--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be an artist it is not necessary to…" description: "\"To be an artist it is not necessary to make a living from our creations. Nor is it necessary to have work hanging in fine museums or the praise of crit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jan-phillips-29456_art_to-be-an-artist-it-is-not-necessary-to-m_2169497.jpg" --- # To be an artist it is not necessary to make a living from… ![“To be an artist it is not necessary to make a living from our creations. Nor is it necessary to have work hanging in fine museums or the praise of critics . . . To be an artist it is necessary to live with our eyes wide open, to breathe in the colors of mountain and sky, to know the sound of…” quote by Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jan-phillips-29456_art_to-be-an-artist-it-is-not-necessary-to-m_2169497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jan-phillips-29456_art_to-be-an-artist-it-is-not-necessary-to-m_2169497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/jan-phillips-29456_art_to-be-an-artist-it-is-not-necessary-to-m_2169497.jpg) > “To be an artist it is not necessary to make a living from our creations. Nor is it necessary to have work hanging in fine museums or the praise of critics . . . To be an artist it is necessary to live with our eyes wide open, to breathe in the colors of mountain and sky, to know the sound of leaves rustling, the smell of snow, the texture of bark . . . To be an artist is to notice every beautiful and tragic thing, to cry freely, to collect experience and shape it into forms that others can share.” [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An artist's true work lies in deep perception and emotional honesty, not commercial success or institutional validation. **In simple terms:** Artists must stay open, observe, and transform experience into shared art. Key Takeaway Cultivate awareness and translate feeling into art. Themes creativity perception authenticity emotion Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily observation - nature walks - journaling - creative workshops - mindful breathing Key Concepts mindfulness sensory engagement emotional intelligence artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay open to the world? - What practices deepen your sensory awareness? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures can dilute artistic integrity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Eyes wide open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-wide-open/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Museums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museums/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snow/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Tragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic/) ## Related quotes > [The impact of a conscious artist is necessary, and it ripples through the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/the-impact-of-a-conscious-artist-is-necessary-and-it-ripples-through/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/) > [“The artist should thus derive the freest possible inspiration from his dream images and strive toward a "super realism" in which the boundaries between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-artist-should-thus-derive-the-freest-possible-inspiration-from/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [“It takes me five rounds to hit the middle of the target, and when I do, a rush of energy goes through me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/it-takes-me-five-rounds-to-hit-the-middle-of-the-target-and-when-i-do/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/imagination-has-given-us-the-steam-engine-the-telephone-the-talking/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Ill Keep It Hidden My world is falling, crumbling apart, life is meaningless and that's just the start My hearts so sore, I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockymills/ill-keep-it-hidden-my-world-is-falling-crumbling-apart-life-is/) [RockyMills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockymills/) > [You start out with your eyes wide open, and you've got dreams, and we worked really, really hard, and ours came true. So -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/you-start-out-with-your-eyes-wide-open-and-you-ve-got-dreams-and-we/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [Often pagans, with their eyes wide open, do not see very clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-rouault/often-pagans-with-their-eyes-wide-open-do-not-see-very-clearly/) [Georges Rouault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-rouault/) > [“Imagination has brought mankind through the Dark Ages to its present state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discover America. Imagination led Franklin to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/imagination-has-brought-mankind-through-the-dark-ages-to-its-present/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Gossip is a plague that consumes weak, gullible people and blinds them from the truth of reality; it can devour entire city's. I prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/gossip-is-a-plague-that-consumes-weak-gullible-people-and-blinds-them/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [I believe that dreams - day dreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain machinery whizzing - are likely to lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/i-believe-that-dreams-day-dreams-you-know-with-your-eyes-wide-open/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [The earliest storytellers were magi, seers, bards, griots, shamans. They were, it would seem, old as time, and as terrifying to gaze upon as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/the-earliest-storytellers-were-magi-seers-bards-griots-shamans-they/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [It hurts to even be breathing with tired eyes wide open, I fear my own tears and my heart of falling love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-harvey/it-hurts-to-even-be-breathing-with-tired-eyes-wide-open-i-fear-my-own/) Natasha Harvey > [Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/keep-your-eyes-wide-open-before-marriage-half-shut-afterwards/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Eight-and-twenty years,' said I, 'I have lived, and never a ghost have I seen as yet.' The old woman sat staring hard into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-2/eight-and-twenty-years-said-i-i-have-lived-and-never-a-ghost-have-i/) [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) > [Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and halfway closed there after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/keep-your-eyes-wide-open-before-marriage-and-halfway-closed-there/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) ## More by Jan Phillips > [We have a funny concept of time in this culture. We revere it as we revere money, yet we rarely spend any of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/we-have-a-funny-concept-of-time-in-this-culture-we-revere-it-as-we/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [The real thing is that sweet joy you feel when you're in the midst of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/the-real-thing-is-that-sweet-joy-you-feel-when-you-re-in-the-midst-of/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [We photographers are poets in the language of symbols.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/we-photographers-are-poets-in-the-language-of-symbols/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [Photos are our autobiography, a way of telling who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/photos-are-our-autobiography-a-way-of-telling-who-we-are/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [There's someone out there who needs you. You must live your life so that person can find you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/there-s-someone-out-there-who-needs-you-you-must-live-your-life-so/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [You can tell the real Christians by their acts. They are the ones serving, the ones loving, the ones sharing whatever they have. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/you-can-tell-the-real-christians-by-their-acts-they-are-the-ones/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [I believe that what it is I have been called to do will make itself known when I have made myself ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/i-believe-that-what-it-is-i-have-been-called-to-do-will-make-itself/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [We are vulnerable to fear only when we leave the present. If I drift into the past, my regrets surge up, my memories of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/we-are-vulnerable-to-fear-only-when-we-leave-the-present-if-i-drift/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [Find what brings you joy and go there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/find-what-brings-you-joy-and-go-there/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [To be an aritst is not to wait for others to define us, but to define ourselves, claim our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/to-be-an-aritst-is-not-to-wait-for-others-to-define-us-but-to-define/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [Remember, we are creating the lives we're about to enter into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/remember-we-are-creating-the-lives-we-re-about-to-enter-into/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [I believe that the Source from which we come is alive in us as our breath, and as we speak and sing and breathe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/i-believe-that-the-source-from-which-we-come-is-alive-in-us-as-our/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [Mel Alexenberg offers a scintillating experiment in creativity. His work is an invitation to deepen your spiritual sensibilities as you extend your imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/mel-alexenberg-offers-a-scintillating-experiment-in-creativity-his/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [Time is all we have. One lifetime under this name to produce a body of work that says, This is how I saw the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/time-is-all-we-have-one-lifetime-under-this-name-to-produce-a-body-of/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) > [God to me is the universe unfolding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-phillips/god-to-me-is-the-universe-unfolding/) [Jan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) [Explore all 18 Jan Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-phillips/) ## 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 > [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": "To be an artist it is not necessary to make a living from our creations. 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