--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I grew up with a pencil. A pencil was my…" description: "\"I grew up with a pencil. A pencil was my computer at the time and so drawing, drawing, drawing and the tools of drawing where the usual ones and eventu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/massimo-vignelli-13401_accurate_i-grew-up-with-a-pencil-a-pencil-was-my_2717429.jpg" --- # I grew up with a pencil. A pencil was my computer at the… ![“I grew up with a pencil. A pencil was my computer at the time and so drawing, drawing, drawing and the tools of drawing where the usual ones and eventually then you graduated from the tools when the work increases and you start to draw by freehand as precise as possible and as accurate as…” quote by Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/massimo-vignelli-13401_accurate_i-grew-up-with-a-pencil-a-pencil-was-my_2717429.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/massimo-vignelli-13401_accurate_i-grew-up-with-a-pencil-a-pencil-was-my_2717429.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c4/massimo-vignelli-13401_accurate_i-grew-up-with-a-pencil-a-pencil-was-my_2717429.jpg) > “I grew up with a pencil. A pencil was my computer at the time and so drawing, drawing, drawing and the tools of drawing where the usual ones and eventually then you graduated from the tools when the work increases and you start to draw by freehand as precise as possible and as accurate as possible, and I was pretty good at that.” [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early reliance on simple tools shapes skill development; transitioning to freehand precision reflects mastery and adaptability. **In simple terms:** Simple tools build foundation; later precision shows growth. Key Takeaway Embrace basics, then refine skills. Themes design skill development mastery adaptability Mood reflective inspirational Type educational motivational When to use this quote - art school - graphic design projects - personal sketching - product design - teaching Key Concepts handsmanship creative process tool evolution Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance tool use with hand skill? - When should you abandon tools for freehand? A Different Perspective Overreliance on tools can hinder flexibility if not balanced with hand skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accurate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accurate/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Grew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew/) [Grew Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-pencil-2856021/) [Grew up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grew-up/) [Increase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increase/) [Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil/) [Pencil Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil-computer-2856022/) [Pencil Pencil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencil-pencil-2856023/) [Pencils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pencils/) [Precise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise/) [Pretty good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-good/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Usual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usual/) ## Related quotes > [The pencil and computer are, if left to their own devices, equally dumb and only as good as the person driving them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-foster/the-pencil-and-computer-are-if-left-to-their-own-devices-equally-dumb/) [Norman Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-foster/) > [The computer is really like a pencil, you know. It used to be. The pencil can do anything you want to, but you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-computer-is-really-like-a-pencil-you-know-it-used-to-be-the/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [But I had never drawn on a tablet before. I've been doing pencil and paper and film for almost 20 years. I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-hertzfeldt/but-i-had-never-drawn-on-a-tablet-before-i-ve-been-doing-pencil-and/) [Don Hertzfeldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-hertzfeldt/) > [It's easier to make changes with a pencil than a wrecking bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/it-s-easier-to-make-changes-with-a-pencil-than-a-wrecking-bar/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [The best design tool is a long eraser with a pencil at one end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/the-best-design-tool-is-a-long-eraser-with-a-pencil-at-one-end/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [I wear anything I feel like. If I want to put on a pair of Converse with a pencil stuck through them, I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willow-smith/i-wear-anything-i-feel-like-if-i-want-to-put-on-a-pair-of-converse/) [Willow Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willow-smith/) > [A formal manipulator in mathematics often experiences the discomforting feeling that his pencil surpasses him in intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-formal-manipulator-in-mathematics-often-experiences-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I belong to this notebook and this pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-belong-to-this-notebook-and-this-pencil/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Increasingly, editing means going to lunch. It means editing with a credit card, not with a pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/increasingly-editing-means-going-to-lunch-it-means-editing-with-a/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [Arithmetic is numbers you squeeze from your head to your hand to your pencil to your paper till you get the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/arithmetic-is-numbers-you-squeeze-from-your-head-to-your-hand-to-your/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [Unfortunately when I start to talk or when someone watches over my shoulders my pencil either stops or I draw meaningless lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-hughes/unfortunately-when-i-start-to-talk-or-when-someone-watches-over-my/) [E. J. Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-hughes/) > [Said Hamlet to Ophelia, I'll draw a sketch of thee. What kind of pencil shall I use? 2B or not 2B?