--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has been difficult to hold onto many…" description: "\"It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...\" — LeRoy Neiman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png" --- # It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I… ![“It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...” quote by LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png) > “It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...” [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist struggles to keep many works but manages to preserve a select few, highlighting the difficulty of holding onto creative output **In simple terms:** Artists often lose works, yet cherish the ones that survive Key Takeaway Prioritize preservation of what matters most Themes art memory preservation Mood nostalgic contemplative Type reflective artistic When to use this quote - museum curation - personal archives - artist retrospectives - heritage conservation Key Concepts cultural loss archival practices creative legacy Questions to Reflect On - Which creations do you protect most? - How do you decide what to let go? A Different Perspective Even cherished works can be lost despite effort ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Paintings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paintings/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) ## Related quotes > [It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few. Possibly the current favorite is titled 'Big Band' completed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained-2/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“It is difficult to hold on to the idea of some new kind of honor, and to balance it against the honor that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/it-is-difficult-to-hold-on-to-the-idea-of-some-new-kind-of-honor-and/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [How difficult is it to hold hands and walk against all the odd...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhi-saini/how-difficult-is-it-to-hold-hands-and-walk-against-all-the-odd/) [Nidhi Saini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhi-saini/) > ['Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/playboy-made-the-good-life-a-reality-for-me-and-made-it-the-subject/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I like all paintings. I always look at the paintings, good or bad, in barbershops, furniture stores, provincial hotels. I'm like a drinker who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/i-like-all-paintings-i-always-look-at-the-paintings-good-or-bad-in/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [I have no ideas about what the paintings imply about the world. I don't think that's a painter's business. He just paints paintings without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/i-have-no-ideas-about-what-the-paintings-imply-about-the-world-i-don/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [Some say they see poetry in my paintings; I see only science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-seurat/some-say-they-see-poetry-in-my-paintings-i-see-only-science/) [Georges Seurat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-seurat/) > [If people would just look at the paintings, I don't think they would have any trouble enjoying them. It's like looking at a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pollock/if-people-would-just-look-at-the-paintings-i-don-t-think-they-would/) [Jackson Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pollock/) > [I'm sure I've been influenced by every fine writer I've ever read, from Dickens and Austen to Auden and Jane Hirshfield. And also, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/i-m-sure-i-ve-been-influenced-by-every-fine-writer-i-ve-ever-read/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [The air we see in the paintings of the old masters is never the air we breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/the-air-we-see-in-the-paintings-of-the-old-masters-is-never-the-air/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [It is easy to have a lot of paintings or projects hanging around that are 'almost done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/it-is-easy-to-have-a-lot-of-paintings-or-projects-hanging-around-that/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [In a way, my paintings are like my children. They have many possibilities in life. You tell them, 'I believe that you're good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-bisky/in-a-way-my-paintings-are-like-my-children-they-have-many/) [Norbert Bisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-bisky/) > [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 saw Frank Frazetta's art, and it seared on my memory. I love his paintings. They're so amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-momoa/i-saw-frank-frazetta-s-art-and-it-seared-on-my-memory-i-love-his/) [Jason Momoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-momoa/) > [“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/) ## More by LeRoy Neiman > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I've got the public. I don't care about the critics. I did at one time. I don't any more. I did when I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-got-the-public-i-don-t-care-about-the-critics-i-did-at-one-time/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I've zeroed in on what you would call action and excellence... Everybody who does anything to try to succeed has to give the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-zeroed-in-on-what-you-would-call-action-and-excellence-everybody/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > ['Playboy' made the good life a reality for me and made it the subject matter of my paintings - not affluence and luxury as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/playboy-made-the-good-life-a-reality-for-me-and-made-it-the-subject/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I draw all the time. Drawing is my backbone. I don't think a painter has to be able to draw, I just think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-draw-all-the-time-drawing-is-my-backbone-i-don-t-think-a-painter/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Eating is one of the great beauties in life. One of my favorite recreations... eating with friends, the service, the ambience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/eating-is-one-of-the-great-beauties-in-life-one-of-my-favorite/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I hold doors open for all the women. Men can open the doors for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-hold-doors-open-for-all-the-women-men-can-open-the-doors-for/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [It's a nice feeling to go out in the world and look for excellence - the best in man. My subject is very valid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-s-a-nice-feeling-to-go-out-in-the-world-and-look-for-excellence/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [The people who love my paintings, that respond to them the most, they're spectators, they're not viewers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/the-people-who-love-my-paintings-that-respond-to-them-the-most-they/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [When I paint, I seriously consider the public presence of a person - the surface facade. I am less concerned with how people look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/when-i-paint-i-seriously-consider-the-public-presence-of-a-person-the/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I love the passion you go through while you're creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-love-the-passion-you-go-through-while-you-re-creating/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I always stayed in tune with my own ambitions and attitudes and I'm still my intractable old self, for better or worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-always-stayed-in-tune-with-my-own-ambitions-and-attitudes-and-i-m/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [I've met and sketched most of the great athletes from the past five decades and their movement, grace and energy have kept me captivated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/i-ve-met-and-sketched-most-of-the-great-athletes-from-the-past-five/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [Some people try to paint in my style. Some simply sell pirated copies of my work. Some claim to be my publisher or agent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/some-people-try-to-paint-in-my-style-some-simply-sell-pirated-copies/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [But 'Playboy' was liberating. I was drawn to it and went for it full throttle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/but-playboy-was-liberating-i-was-drawn-to-it-and-went-for-it-full/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) [Explore all 38 LeRoy Neiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) ## 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": "It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "LeRoy Neiman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leroy-neiman-17110_artist_it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many_1165025.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It has been difficult to hold onto many paintings but I have retained a few...” — LeRoy Neiman", "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": "LeRoy Neiman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It has been difficult to hold...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/it-has-been-difficult-to-hold-onto-many-paintings-but-i-have-retained/#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 } } ] } ```