---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think a painting should include more…"
description: "\"I think a painting should include more experience than simply intended statement.\" — Jasper Johns"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/jasper-johns-8447_painting_i-think-a-painting-should-include-more-e_1471058.jpg"
---

#  I think a painting should include more experience than…

![“I think a painting should include more experience than simply intended statement.” quote by Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/jasper-johns-8447_painting_i-think-a-painting-should-include-more-e_1471058.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/jasper-johns-8447_painting_i-think-a-painting-should-include-more-e_1471058.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/272/jasper-johns-8447_painting_i-think-a-painting-should-include-more-e_1471058.jpg)

> “I think a painting should include more experience than simply intended statement.”

[Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Art should convey lived experience, not just a planned message.

**In simple terms:** Art reflects experience over intent.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize authentic expression.

Themes

art experience expression

Mood

reflective creative

Type

inspirational philosophical

When to use this quote

- gallery shows
- personal projects
- public murals

Key Concepts

subjectivity intentionality

Questions to Reflect On

- What personal experiences shape your work?
- How do you balance intent and spontaneity?

A Different Perspective

Focus on experience may neglect clear communication.

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> [Early on I was very involved with the notion of the painting as an object and tended to attack that idea from different directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/early-on-i-was-very-involved-with-the-notion-of-the-painting-as-an/)

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> [I think only of my painting, and if I were to drop it, I think I'd go crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/i-think-only-of-my-painting-and-if-i-were-to-drop-it-i-think-i-d-go/)

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> [I've explored a variety of directions and themes over the years. But I think in my painting you can see the signature of one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-frankenthaler/i-ve-explored-a-variety-of-directions-and-themes-over-the-years-but-i/)

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> [I think every painting should be the same size and the same color so they're all interchangeable and nobody thinks they have a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-think-every-painting-should-be-the-same-size-and-the-same-color-so/)

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> [I don't want to be a film-maker. I think painting is far more exciting and profound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-film-maker-i-think-painting-is-far-more-exciting/)

[Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/)

> [When you think of painting as painting it is rather absurd. The real world is before us - glorious sunlight and activity and fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-thiebaud/when-you-think-of-painting-as-painting-it-is-rather-absurd-the-real/)

[Wayne Thiebaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-thiebaud/)

> [I do not think my painting has ever been revolutionary. It was not directed against any kind of painting. I have never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/i-do-not-think-my-painting-has-ever-been-revolutionary-it-was-not/)

[Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/)

> [I don't think I can do this - painting under observation. It's the worst thing there is, worse than being in the hospital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/i-don-t-think-i-can-do-this-painting-under-observation-it-s-the-worst/)

[Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/)

> [What makes you think painting is any less difficult than brain surgery?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-willard/what-makes-you-think-painting-is-any-less-difficult-than-brain-surgery/)

[Christopher Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-willard/)

> [You are not to think of painting as something separate from drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimon-nicolaides/you-are-not-to-think-of-painting-as-something-separate-from-drawing/)

[Kimon Nicolaides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimon-nicolaides/)

## More by Jasper Johns

> [Early on I was very involved with the notion of the painting as an object and tended to attack that idea from different directions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/early-on-i-was-very-involved-with-the-notion-of-the-painting-as-an/)

[Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/)

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> [In my early work, I tried to hide my personality, my psychological state, my emotions. This was partly due to my feelings about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/in-my-early-work-i-tried-to-hide-my-personality-my-psychological/)

[Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/)

> [I have no ideas about what the paintings imply about the world. I don't think that's a painter's business. He just paints paintings without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/i-have-no-ideas-about-what-the-paintings-imply-about-the-world-i-don/)

[Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/)

> [I have meant what I have done. Or I have often meant what I have done. Or I have sometimes meant what I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/i-have-meant-what-i-have-done-or-i-have-often-meant-what-i-have-done/)

[Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/)

> [Art as a fantasy has been one of my earliest experiences. I suppose a lot of my childhood was a fantasy that involved getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/art-as-a-fantasy-has-been-one-of-my-earliest-experiences-i-suppose-a/)

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> [I tend to like things that already exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/i-tend-to-like-things-that-already-exist/)

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> [Bend color names which should be made of neon or copper tubing. Place an object on a surface - trace the object - then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/bend-color-names-which-should-be-made-of-neon-or-copper-tubing-place/)

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> [I never wish for critics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/i-never-wish-for-critics/)

[Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/)

> [Art is either a complaint or appeasement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/art-is-either-a-complaint-or-appeasement/)

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