--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to draw and paint. It is a river…" description: "\"I like to draw and paint. It is a river to me.\" — John Lurie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/john-lurie-21385_painting_i-like-to-draw-and-paint-it-is-a-river-t_1807854.jpg" --- # I like to draw and paint. It is a river to me. ![“I like to draw and paint. It is a river to me.” quote by John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/john-lurie-21385_painting_i-like-to-draw-and-paint-it-is-a-river-t_1807854.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/john-lurie-21385_painting_i-like-to-draw-and-paint-it-is-a-river-t_1807854.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8d/john-lurie-21385_painting_i-like-to-draw-and-paint-it-is-a-river-t_1807854.jpg) > “I like to draw and paint. It is a river to me.” [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating art feels like a flowing river, providing continuous movement and expression for the artist. **In simple terms:** Art is a flowing river of expression. Key Takeaway Let creativity flow continuously. Themes creativity expression flow Mood inspirational reflective Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - painting - drawing - musical improvisation - writing - daily creative practice Key Concepts artistic process metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain artistic momentum? - What practices keep your creative river moving? A Different Perspective Creative blocks can disrupt the flow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw/) [Draw Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw-paint-2088506/) [Like Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-draw-768828/) [Paint River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint-river-2088505/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [I'm a comic book artist. So I think to myself, what do I like to draw? I like to draw hot chicks, fast cars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-miller/i-m-a-comic-book-artist-so-i-think-to-myself-what-do-i-like-to-draw-i/) [Frank Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-miller/) > [Please don't drop me this is a photo of me and one of my best mates with both like to draw no paper or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fading-scars/please-don-t-drop-me-this-is-a-photo-of-me-and-one-of-my-best-mates/) [Fading\_scars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fading-scars/) > [Sometimes I use my jokes as building blocks for larger bits. I like to draw and play music, so sometimes I do those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/sometimes-i-use-my-jokes-as-building-blocks-for-larger-bits-i-like-to/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I get to draw what I like to draw, basically people hangin' around, and write very humanistic kinds of situations and characters. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/i-get-to-draw-what-i-like-to-draw-basically-people-hangin-around-and/) [Gilberto Hernandez Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilberto-hernandez-guerrero/) > [You know, I like playing music and playing guitar, and I like to draw, so I thought I would end up just probably barely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corbett/you-know-i-like-playing-music-and-playing-guitar-and-i-like-to-draw/) [John Corbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corbett/) > [When I was a kid, I always used to paint. I like to draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/when-i-was-a-kid-i-always-used-to-paint-i-like-to-draw/) [Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/) > [When you draw or paint a tree, you do not imitate the tree; you do not copy it exactly as it is, which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-you-draw-or-paint-a-tree-you-do-not-imitate-the-tree-you-do-not/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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 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 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/) ## More by John Lurie > [I remember seeing McCoy Tyner in concert, and thinking that the music was incredible, but wanting to be invited in. I figured that humor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-remember-seeing-mccoy-tyner-in-concert-and-thinking-that-the-music/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I think humor is actually a very serious thing. I think the people who shaped culture, for the better, in the last 50 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-think-humor-is-actually-a-very-serious-thing-i-think-the-people-who/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I think the Native Americans had the right idea about preserving and respecting the earth. Not just using it up. We are not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-think-the-native-americans-had-the-right-idea-about-preserving-and/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I start out making my paintings for me. I don't see it as a form of communication. Until, of course, after they are done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-start-out-making-my-paintings-for-me-i-don-t-see-it-as-a-form-of/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [When I first got sick, they told me I had a year to live, and I was writing my memoir really fast. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/when-i-first-got-sick-they-told-me-i-had-a-year-to-live-and-i-was/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [The paintings usually start as abstracts and then I look at them and look at them, and like a Rorschach test, I try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/the-paintings-usually-start-as-abstracts-and-then-i-look-at-them-and/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I've had encounters with animals that have been really mystical. I've always been really into animals. But the way they appear in the paintings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-ve-had-encounters-with-animals-that-have-been-really-mystical-i-ve/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [Acting scares me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/acting-scares-me/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I attempt to create a world that hypnotizes me as I make it. I hope others can get lost in it in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-attempt-to-create-a-world-that-hypnotizes-me-as-i-make-it-i-hope/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [It seems like there are always gatekeepers. People between you and the people who are moved by your work. They often make a beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/it-seems-like-there-are-always-gatekeepers-people-between-you-and-the/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [But, you know, I'd be happy just making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/but-you-know-i-d-be-happy-just-making-music/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [The loss of music is very painful, and I don't revisit stuff unless there is a solid reason to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/the-loss-of-music-is-very-painful-and-i-don-t-revisit-stuff-unless/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I feel cleaner on the days where I am painting as opposed to the periods when I am not, that is certain to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-feel-cleaner-on-the-days-where-i-am-painting-as-opposed-to-the/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [Kenny G is not real jazz. I don't even think Wynton Marsalis is real jazz. I don't think Harry Connick Jr. is real jazz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/kenny-g-is-not-real-jazz-i-don-t-even-think-wynton-marsalis-is-real/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) > [I play music, I paint - these things come from your depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lurie/i-play-music-i-paint-these-things-come-from-your-depths/) [John Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) [Explore all 29 John Lurie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lurie/) ## 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 like to draw and paint. 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