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress if over‑pursued. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Drawing Using](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing-using-2427179/) [Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Sketch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketch/) [Sketch Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sketch-quickly-2427180/) [Using Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/using-pencil-2427181/) ## Related quotes > [“Thus he always wrote using a pencil with a long, sharp but soft lead, so he couldn't here his words as they formed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/thus-he-always-wrote-using-a-pencil-with-a-long-sharp-but-soft-lead/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Somebody was using the pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/somebody-was-using-the-pencil/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [“Instead of chasing the idea of truth, what we should be doing is embracing the medium of drawing and using it for a purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-stanyer/instead-of-chasing-the-idea-of-truth-what-we-should-be-doing-is/) [Peter Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-stanyer/) > [Using words to talk of words is like using a pencil to draw a picture of itself, on itself. Impossible. Confusing. Frustrating ... but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/using-words-to-talk-of-words-is-like-using-a-pencil-to-draw-a-picture/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Etch your vision in stone-but sketch your strategy in pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/etch-your-vision-in-stone-but-sketch-your-strategy-in-pencil/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I'll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/said-hamlet-to-ophelia-i-ll-draw-a-sketch-of-thee-what-kind-of-pencil/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [A sketch of a man facing to the right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-sketch-of-a-man-facing-to-the-right/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [THING TO TRY: If you are asked to describe a suspect to a police sketch artist, describe in precise detail, the features of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/thing-to-try-if-you-are-asked-to-describe-a-suspect-to-a-police/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The sketch hunter moves through life as he finds it, not passing negligently the things he loves, but stopping to know them, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/the-sketch-hunter-moves-through-life-as-he-finds-it-not-passing/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [Cell phones, alas, have pretty much ruined train travel, which I used to love. I could read or even sketch notes for what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/cell-phones-alas-have-pretty-much-ruined-train-travel-which-i-used-to/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [I think I'm one of those guys who was sort of always in comedy. I thought of myself - and other people seemed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-daly/i-think-i-m-one-of-those-guys-who-was-sort-of-always-in-comedy-i/) [Andy Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-daly/) > [An incomplete sketch superbly executed is power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-schmid/an-incomplete-sketch-superbly-executed-is-power/) [Richard Schmid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-schmid/) > [I went from an unemployed actor's life to doing stand-up comedy, and that was fortuitous. It's not the usual way the crow flies, going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/i-went-from-an-unemployed-actor-s-life-to-doing-stand-up-comedy-and/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) > [Maybe it's just my improv and sketch background, but I'm a lot more comfortable in a group. I like sharing focus and populating an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mantzoukas/maybe-it-s-just-my-improv-and-sketch-background-but-i-m-a-lot-more/) [Jason Mantzoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mantzoukas/) > [Like I said, a sketch is one joke. They shouldn't really be more than a minute, two minutes. There are some shows where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-andre/like-i-said-a-sketch-is-one-joke-they-shouldn-t-really-be-more-than-a/) [Eric Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-andre/) ## More by Jamie Hewlett > [I took a lot of influences from Studio Ghibli, which is the Japanese animation studio that made 'Spirited Away' and 'Castle in the Sky.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-took-a-lot-of-influences-from-studio-ghibli-which-is-the-japanese/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [It’s about reaching that moment of pure ecstasy when a drawing just happens. Where every move you make with your hand and every thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/it-s-about-reaching-that-moment-of-pure-ecstasy-when-a-drawing-just/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [Look at someone like Kanye West - ego is the death of a lot of art. To believe in yourself that much is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/look-at-someone-like-kanye-west-ego-is-the-death-of-a-lot-of-art-to/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [If you're having fun, if you're working with people you love working with, then the results are always going to be exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/if-you-re-having-fun-if-you-re-working-with-people-you-love-working/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [It's wonderful to find cultures that are historically still intact, as opposed to a lot of Western cultures which seem to me to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/it-s-wonderful-to-find-cultures-that-are-historically-still-intact-as/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I'm always having ideas. I'd like to continue being able to realise the ideas I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-m-always-having-ideas-i-d-like-to-continue-being-able-to-realise/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [My parents weren't very good at keeping things, which is why I treasure my own sons' work so much now - I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/my-parents-weren-t-very-good-at-keeping-things-which-is-why-i/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I am in that position where I finish something, it goes out, and I'm onto the next thing. I finish it, it goes out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-am-in-that-position-where-i-finish-something-it-goes-out-and-i-m/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [Murdoc is sort of the, um, it’s his band. He sort of put Gorillaz together. It’s his idea. But he’s sort of an ugly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/murdoc-is-sort-of-the-um-it-s-his-band-he-sort-of-put-gorillaz/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I'm much more at home with Daffy Duck than I am with a real person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-m-much-more-at-home-with-daffy-duck-than-i-am-with-a-real-person/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I want to do stuff that excites me and is enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-want-to-do-stuff-that-excites-me-and-is-enjoyable/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [The total freedom means that you're enjoying what you're doing and you're involved in what you're doing, and that gives you the opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/the-total-freedom-means-that-you-re-enjoying-what-you-re-doing-and/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [The more you draw, the better you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/the-more-you-draw-the-better-you-get/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I used to love comic books, and I love American comedy, and neither are afraid to tackle big themes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-used-to-love-comic-books-and-i-love-american-comedy-and-neither-are/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [I grew up doubting myself. It was a very spotty, frustrating, worrying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-grew-up-doubting-myself-it-was-a-very-spotty-frustrating-worrying/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) [Explore all 40 Jamie Hewlett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) ## 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 start with an idea in my head. I sketch it out quickly as a line drawing, using pencil. 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