--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are seven incarnations (and six…" description: "\"“There are seven incarnations (and six correlates) necessary to becoming an Artist: 1. Explorer (Courage) 2. Surveyor (Vision) 3. Miner (Strength) 4. R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg" --- # There are seven incarnations (and six correlates)… ![“There are seven incarnations (and six correlates) necessary to becoming an Artist: 1. Explorer (Courage) 2. Surveyor (Vision) 3. Miner (Strength) 4. Refiner (Patience) 5. Designer (Intelligence) 6. Maker (Experience) 7. Artist. First, you must leave the safety of your home and go into the dangers…” quote by Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg) > ““There are seven incarnations (and six correlates) necessary to becoming an Artist: 1. Explorer (Courage) 2. Surveyor (Vision) 3. Miner (Strength) 4. Refiner (Patience) 5. Designer (Intelligence) 6. Maker (Experience) 7. Artist. First, you must leave the safety of your home and go into the dangers of the world, whether to an actual territory or some unexamined aspect of the psyche. This is what is meant by 'Explorer.' Next, you must have the vision to recognize your destination once you arrive there. Note that a destination may sometimes also be the journey. This is what is meant by 'Surveyor.' Third, you must be strong enough to dig up the facts, follow veins of history, unearth telling details. This is what is meant by 'Miner.' Fourth, you must have the patience to winnow and process your material into something rare. This may take months or even years. And this is what is meant by 'Refiner.' Fifth, you must use your intellect to conceive of your material as something meaning more than its origins. This is what is meant by 'Designer.' Six, you must fashion a work independent of everything that has gone before it including yourself. This is accomplished though experience and is what is meant by 'Maker.' At this stage, the work is acceptable. You will be fortunate to have progressed so far. It is unlikely, however, that you will go any farther. Most do not. But let us assume you are exceptional. Let us assume you are rare. What then does it mean to reach the final incarnation? Only this: at every stage, from 1 thru 6, you will risk more, see more, gather more, process more, fashion more, consider more, love more, suffer more, imagine more and in the end know why less means more and leave what doesn't and keep what implies and create what matters. This is what is meant by 'Artist.”” [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote outlines seven developmental stages an individual must pass through—explorer, surveyor, miner, refiner, designer, maker—to become an artist, emphasizing risk, vision, effort, patience, intellect, experience, and ultimately a paradoxical simplicity. **In simple terms:** Becoming an artist requires seven progressive roles, each demanding deeper commitment and insight. Key Takeaway Embrace each stage fully, recognizing that mastery emerges from cumulative risk and refinement. Themes creativity growth self‑discovery craftsmanship risk paradox Mood introspective determined hopeful Type instructional philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new project - overcoming creative block - learning a new medium - reflecting on personal evolution - teaching others Key Concepts identity formation skill development metacognition process philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Which stage feels most challenging for you? - How does the paradox “less means more” apply to your work? A Different Perspective The model may oversimplify artistic paths, ignoring non‑linear or collaborative influences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Strong enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-enough/) ## Related quotes > [The clock is ticking and you're hearing the beat. You stop by a museum shop, sign your name on a scuba-diving sheet, and commit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-margaret-cameron/the-clock-is-ticking-and-you-re-hearing-the-beat-you-stop-by-a-museum/) [Julia Margaret Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-margaret-cameron/) > [It is not meant that the artist, in arriving at truth, must follow the way of the scientist, or, in stating it, the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edward-woodberry/it-is-not-meant-that-the-artist-in-arriving-at-truth-must-follow-the/) [George Edward Woodberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edward-woodberry/) > [“We often try to force the experience we want to have, instead of allowing the experience we were meant to have, and in doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/we-often-try-to-force-the-experience-we-want-to-have-instead-of/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [I was never shielded from the realities of what it meant to be an artist and that made me afraid to be an artist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-lister-jones/i-was-never-shielded-from-the-realities-of-what-it-meant-to-be-an/) [Zoe Lister-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-lister-jones/) > [Me writing the book and the subsequent interactions that we had were actually the cap on that experience. We were still in this weird…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/me-writing-the-book-and-the-subsequent-interactions-that-we-had-were/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [Death is only an experience through which you are meant to learn a great lesson: you cannot die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/death-is-only-an-experience-through-which-you-are-meant-to-learn-a/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [I'd really want to - just from my own experience as an artist working with a writer, I'd want to do everything I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-finch/i-d-really-want-to-just-from-my-own-experience-as-an-artist-working/) [David Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-finch/) > [The importance of art is in the process of doing it, in the learning experience where the artist interacts with whatever is being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lichtenstein/the-importance-of-art-is-in-the-process-of-doing-it-in-the-learning/) [Roy Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lichtenstein/) > [Artists don't really want to be marginalized. They believe that everybody should be able to appreciate the experience that an artist gives them, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-fischl/artists-don-t-really-want-to-be-marginalized-they-believe-that/) [Eric Fischl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-fischl/) > [To describe externals, you become a scientist. To describe experience, you become an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/to-describe-externals-you-become-a-scientist-to-describe-experience/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [“What is art? It is not decoration. It is the re-living of experience. The artist says, 'I will make that event happen again, altering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/what-is-art-it-is-not-decoration-it-is-the-re-living-of-experience-2/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [It is necessary for the birthing process to begin to move in its own organic time. It is necessary that the artist have this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/it-is-necessary-for-the-birthing-process-to-begin-to-move-in-its-own/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [At times failure is very necessary for the artist. It reminds him that