--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Around 1980, I went back to painting with…" description: "\"Around 1980, I went back to painting with a vengeance.\" — Martin Mull" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg" --- # Around 1980, I went back to painting with a vengeance. ![“Around 1980, I went back to painting with a vengeance.” quote by Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg) > “Around 1980, I went back to painting with a vengeance.” [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mull describes a renewed, intense commitment to painting after a hiatus, emphasizing passion and determination. **In simple terms:** He returned to painting with fierce enthusiasm. Key Takeaway Pursue creative passions boldly. Themes art creativity rebirth Mood inspirational reflective Type personal motivational When to use this quote - artist residencies - personal projects - creative workshops - public exhibitions Key Concepts artistic drive personal renewal career resurgence Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to revisit a dormant skill? - How can you sustain renewed enthusiasm? A Different Perspective May ignore practical constraints like time and finances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Vengeance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vengeance/) ## Related quotes > [“I went over to the painting and looked closely. It had changed in my absence, something paintings liked to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/i-went-over-to-the-painting-and-looked-closely-it-had-changed-in-my/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [“To all the secret writers, late-night painters, would-be singers, lapsed and scared artists of every stripe, dig out your paintbrush, or your flute, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/to-all-the-secret-writers-late-night-painters-would-be-singers-lapsed/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/) [Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/) > [Whenever I see a Frans Hals I feel like painting, but when I see a Rembrandt I feel like giving up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-liebermann/whenever-i-see-a-frans-hals-i-feel-like-painting-but-when-i-see-a/) Max Liebermann > [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 had a visit from an artist friend who basically said, "Your paintings are wonderful. Now stop." It did resonate with me. It hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caio-fonseca/i-had-a-visit-from-an-artist-friend-who-basically-said-your-paintings/) [Caio Fonseca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caio-fonseca/) > [A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/a-painter-should-begin-every-canvas-with-a-wash-of-black-because-all/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [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/) > [There's nothing more special than intellect and labour that makes painting work. There's no magic there; it's information, and it's work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-james-marshall/there-s-nothing-more-special-than-intellect-and-labour-that-makes/) [Kerry James Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-james-marshall/) > [“Your soul is your paintbrush, your world is your canvass, your life is your masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-soul-is-your-paintbrush-your-world-is-your-canvass-your-life-is/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I love painting. I love writing. I love creating and being around people who are creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/i-love-painting-i-love-writing-i-love-creating-and-being-around/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [“Love them all," said Renoir. "That is the secret, young man. Love them all." The painter let go of his arm and shrugged. "Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/love-them-all-said-renoir-that-is-the-secret-young-man-love-them-all/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## More by Martin Mull > [Show business is just like high school, except you get paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/show-business-is-just-like-high-school-except-you-get-paid/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [Its hard to decide if TV makes morons out of everyone, or if it mirrors Americans who really are morons to begin with](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/its-hard-to-decide-if-tv-makes-morons-out-of-everyone-or-if-it/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [I was involved in the Great Folk Music scare back in the sixties, when it almost caught on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/i-was-involved-in-the-great-folk-music-scare-back-in-the-sixties-when/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [Having children is like having a bowling alley installed in your brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/having-children-is-like-having-a-bowling-alley-installed-in-your-brain/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [I kind of just lucked into and fell into the other profession. It was really just an outgrowth of the fact that when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/i-kind-of-just-lucked-into-and-fell-into-the-other-profession-it-was/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [Having a family is like having a bowling alley installed in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/having-a-family-is-like-having-a-bowling-alley-installed-in-your-head/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [A cult following is a nice way of saying very few people like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/a-cult-following-is-a-nice-way-of-saying-very-few-people-like-you/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [I try to not get to the point where one is making wallpaper, or simply painting money. I want to make sure that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/i-try-to-not-get-to-the-point-where-one-is-making-wallpaper-or-simply/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [Never underestimate a child's ability to get into more trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/never-underestimate-a-child-s-ability-to-get-into-more-trouble/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [Like a guide dog, paintings help you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/like-a-guide-dog-paintings-help-you-see/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [I think there are a lot of pictures to make. I sometimes question whether I'm even an artist or just a painter. To me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/i-think-there-are-a-lot-of-pictures-to-make-i-sometimes-question/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [If the real world is orange juice, then art is like orange-juice concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/if-the-real-world-is-orange-juice-then-art-is-like-orange-juice/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [Why be influenced by a person when you already are one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/why-be-influenced-by-a-person-when-you-already-are-one/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [If there is some art involved, Id like it to be that it came through the cracks of daily work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/if-there-is-some-art-involved-id-like-it-to-be-that-it-came-through/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) > [I've been doing it all along, ever since I got out of art school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/i-ve-been-doing-it-all-along-ever-since-i-got-out-of-art-school/) [Martin Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) [Explore all 39 Martin Mull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/) ## 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": "Around 1980, I went back to painting with a vengeance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Mull" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with-a-vengeance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with-a-vengeance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7f/martin-mull-16804_artist_around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with_723685.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Around 1980, I went back to painting with a vengeance.” — Martin Mull", "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": "Martin Mull", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mull/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Around 1980, I went back to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with-a-vengeance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mull/around-1980-i-went-back-to-painting-with-a-vengeance/#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 } } ] } ```