--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you draw or paint a tree, you do not…" description: "\"When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the tree; you do not copy it exactly as it is, which would be mere photography. To be free to paint a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_artist_when-you-draw-or-paint-a-tree-you-do-not_235952.jpg" --- # When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the… ![“When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the tree; you do not copy it exactly as it is, which would be mere photography. To be free to paint a tree or a flower or a sunset, you have to feel what it conveys to you: the significance, the meaning of it.” quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_artist_when-you-draw-or-paint-a-tree-you-do-not_235952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_artist_when-you-draw-or-paint-a-tree-you-do-not_235952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/jiddu-krishnamurti-249_artist_when-you-draw-or-paint-a-tree-you-do-not_235952.jpg) > “When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the tree; you do not copy it exactly as it is, which would be mere photography. To be free to paint a tree or a flower or a sunset, you have to feel what it conveys to you: the significance, the meaning of it.” [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True art captures the essence, not a literal replica, requiring emotional resonance with the subject. **In simple terms:** Art should convey feeling, not exact likeness. Key Takeaway Seek the feeling behind what you see. Themes creativity perception expression Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - painting a landscape - photography class - design brainstorming - teaching art - personal journaling Key Concepts phenomenology subjectivity aesthetic experience Questions to Reflect On - How does feeling change your creative process? - What does ‘essence’ mean to you? A Different Perspective Literal copying can feel empty and lack depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Meaning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaning/) [Sunset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sunset/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [Theres a blank canvas in front of you. 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How the tree grows year by year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lockwood/i-paint-a-tree-i-think-of-how-the-roots-go-deep-deep-into-the-earth/) [Douglas Lockwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lockwood/) > [Not even for a million dollars would I paint a tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/not-even-for-a-million-dollars-would-i-paint-a-tree/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [I like to draw and paint. It is a river to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-like-to-draw-and-paint-it-is-a-river-to-me/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I can draw and paint in many different styles, and use different mediums to create work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-can-draw-and-paint-in-many-different-styles-and-use-different/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) > [Draw and paint the subject the way you want it to be, not as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brommer/draw-and-paint-the-subject-the-way-you-want-it-to-be-not-as-it-is/) [Gerald Brommer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brommer/) > [I paint; I draw and paint - I've been doing that since I was in third grade, drawing realistically and then changing to abstract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-paint-i-draw-and-paint-i-ve-been-doing-that-since-i-was-in-third/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I'm not that particularly talented in terms of making anything or - I'm not technically efficient. I certainly don't know how to draw very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-crewdson/i-m-not-that-particularly-talented-in-terms-of-making-anything-or-i-m/) [Gregory Crewdson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-crewdson/) > [I love to draw/paint, design clothes, dirt biking and boxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mya/i-love-to-draw-paint-design-clothes-dirt-biking-and-boxing/) [Mya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mya/) > [“If he could draw, he'd paint her in ivory and pink and umber,looking exactly the way she did in that instant. Perserve her forever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-grey/if-he-could-draw-he-d-paint-her-in-ivory-and-pink-and-umber-looking/) [Jeanette Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-grey/) > [Do not draw before you paint, it will restrict your brush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-onley/do-not-draw-before-you-paint-it-will-restrict-your-brush/) [Toni Onley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-onley/) > [Begin by learning to draw and paint like the old masters. After that, you can do as you like; everyone will respect you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/begin-by-learning-to-draw-and-paint-like-the-old-masters-after-that/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [I love to draw and paint - that's what makes me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hewlett/i-love-to-draw-and-paint-that-s-what-makes-me-happy/) [Jamie Hewlett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hewlett/) ## More by Jiddu Krishnamurti > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I have only one purpose: to make people free, to urge them towards freedom, to help them to break away from all limitations, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/i-have-only-one-purpose-to-make-people-free-to-urge-them-towards/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Its beautiful to be alone. To be alone does not mean to be lonely. it means the mind is not influenced and contaminated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/its-beautiful-to-be-alone-to-be-alone-does-not-mean-to-be-lonely-it/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Knowing the cause of something is not going to help you to be free of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/knowing-the-cause-of-something-is-not-going-to-help-you-to-be-free-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Whatever discipline you exercise should be based on the goal your child is eventually to reach, namely, freedom and happiness. I would show him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/whatever-discipline-you-exercise-should-be-based-on-the-goal-your/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Begin where you are. Read every word, every phrase, every paragraph of the mind, as it operates through thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/begin-where-you-are-read-every-word-every-phrase-every-paragraph-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Without discontentment, without revolt, you can never attain harmony. It is a necessary stage, which must be gone through by everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/without-discontentment-without-revolt-you-can-never-attain-harmony-it/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Meditation is a state of mind which looks at everything with complete attention, totally, not just parts of it. And no one can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-a-state-of-mind-which-looks-at-everything-with-complete/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Learning is the very essence of humility . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/learning-is-the-very-essence-of-humility/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [We need tremendous energy to bring about a psychological change in ourselves as human beings, because we have lived far too long in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/we-need-tremendous-energy-to-bring-about-a-psychological-change-in/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Life is a movement, a constant movement in relationship; and thought, trying to capture that movement in terms of the past, as memory, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/life-is-a-movement-a-constant-movement-in-relationship-and-thought/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“Meditation is like going to a well, the waters of which are inexhaustible, with a pitcher that is always empty. The pitcher can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-like-going-to-a-well-the-waters-of-which-are/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [The observer is the observed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-observer-is-the-observed/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [When we stop fighting with ourselves, we aren't creating anymore conflict in our mind. Then our mind can for the first time relax and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-we-stop-fighting-with-ourselves-we-aren-t-creating-anymore/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-lily-or-a-rose-never-pretends-and-its-beauty-is-that-it-is-what-it/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) [Explore all 807 Jiddu Krishnamurti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) ## 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": "When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the tree; you do not copy it exactly as it is, which would be mere photography. 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