Art Quote by Jane Yolen
“I have always been jealous of artists. The smell of the studio, the names of the various tools, the look of a half-finished canvas all shout of creation. What do writers have in comparison? Only the flat paper, the clacketing of the typewriter or the scrape of a pen across a yellow page. And then, when the finished piece is presented, there is a small wonder on one hand, a manuscript smudged with erasures or crossed out lines on the other. The impact of the painting is immediate, the manuscript must unfold slowly through time.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Writer's Craft, Jane Yolen, 1998
The writer envies the immediacy of visual art, noting that literature unfolds slowly, requiring patience and imagination to experience its impact.
In simple terms: Writers lack instant visual impact.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the slow reveal of words.
Themes
creativity
patience
artistic comparison
process
imagination
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
comparative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- reading groups
- art studios
- creative retreats
Key Concepts
literature
visual art
craftsmanship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers create immediacy?
- What strengths do writers have over visual artists?
A Different Perspective
Literary impact can be as powerful as visual, though delayed.