failure is not the ultimate disaster. And this reminder liberates him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/at-times-failure-is-very-necessary-for-the-artist-it-reminds-him-that/) [John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/) > [“THE VIRTUE TRAP An artist must have downtime, time to do nothing. Defending our right to such time takes courage, conviction, and resiliency. Such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/the-virtue-trap-an-artist-must-have-downtime-time-to-do-nothing/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [In England, pop music seems now to be exclusively for children. If an artist is no good, why is it necessary to have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/in-england-pop-music-seems-now-to-be-exclusively-for-children-if-an/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) ## More by Mark Z. Danielewski > [“Her. Her. Her. Future breezes implore me to stay. But I'm no future. I'm no past. Only ever contemporary of this path. I'll sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/her-her-her-future-breezes-implore-me-to-stay-but-i-m-no-future-i-m/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [Keep true to the rare music in your heart, to the marvelous and unique form that is and shall always be nothing else but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/keep-true-to-the-rare-music-in-your-heart-to-the-marvelous-and-unique/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [We all create stories to protect ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/we-all-create-stories-to-protect-ourselves/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“Even up until these final eons of time, we felt we could create anything. We could build ourselves a heaven. But why? We were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/even-up-until-these-final-eons-of-time-we-felt-we-could-create/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [I'm a big believer in big books, and that doesn't necessarily mean long books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/i-m-a-big-believer-in-big-books-and-that-doesn-t-necessarily-mean/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“the seriousness of emotional deprivation: It is not difficult to understand how children who have suffered from malnutrition or starvation need food and plenty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/the-seriousness-of-emotional-deprivation-it-is-not-difficult-to/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [The greatest of love letters are always coded for the one and not the many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/the-greatest-of-love-letters-are-always-coded-for-the-one-and-not-the/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [Scientists estimate the universe unfolded from its state of infinite destiny\* - a moment commonly referred to as "the big bang" - approximately 1.3-2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/scientists-estimate-the-universe-unfolded-from-its-state-of-infinite/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“- Whenever we roam be beside me. When you're allone. When you go. When no one comes along. And for all we Wander. Encounter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/whenever-we-roam-be-beside-me-when-you-re-allone-when-you-go-when-no/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [I want something else. I'm not even sure what to call it anymore except I know it feels roomy and it's drenched in sunlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/i-want-something-else-i-m-not-even-sure-what-to-call-it-anymore/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“However, The haven-Slocum Theory also points out that this course is not without risk. An even greater number of people dwelling on The Navidson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/however-the-haven-slocum-theory-also-points-out-that-this-course-is/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“What can I say? I'm taken; I love how enthralled she remains by this festival of living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/what-can-i-say-i-m-taken-i-love-how-enthralled-she-remains-by-this/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [“There's only one choice now: finish what Zampanò himself failed to finish. Re-inter this thing in a binding tomb. Make it only a book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/there-s-only-one-choice-now-finish-what-zampan-himself-failed-to/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [No gunfire, famine, or flies. Just lots of toothpaste, gardening and people stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/no-gunfire-famine-or-flies-just-lots-of-toothpaste-gardening-and/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > ['Lord of the Rings' was a set of books in which the world had been conceived before the characters were placed within that context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/lord-of-the-rings-was-a-set-of-books-in-which-the-world-had-been/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) [Explore all 162 Mark Z. Danielewski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) ## 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": "“There are seven incarnations (and six correlates) necessary to becoming an Artist: 1. Explorer (Courage) 2. Surveyor (Vision) 3. Miner (Strength) 4. Refiner (Patience) 5. Designer (Intelligence) 6. Maker (Experience) 7. Artist. First, you must leave the safety of your home and go into the dangers of the world, whether to an actual territory or some unexamined aspect of the psyche. This is what is meant by 'Explorer.' Next, you must have the vision to recognize your destination once you arrive there. Note that a destination may sometimes also be the journey. This is what is meant by 'Surveyor.' Third, you must be strong enough to dig up the facts, follow veins of history, unearth telling details. This is what is meant by 'Miner.' Fourth, you must have the patience to winnow and process your material into something rare. This may take months or even years. And this is what is meant by 'Refiner.' Fifth, you must use your intellect to conceive of your material as something meaning more than its origins. This is what is meant by 'Designer.' Six, you must fashion a work independent of everything that has gone before it including yourself. This is accomplished though experience and is what is meant by 'Maker.' At this stage, the work is acceptable. You will be fortunate to have progressed so far. It is unlikely, however, that you will go any farther. Most do not. But let us assume you are exceptional. Let us assume you are rare. What then does it mean to reach the final incarnation? Only this: at every stage, from 1 thru 6, you will risk more, see more, gather more, process more, fashion more, consider more, love more, suffer more, imagine more and in the end know why less means more and leave what doesn't and keep what implies and create what matters. This is what is meant by 'Artist.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Z. Danielewski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-correlates-necessary-to-becoming/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-correlates-necessary-to-becoming/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/016/mark-z-danielewski-2497_artist_there-are-seven-incarnations-and-six-cor_2230138.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There are seven incarnations (and six correlates) necessary to becoming an Artist: 1. Explorer (Courage) 2…” — Mark Z. 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