--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was envious of [Vincent] Van Gogh…" description: "\"I was envious of [Vincent] Van Gogh because I could never make a painting that beautiful! (Ridiculous, I know.) That was when the character of Ivy [Wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/liza-campbell-17930_beautiful_i-was-envious-of-vincent-van-gogh-becaus_2114739.jpg" --- # I was envious of \[Vincent\] Van Gogh because I could never… ![“I was envious of [Vincent] Van Gogh because I could never make a painting that beautiful! (Ridiculous, I know.) That was when the character of Ivy [Wilkes] began to take shape for me.” quote by Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/liza-campbell-17930_beautiful_i-was-envious-of-vincent-van-gogh-becaus_2114739.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/liza-campbell-17930_beautiful_i-was-envious-of-vincent-van-gogh-becaus_2114739.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/liza-campbell-17930_beautiful_i-was-envious-of-vincent-van-gogh-becaus_2114739.jpg) > “I was envious of \[Vincent\] Van Gogh because I could never make a painting that beautiful! (Ridiculous, I know.) That was when the character of Ivy \[Wilkes\] began to take shape for me.” [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits jealousy of Van Gogh's art, using it as a catalyst to create a new character, Ivy Wilkes, reflecting how envy can inspire creativity. **In simple terms:** Envy sparked a new character creation. Key Takeaway Turn jealousy into creative motivation. Themes creativity inspiration selfreflection Mood reflective motivated Type literary personal development When to use this quote - writing - character design - personal growth - art appreciation Key Concepts psychology artistic influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you channel jealousy into productive work? - What qualities do you admire in others? A Different Perspective Envy may also lead to discouragement if not redirected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) ## Related quotes > [ Now I am as big of an \[ Georgia\] O'Keeffe admirer as Ivy \[Wilkes\] is, but that came through writing the book. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/now-i-am-as-big-of-an-georgia-o-keeffe-admirer-as-ivy-wilkes-is-but/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ When Ivy \[Wilkes\] begins her work in forgery, she doesn't yet know the toll that it will take on her own original work. She… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/when-ivy-wilkes-begins-her-work-in-forgery-she-doesn-t-yet-know-the/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ At the beginning of the book \[The Dissemblers\], Ivy \[Wilkes\] has a long way to go in order to achieve self-sufficiency. Although she is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/at-the-beginning-of-the-book-the-dissemblers-ivy-wilkes-has-a-long/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ \[Ivy Wilkes\] loves \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe's work, but is not satisfied by just looking at the paintings; she wants the painting to be her own.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/ivy-wilkes-loves-georgia-o-keeffe-s-work-but-is-not-satisfied-by-just/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ Ivy \[Wilkes\] does exhibit a certain impatience at the beginning of the book \[The Dissemblers\]. She doesn't want to wait through years of hard… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/ivy-wilkes-does-exhibit-a-certain-impatience-at-the-beginning-of-the/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [“Alexia wondered what it said about her character that Ivy had genuinely believed she would intentionally go climbing about the side of a floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/alexia-wondered-what-it-said-about-her-character-that-ivy-had/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [If I could have any artist's work on my sitting room wall it would probably be by Van Gogh or Picasso.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliet-stevenson/if-i-could-have-any-artist-s-work-on-my-sitting-room-wall-it-would/) [Juliet Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliet-stevenson/) > [The artist cannot look to others to validate his efforts or his calling. If you don't believe me, ask Van Gogh, who produced masterpiece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-artist-cannot-look-to-others-to-validate-his-efforts-or-his/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [“You have first to experience what you want to express. —Vincent van Gogh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/you-have-first-to-experience-what-you-want-to-express-vincent-van-gogh/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [I've always been really fascinated by Vincent van Gogh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/i-ve-always-been-really-fascinated-by-vincent-van-gogh/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“I’m not Helen Keller—I’m Van Gogh. It’s not that I can’t hear, it’s that I don’t use my ears.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-not-helen-keller-i-m-van-gogh-it-s-not-that-i-can-t-hear-it-s/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Now don't think I've lost my mind - but I'll tell you, I'll look at some of the cards I have, some of Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/now-don-t-think-i-ve-lost-my-mind-but-i-ll-tell-you-i-ll-look-at-some/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [ You cannot be the good all the time — sometimes it is necessary to get angry. \[Vincent Van Gogh\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-stone/you-cannot-be-the-good-all-the-time-sometimes-it-is-necessary-to-get/) [Irving Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-stone/) > [“Van Gogh on Christmas: And now we’re slowly heading towards winter, and many dread it, but Christmas is wonderful, it’s like the moss on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liesbeth-heenk/van-gogh-on-christmas-and-now-we-re-slowly-heading-towards-winter-and/) Liesbeth Heenk > [“No wonder Van Gogh cut his ear off, I thought; there’s nothing else to do in a place like this but cut your ear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kerr/no-wonder-van-gogh-cut-his-ear-off-i-thought-there-s-nothing-else-to/) [Philip Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kerr/) ## More by Liza Campbell > [ Ivy \[Wilkes\] does exhibit a certain impatience at the beginning of the book \[The Dissemblers\]. She doesn't want to wait through years of hard… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/ivy-wilkes-does-exhibit-a-certain-impatience-at-the-beginning-of-the/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ \[Ivy Wilkes\] loves \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe's work, but is not satisfied by just looking at the paintings; she wants the painting to be her own.