---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My paintings and comedy have a lot in…"
description: "\"My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are both improvisations based on observation.\" — Jonathan Winters"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg"
---

#  My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are…

![“My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are both improvisations based on observation.” quote by Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg)

> “My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are both improvisations based on observation.”

[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.

Painting and comedy share improvisation based on keen observation of the world.

**In simple terms:** Both arts improvise from observation.

Key Takeaway

Observe closely, then create.

Themes

creativity improvisation observation art humor

Mood

playful insightful

Type

creative philosophical

When to use this quote

- visual arts
- stand‑up
- sketch comedy

Key Concepts

aesthetic theory cognitive psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does observation fuel improvisation?
- What limits spontaneous creation?

A Different Perspective

Improvisation may lack depth without reflection.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/) [Both](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common Improvisations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-improvisations-4481648/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Improvisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisation/) [Improvisations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisations-1142224/) [Improvisations Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvisations-based-4481649/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Paintings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings/) [Paintings Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings-comedy-4481647/)

## Related quotes

> [Even if you're improvising, the fact that beforehand you know certain things will work helps you make those improvisations successful. It really helps to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/even-if-you-re-improvising-the-fact-that-beforehand-you-know-certain/)

[John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/)

> [Sometimes some of the best moments are contributed by the actors being creative, with their own improvisations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/sometimes-some-of-the-best-moments-are-contributed-by-the-actors/)

[Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/)

> [I really enjoyed working on 'Dumb &amp; Dumberer' with Cheri Oteri, maybe because we are both into improvisations. We were meant to act together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-levy/i-really-enjoyed-working-on-dumb-dumberer-with-cheri-oteri-maybe/)

[Eugene Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-levy/)

> [General improvisations often give actors an insight beyond their words by helping them to 'see the word' and achieve a reality for the scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-spolin/general-improvisations-often-give-actors-an-insight-beyond-their/)

[Viola Spolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-spolin/)

> [During improvisations, I'll hear people bringing back up details from something I heard about at breakfast or something somebody was saying that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-swanberg/during-improvisations-i-ll-hear-people-bringing-back-up-details-from/)

[Joe Swanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-swanberg/)

> [Improvisation was the blood and bone of jazz, and in the classic, New Orleans jazz it was collective improvisation in which each performer, seemingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-lynes/improvisation-was-the-blood-and-bone-of-jazz-and-in-the-classic-new/)

[Russell Lynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-lynes/)

> [I think the films and the paintings erase each other. The paintings are extremely slow and constantly going on in the studio - they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-morris/i-think-the-films-and-the-paintings-erase-each-other-the-paintings/)

[Sarah Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-morris/)

> [Even when I was studying piano, I always preferred to play around with my own improvisations rather than do my studies. So I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-johannsson/even-when-i-was-studying-piano-i-always-preferred-to-play-around-with/)

[Johann Johannsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-johannsson/)

> [In a certain sense, aspects of my solo playing were developed in order to test the theory about how long particular elements could be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-parker/in-a-certain-sense-aspects-of-my-solo-playing-were-developed-in-order/)

[Evan Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-parker/)

> [“I've always felt that the performance of a raag resembles a novel - or at least the kind of novel I'm attempting to write.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-ve-always-felt-that-the-performance-of-a-raag-resembles-a-novel-or/)

[Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/)

> [Karthi is such a wonderful human being. He is always focused towards improvisations and keeps working on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhimanyu-singh/karthi-is-such-a-wonderful-human-being-he-is-always-focused-towards/)

[Abhimanyu Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhimanyu-singh/)

> [Jazz music is all about performance, right? At least, to me, it's about the freedom of performance, the different inflections you do in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/jazz-music-is-all-about-performance-right-at-least-to-me-it-s-about/)

[Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/)

> [In acting, one should look at the film in totality. Improvisations should only be made keeping in mind the limits of a character. Always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparshakti-khurana/in-acting-one-should-look-at-the-film-in-totality-improvisations/)

[Aparshakti Khurana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparshakti-khurana/)

