--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, basically, I'm an abstract…" description: "\"I think, basically, I'm an abstract artist. I just think that that's not even an issue. I think everything's abstract.\" — Julian Schnabel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/julian-schnabel-9809_abstract_i-think-basically-i-m-an-abstract-artist_3048289.jpg" --- # I think, basically, I'm an abstract artist. I just think… ![“I think, basically, I'm an abstract artist. I just think that that's not even an issue. I think everything's abstract.” quote by Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/julian-schnabel-9809_abstract_i-think-basically-i-m-an-abstract-artist_3048289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/julian-schnabel-9809_abstract_i-think-basically-i-m-an-abstract-artist_3048289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19e/julian-schnabel-9809_abstract_i-think-basically-i-m-an-abstract-artist_3048289.jpg) > “I think, basically, I'm an abstract artist. I just think that that's not even an issue. I think everything's abstract.” [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He embraces abstraction as a universal perspective, seeing all experiences as fluid and non‑literal. **In simple terms:** Everything is abstract. Key Takeaway Accept fluidity in perception. Themes art abstraction perspective philosophy Mood contemplative provocative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - visual art - design - critical thinking Key Concepts relativism creativity Questions to Reflect On - Can abstraction enhance understanding? - When does it hinder clarity? A Different Perspective Abstraction may obscure concrete meaning for some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Abstract art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract-art/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [My father was a proctologist and my mother was an abstract artist, so that's how I view the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/my-father-was-a-proctologist-and-my-mother-was-an-abstract-artist-so/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [I am an abstract artist in the sense that I abstract. I cannot be called non-figurative while I am still interested in the modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-william-scott/i-am-an-abstract-artist-in-the-sense-that-i-abstract-i-cannot-be/) [Sean William Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-william-scott/) > [The abstract artist has given material existence to many unseen worlds and tempi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rothko/the-abstract-artist-has-given-material-existence-to-many-unseen/) [Mark Rothko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rothko/) > [I'm not an abstract artist; I leave that to others. To me, abstract art ended with Kazimir Malevich's 'Black Square.' To continue it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-an-abstract-artist-i-leave-that-to-others-to-me-abstract-art/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [As I say, I as an abstract artist was active politically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/as-i-say-i-as-an-abstract-artist-was-active-politically/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) > [I've learnt over the years to always be thinking of titles and ideas that I try to put across with just a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-ve-learnt-over-the-years-to-always-be-thinking-of-titles-and-ideas/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I think basically I'm a painter, but I would use anything to make my point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-think-basically-i-m-a-painter-but-i-would-use-anything-to-make-my/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [Think of an abstract painting as very, very low relief - a thing, not a picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/think-of-an-abstract-painting-as-very-very-low-relief-a-thing-not-a/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [“Really crazy stuff. I think they call it abstract math. What he created was usually beyond me, even conceptually.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-e-richards/really-crazy-stuff-i-think-they-call-it-abstract-math-what-he-created/) [Douglas E. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-e-richards/) > [I consider my work non-objective and I think abstract is an abstraction of something, like a landscape. Abstraction means something is abstracted. It relates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-steir/i-consider-my-work-non-objective-and-i-think-abstract-is-an/) [Pat Steir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-steir/) > [I think, basically, what I'm good for is reading - a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/i-think-basically-what-i-m-good-for-is-reading-a-lot/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) > [“What you think about others is basically a declaration of what you think about yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/what-you-think-about-others-is-basically-a-declaration-of-what-you/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [I mean, I think I am basically a cool girl, but I am also a pain in the ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/i-mean-i-think-i-am-basically-a-cool-girl-but-i-am-also-a-pain-in-the/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [I think, basically, if you talk to anybody, you can gauge an idea of what it's like to feel deceived. You don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inbar-lavi/i-think-basically-if-you-talk-to-anybody-you-can-gauge-an-idea-of/) [Inbar Lavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inbar-lavi/) > [I think basically an actor is a salesman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lynde/i-think-basically-an-actor-is-a-salesman/) [Paul Lynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lynde/) ## More by Julian Schnabel > [I want the paintings to take me or the viewer out somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-want-the-paintings-to-take-me-or-the-viewer-out-somewhere-else/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I don't think my paintings are self-conscious but you feel the consciousness of them. Without them being self-conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-don-t-think-my-paintings-are-self-conscious-but-you-feel-the/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [Maybe my work looks a little crazy, a little insane, but I don't really see myself as a crazy artist or a shaman artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/maybe-my-work-looks-a-little-crazy-a-little-insane-but-i-don-t-really/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I was always very... impatient about showing my paintings to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-was-always-very-impatient-about-showing-my-paintings-to-people/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I think beauty is a feeling that you get after you've had an experience. It's the way you feel about it that is beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-think-beauty-is-a-feeling-that-you-get-after-you-ve-had-an/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I wanted to show painting paintings first, then the plate paintings; now I can show that I've sort of freed myself from stylistic inhibitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-wanted-to-show-painting-paintings-first-then-the-plate-paintings/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [Painting is like breathing to me. It’s what I do all the time. Every day I make art, whether it is painting, writing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/painting-is-like-breathing-to-me-it-s-what-i-do-all-the-time-every/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [Sometimes I'll dream that I saw a show and then I'll wake up in the morning and realize that I didn't see the show,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/sometimes-i-ll-dream-that-i-saw-a-show-and-then-i-ll-wake-up-in-the/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [My early paintings weren't that good - I was very influenced by Francis Bacon. But there was a kind of intensity there. And however…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/my-early-paintings-weren-t-that-good-i-was-very-influenced-by-francis/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I don't know if I could, like, see a face and know what the face of beauty looks like, but after I've seen it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-don-t-know-if-i-could-like-see-a-face-and-know-what-the-face-of/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [Paintings are not like the Internet. They're not like movies. They're not electronic-friendly. You have to go see them. You have to stand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/paintings-are-not-like-the-internet-they-re-not-like-movies-they-re/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [There's been too much attention on marketing. Can't we just talk about the paintings?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/there-s-been-too-much-attention-on-marketing-can-t-we-just-talk-about/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [When art is really great, it's really powerful, can really do something to you, make you feel more alive and make you feel more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/when-art-is-really-great-it-s-really-powerful-can-really-do-something/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [If I hung one of my paintings next to someone else's, I knew mine would kind of pop off the wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/if-i-hung-one-of-my-paintings-next-to-someone-else-s-i-knew-mine/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [Traditionally, photography is supposed to capture an event that has passed; but that is not what I'm looking for. Photography brings the past into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/traditionally-photography-is-supposed-to-capture-an-event-that-has/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) [Explore all 70 Julian Schnabel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) Anthony W. Ivins > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think, basically, I'm an abstract artist. I just think that that's not even an issue. 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