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-milligan/said-hamlet-to-ophelia-i-ll-draw-a-sketch-of-thee-what-kind-of-pencil/) [Spike Milligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-milligan/) > [I put my pencil upon the paper, doubtfully, and drew little lines, considering my theme. But I would not long hesitate in this manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/i-put-my-pencil-upon-the-paper-doubtfully-and-drew-little-lines/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [With pencil there is a tendency to be timid, either using very faint lines or erasing bad lines... Line sketching tends to emphasize the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laseau/with-pencil-there-is-a-tendency-to-be-timid-either-using-very-faint/) [Paul Laseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laseau/) > [I've got to feel the pencil and see the words at the end of the pencil,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/i-ve-got-to-feel-the-pencil-and-see-the-words-at-the-end-of-the-pencil/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) ## More by Massimo Vignelli > [The computer is really like a pencil, you know. It used to be. The pencil can do anything you want to, but you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-computer-is-really-like-a-pencil-you-know-it-used-to-be-the/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [Graphic Design is the communication of information in an appropriate visual manner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/graphic-design-is-the-communication-of-information-in-an-appropriate/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [I'm not a designer, I'm a sifter. I can sift everything, all the time. My sift level lines keep shaking all the time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/i-m-not-a-designer-i-m-a-sifter-i-can-sift-everything-all-the-time-my/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [If you can design one thing, you can design everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/if-you-can-design-one-thing-you-can-design-everything/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [The scale relates to everything. The thickness of a pipe, the thickness of a leg of the furniture. Even color could have a scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/the-scale-relates-to-everything-the-thickness-of-a-pipe-the-thickness/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [You can reach timelessness if you look for the essence of things and not the appearance. The appearance is transitory — the appearance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/you-can-reach-timelessness-if-you-look-for-the-essence-of-things-and/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [I started very early. I started to be interested in design when I was 14 years old, basically, and before I was just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/i-started-very-early-i-started-to-be-interested-in-design-when-i-was/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [Good design is ubiquitous and forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/good-design-is-ubiquitous-and-forever/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [One life is too short for doing everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/one-life-is-too-short-for-doing-everything/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [It’s not important to develop your own style but your own approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/it-s-not-important-to-develop-your-own-style-but-your-own-approach/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [If you paint a building shocking pink, that has no scale, it is just a huge mistake, but it's not in the scale of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/if-you-paint-a-building-shocking-pink-that-has-no-scale-it-is-just-a/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [If you do it right, it will last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/if-you-do-it-right-it-will-last-forever/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [In design, be logical, search for truth, be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/in-design-be-logical-search-for-truth-be-clear/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [There is no design without discipline. There is no discipline without intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/there-is-no-design-without-discipline-there-is-no-discipline-without/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) > [I don't think that type should be expressive at all. I can write the word 'dog' with any typeface and it doesn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-vignelli/i-don-t-think-that-type-should-be-expressive-at-all-i-can-write-the/) [Massimo Vignelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) [Explore all 50 Massimo Vignelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-vignelli/) ## More Accurate quotes > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. The blacks on average score 85 per cent on IQ and it is accurate, nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/the-bell-curve-is-a-fact-of-life-the-blacks-on-average-score-85-per/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [A film is a chain of very difficult decisions, and I think one of them is to choose an accurate cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-camara/a-film-is-a-chain-of-very-difficult-decisions-and-i-think-one-of-them/) [Javier Camara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-camara/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [ He \[Groucho's father\] had absolutely no training, and if you had ever seen one of his suits, you'd realize what an accurate statement that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/he-groucho-s-father-had-absolutely-no-training-and-if-you-had-ever/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [... the attempt to render visual intricacy makes words feel unwieldy, like sacks of meaning that must be lugged into place, dragged here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-doty/the-attempt-to-render-visual-intricacy-makes-words-feel-unwieldy-like/) [Mark Doty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-doty/) > [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/) [Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/) > [Selfish hedonism is not a pejorative. It is a description - an exactly accurate description of what is involved in homosexual relations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/selfish-hedonism-is-not-a-pejorative-it-is-a-description-an-exactly/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [The western mantra is that Israel seeks negotiations without preconditions, while the Palestinians refuse. The opposite is more accurate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-western-mantra-is-that-israel-seeks-negotiations-without/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Love women! I hate feminism. "Hate" may be an accurate word, but too strong to use. I strongly oppose feminism because it's nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/love-women-i-hate-feminism-hate-may-be-an-accurate-word-but-too/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Most of my characters are romantic rather than sexual. I think that's an essential difference in my pictures. I think they are more accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hughes/most-of-my-characters-are-romantic-rather-than-sexual-i-think-that-s/) [John Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hughes/) > [While the Environmental Genome Project does not seek to assign allele frequencies, we are aware of the importance of accurate allele frequency estimates for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-wilson/while-the-environmental-genome-project-does-not-seek-to-assign-allele/) [Samuel Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-wilson/) [Browse all 847 Accurate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accurate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I grew up with a pencil. 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