> [My solo playing utilizes the deployment of suggestive psychic rhythms. I'll state these throughout a given piece and play thematic improvisations on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wadada-leo-smith/my-solo-playing-utilizes-the-deployment-of-suggestive-psychic-rhythms/)

[Wadada Leo Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wadada-leo-smith/)

> [What I want to happen is to be really creative, and to play something new in the improvisations, every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/what-i-want-to-happen-is-to-be-really-creative-and-to-play-something/)

[Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/)

## 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? And he said, I'm no little boy!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-was-talking-to-a-businessman-and-i-said-don-t-you-think-most-men/)

[Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/)

> [I was always an observer, even as a child. I could be satisfied to sit in a car for 3 hours and just look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/i-was-always-an-observer-even-as-a-child-i-could-be-satisfied-to-sit/)

[Jonathan Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/)

> [I may not be playing with a full deck but I don't need a full deck. 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 Based quotes

> [Like in nature, I like things which are based on a few simple principles, even though their manifestation can be very rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabiola-gianotti/like-in-nature-i-like-things-which-are-based-on-a-few-simple/)

[Fabiola Gianotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabiola-gianotti/)

> [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Because there is actually something very interesting in Goodfellas, how the style of the film changes as time goes by and based on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cox/because-there-is-actually-something-very-interesting-in-goodfellas/)

[Alex Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cox/)

> [An art which isn't based on feeling isn't an art at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/an-art-which-isn-t-based-on-feeling-isn-t-an-art-at-all/)

[Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/)

> [I'd always wanted the show to be more reality based science fiction, something along the lines of The Day the Earth Stood Still, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/i-d-always-wanted-the-show-to-be-more-reality-based-science-fiction/)

[Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/)

> [I'm a fact-based leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-breed/i-m-a-fact-based-leader/)

[London Breed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-breed/)

> [At Inter, I earned my wages based on the results on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/at-inter-i-earned-my-wages-based-on-the-results-on-the-field/)

[Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/)

> [I used to be a columnist for 'Golf Monthly' and have contributed articles for national newspapers based on the humour that is in abundance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/i-used-to-be-a-columnist-for-golf-monthly-and-have-contributed/)

[Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/)

> [I've always made my decisions based on two factors: intellectual analysis and my gut. And when they meet, that's a go from me. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ovitz/i-ve-always-made-my-decisions-based-on-two-factors-intellectual/)

[Michael Ovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ovitz/)

> [Pro-lifers have long been castigated for bringing private values into the public square. But actually it is the pro-abortion position that is based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/pro-lifers-have-long-been-castigated-for-bringing-private-values-into/)

[Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/)

> [Christianity is based on a book. It centers in a Person. It expresses itself in a message. It authenticates itself in an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/christianity-is-based-on-a-book-it-centers-in-a-person-it-expresses/)

[J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/)

> [“Teach me about some taxes. Why didn't nobody teach me about taxes on TV? Why don't nobody teach us about none of that man?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mccartney/teach-me-about-some-taxes-why-didn-t-nobody-teach-me-about-taxes-on/)

[Brandon McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mccartney/)

> [Conservatism is about the basic rights of individuals. God created us. As far as the government goes, the Founding Fathers based the Constitution off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wurzelbacher/conservatism-is-about-the-basic-rights-of-individuals-god-created-us/)

[Joe Wurzelbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wurzelbacher/)

> [Style is based on limitations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hartford/style-is-based-on-limitations/)

[John Hartford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hartford/)

> [Pacifism as a mass movement aims to avoid suffering; pacifists often say that no cause is worth suffering or dying for. The ethos of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/pacifism-as-a-mass-movement-aims-to-avoid-suffering-pacifists-often/)

[Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/)

[Browse all 830 Based quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/based/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are both improvisations based on observation.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jonathan Winters"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-common-they-are-both/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Based"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-common-they-are-both/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b04/jonathan-winters-19339_based_my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-co_1333330.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My paintings and comedy have a lot in common. They are both improvisations based on observation.” — Jonathan Winters",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jonathan Winters",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-winters/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My paintings and comedy have a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-common-they-are-both/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-winters/my-paintings-and-comedy-have-a-lot-in-common-they-are-both/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
