--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started out as an artist, and what I do…" description: "\"I started out as an artist, and what I do is verbal paintings. I paint a picture. Hopefully, you'll see the characters and what they're doing and what ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/jonathan-winters-19339_art_i-started-out-as-an-artist-and-what-i-do_3153310.jpg" --- # I started out as an artist, and what I do is verbal… ![“I started out as an artist, and what I do is verbal paintings. I paint a picture. Hopefully, you'll see the characters and what they're doing and what they're saying.” quote by Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/jonathan-winters-19339_art_i-started-out-as-an-artist-and-what-i-do_3153310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/jonathan-winters-19339_art_i-started-out-as-an-artist-and-what-i-do_3153310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/jonathan-winters-19339_art_i-started-out-as-an-artist-and-what-i-do_3153310.jpg) > “I started out as an artist, and what I do is verbal paintings. I paint a picture. Hopefully, you'll see the characters and what they're doing and what they're saying.” [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative expression can be described as painting with words, turning ideas into vivid mental images. **In simple terms:** Use words to create vivid mental pictures. Key Takeaway Speak with vivid, visual language. Themes creativity communication visualization Mood playful inspirational Type humorous artistic When to use this quote - teaching - public speaking - writing - marketing Key Concepts verbal art storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What images do your words evoke? - How can you make abstract ideas concrete? A Different Perspective Listeners may miss the imagery without clear description. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Paintings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings/) [Picture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picture/) ## Related quotes > [I started out as an artist, and I continue to think of myself as an artist first, and a technologist and entrepreneur after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/i-started-out-as-an-artist-and-i-continue-to-think-of-myself-as-an/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [I started out as an artist, but I've always wanted to be a writer and producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-geiger/i-started-out-as-an-artist-but-i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer-and/) [Teddy Geiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-geiger/) > [“I wish I could paint the picture inside my mind for you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-wood/i-wish-i-could-paint-the-picture-inside-my-mind-for-you/) [Luke Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-wood/) > [Oftentimes I feel like I can, through the music, paint a picture of something that I can't look anywhere and see in my real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/oftentimes-i-feel-like-i-can-through-the-music-paint-a-picture-of/) [Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/) > [I dont think you can lightly paint a picture. Its an activity I take very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hodgkin/i-dont-think-you-can-lightly-paint-a-picture-its-an-activity-i-take/) [Howard Hodgkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hodgkin/) > [If you paint a picture and I paint a picture, we each want to do it our own way. And we'll stand or fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/if-you-paint-a-picture-and-i-paint-a-picture-we-each-want-to-do-it/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [Envision what the end result is supposed to be... what do you want to be when you grow up? Where do you see yourself?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/envision-what-the-end-result-is-supposed-to-be-what-do-you-want-to-be/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [I don't think you can lightly paint a picture. It's an activity I take very seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-hodgkin/i-don-t-think-you-can-lightly-paint-a-picture-it-s-an-activity-i-take/) [Howard Hodgkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-hodgkin/) > [“You paint the picture of your surroundings. Paint it beautifully.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-d-posey/you-paint-the-picture-of-your-surroundings-paint-it-beautifully/) [A.D. Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-d-posey/) > [The trick is to paint a picture that doesn't exist, and yet that fits perfectly into an artist's body of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-beltracchi/the-trick-is-to-paint-a-picture-that-doesn-t-exist-and-yet-that-fits/) [Wolfgang Beltracchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-beltracchi/) > [Theres a blank canvas in front of you. You are the artist of your life, and you are free to paint any picture that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishu/theres-a-blank-canvas-in-front-of-you-you-are-the-artist-of-your-life/) [Nishu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishu/) > [Life's a canvas you're an artist, Paint a picture of a garden then go and marvel at the harvest you created from your conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-s-a-canvas-you-re-an-artist-paint-a-picture-of-a-garden-then-go/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I paint a picture of a house, that goes back to my roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-ruscha/when-i-paint-a-picture-of-a-house-that-goes-back-to-my-roots/) [Edward Ruscha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-ruscha/) > [“A virtue never tested is no virtue at all. - Must I Paint You a Picture ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/a-virtue-never-tested-is-no-virtue-at-all-must-i-paint-you-a-picture/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [In 1984, I was contacted by Michael Taylor, who had won a commission from a sponsor and decided he would like to paint a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/in-1984-i-was-contacted-by-michael-taylor-who-had-won-a-commission/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) ## More by Jonathan Winters > [I have a photographic memory; I just haven't developed it yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-have-a-photographic-memory-i-just-haven-t-developed-it-yet/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/if-your-ship-doesn-t-come-in-swim-out-to-it/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I have never pretended to be any kind of super-religious kind of man, but I feel very strongly that you can be funny without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-have-never-pretended-to-be-any-kind-of-super-religious-kind-of-man/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [As a kid, I always wanted to be lots of things. I was a Walter Mitty type. I wanted to be in the French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/as-a-kid-i-always-wanted-to-be-lots-of-things-i-was-a-walter-mitty/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [When you wear so many hats in society, you never know who you are. That's the beauty of it. Because once you find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/when-you-wear-so-many-hats-in-society-you-never-know-who-you-are-that/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I've always been proud of being a Marine. I won't hesitate to defend the Corps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-ve-always-been-proud-of-being-a-marine-i-won-t-hesitate-to-defend/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [Well, the most terrible fear that anybody should have is not war, is not a disease, not cancer or heart problems or food poisoning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/well-the-most-terrible-fear-that-anybody-should-have-is-not-war-is/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I don't do jokes. The characters are my jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-don-t-do-jokes-the-characters-are-my-jokes/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I find painting a much slower process than comedy, where you can go a mile a minute verbally and hope to God that some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-find-painting-a-much-slower-process-than-comedy-where-you-can-go-a/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I don't do anything the same every day. Discipline is tough for a guy who is a rebel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-don-t-do-anything-the-same-every-day-discipline-is-tough-for-a-guy/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [Discipline is tough for a guy who is a rebel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/discipline-is-tough-for-a-guy-who-is-a-rebel/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I don't paint every day. I'm not that motivated. I don't do anything the same every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-don-t-paint-every-day-i-m-not-that-motivated-i-don-t-do-anything/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) > [I was talking to a businessman, and I said, Don't you think most men are little boys? 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I have four aces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-may-not-be-playing-with-a-full-deck-but-i-don-t-need-a-full-deck-i/) [Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) [Explore all 33 Jonathan Winters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/) ## 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. 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