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/ivy-wilkes-loves-georgia-o-keeffe-s-work-but-is-not-satisfied-by-just/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I lived in New Mexico until I was seventeen, and honestly I've been homesick ever since I left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-lived-in-new-mexico-until-i-was-seventeen-and-honestly-i-ve-been/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I started writing about New Mexico in an autobiography class I was taking for school, and realized that it was very inspiring place for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-started-writing-about-new-mexico-in-an-autobiography-class-i-was/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ I read letters and journal entries by \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe (which were infinitely more useful than any critical analysis of her work). ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-read-letters-and-journal-entries-by-georgia-o-keeffe-which-were/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ At the beginning of the book \[The Dissemblers\], Ivy \[Wilkes\] has a long way to go in order to achieve self-sufficiency. Although she is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/at-the-beginning-of-the-book-the-dissemblers-ivy-wilkes-has-a-long/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I am currently in nursing school, so one day I will be both a nurse and a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-am-currently-in-nursing-school-so-one-day-i-will-be-both-a-nurse/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ I was only loosely aware of \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe's work. Primarily, I had seen her famous paintings of skulls with flowers, which are not my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-was-only-loosely-aware-of-georgia-o-keeffe-s-work-primarily-i-had/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I've spent many a day worrying that I will never be able to write again!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-ve-spent-many-a-day-worrying-that-i-will-never-be-able-to-write/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ Because Ivy \[Wilkes\] is just starting out as an artist, I wanted to focus on \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe's experiences when she was just starting out.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/because-ivy-wilkes-is-just-starting-out-as-an-artist-i-wanted-to/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ When Ivy \[Wilkes\] begins her work in forgery, she doesn't yet know the toll that it will take on her own original work. She… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/when-ivy-wilkes-begins-her-work-in-forgery-she-doesn-t-yet-know-the/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [Does art play a role in the greater good of society, or does it just promote the satisfaction of the artist? I go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/does-art-play-a-role-in-the-greater-good-of-society-or-does-it-just/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I was loosely aware that most of my characters were fundamentally selfish people, but I didn't intentionally make that a theme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-was-loosely-aware-that-most-of-my-characters-were-fundamentally/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [ I hope to work through disappointment and frustration with as much grace as \[Georgia\] O'Keeffe did, and I hope to have the same confidence… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-hope-to-work-through-disappointment-and-frustration-with-as-much/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I am a tragically bad artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/i-am-a-tragically-bad-artist/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) [Explore all 36 Liza Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) ## More Beautiful quotes > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Being beautiful comes naturally!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-beautiful-comes-naturally/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [“do not misunderstand person by beauty You really do not know its real or Mask on dirty thoughts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/do-not-misunderstand-person-by-beauty-you-really-do-not-know-its-real/) [Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Call her beautiful a million times and she won't believe you. Call her ugly once, and she will never forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/call-her-beautiful-a-million-times-and-she-won-t-believe-you-call-her/) Tumblr > [You will never know just how beautiful you are to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-will-never-know-just-how-beautiful-you-are-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [Growing up in Iceland, it was very beautiful, very safe, but quite isolated. There was something about jazz music that had a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/growing-up-in-iceland-it-was-very-beautiful-very-safe-but-quite/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) [Browse all 17,976 Beautiful quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was envious of [Vincent] Van Gogh because I could never make a painting that beautiful! (Ridiculous, I know.) 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