---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I make art, sometimes I make true art…"
description: "\"I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it fills the empty places in my life. Some of them. Not all.\" — Neil Gaiman"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg"
---

#  I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it…

![“I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it fills the empty places in my life. Some of them. Not all.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg)

> “I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it fills the empty places in my life. Some of them. Not all.”

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Art can be both profound and filler, serving different emotional needs at different times.

**In simple terms:** Art sometimes fills empty spots, sometimes is true art.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when art serves purpose vs. expression.

Themes

creativity purpose emotion

Mood

contemplative inspired

Type

reflective inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- creative blocks
- art therapy
- gallery curation

Key Concepts

artistic expression psychology of art

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you decide when art is “true” vs. functional?
- What role does filler art play in your life?

A Different Perspective

Not all art has deep meaning; some is merely decorative.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Fills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-fills-2786243/) [Art Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-make-251085/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Empty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty/) [Empty places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-places/) [Fills Places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fills-places-2786244/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Make Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-art-251083/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [True Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-art-721364/)

## Related quotes

> [“If I could talk about it, I would not have to do it. I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/if-i-could-talk-about-it-i-would-not-have-to-do-it-i-make-art-2/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [If I could talk about it, I would not have to do it. I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/if-i-could-talk-about-it-i-would-not-have-to-do-it-i-make-art/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Doing fine, thank you, I would say, never knowing how to talk about what I do. If I could talk about it, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/doing-fine-thank-you-i-would-say-never-knowing-how-to-talk-about-what/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Make art, make a statement, make a protest. It's up to you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-hucklesby/make-art-make-a-statement-make-a-protest-it-s-up-to-you/)

[Jill Hucklesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-hucklesby/)

> [I don't make art to make money, I make art so I can make art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devendra-banhart/i-don-t-make-art-to-make-money-i-make-art-so-i-can-make-art/)

[Devendra Banhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devendra-banhart/)

> [“There are two things in this world that I want to do endlessly: make art and make love. And with you, they are one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yeh/there-are-two-things-in-this-world-that-i-want-to-do-endlessly-make/)

[Jessica Yeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-yeh/)

> [If you can't make art, make your life a work of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/if-you-can-t-make-art-make-your-life-a-work-of-art/)

[Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/)

> [The reason I make art is because I get to make a choice about who I am, what I do, and what I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sollee/the-reason-i-make-art-is-because-i-get-to-make-a-choice-about-who-i-2/)

[Ben Sollee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sollee/)

> [The reason I make art is because I get to make a choice about who I am, what I do, and what I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sollee/the-reason-i-make-art-is-because-i-get-to-make-a-choice-about-who-i/)

[Ben Sollee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sollee/)

> [There are so many different ways to make art. And so many good stories. You don't have to have a budget. I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/there-are-so-many-different-ways-to-make-art-and-so-many-good-stories/)

[Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/)

> [You make art, you make it from what you know, and that's the best way to make art. You get lost in the details…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/you-make-art-you-make-it-from-what-you-know-and-that-s-the-best-way/)

[Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/)

> [I feel like you have to make art because you have to make it. But the end result of it- that last stage- you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/i-feel-like-you-have-to-make-art-because-you-have-to-make-it-but-the/)

[Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/)

> [“When things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art. I’m serious. Husband runs off with a politician — make good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-things-get-tough-this-is-what-you-should-do-make-good-art-i-m/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“If I could talk about it, I would not have to do it. I make art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/if-i-could-talk-about-it-i-would-not-have-to-do-it-i-make-art-3/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“ Toquet , it is well, little one. It is finished, eh?” She panted, tossing her head. “It h-hurts!” “It will pass,” he assured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/toquet-it-is-well-little-one-it-is-finished-eh-she-panted-tossing-her/)

[Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/)

## More by Neil Gaiman

> [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/)

[neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

[Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

## More Art quotes

> [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/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [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/)

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/)

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/)

[Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/)

> [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/)

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/)

> [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/)

[Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it fills the empty places in my life. Some of them. Not all.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neil Gaiman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and-sometimes-it-fills-the-empty/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and-sometimes-it-fills-the-empty/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dcf/neil-gaiman-29_art_i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and_3100826.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I make art, sometimes I make true art, and sometimes it fills the empty places in my life. Some of them. Not…” — Neil Gaiman",
                "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": "Neil Gaiman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I make art, sometimes I make...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and-sometimes-it-fills-the-empty/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-make-art-sometimes-i-make-true-art-and-sometimes-it-fills-the-empty/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
