Carve Quote by Nicole A. Seitz
““I am in a car with Mr. Assai at the wheel. He pauses to let a cow cross the road and then manages to ease in and out of people and bicycles and rickshaws. I look at his hand gripping the stick shift. I have never learned to drive a vehicle though I have seen men driving on buses. I always like to see what people’s hands do while their eyes are on something else. When I carve, I must look at my subject, but every now and again, when I have done something so many times, I can look away while my hands continue working. I can look away and forget I am a slave to this piece of stone. Even if it is becoming a beautiful angel with outstretched wings. How can I love the stone and hate it at the same time? Because it is a piece of me. I know nothing else. How can the ox stand having the yoke put upon its neck day after day after day? Because it is all it has ever known. Nothing more, nothing less.””
About This Quote
Explores the tension between artistic creation and personal identity, likening it to a yoke of familiarity.
In simple terms: Creating art is both love and burden, shaping self.
Key Takeaway
Accept the duality of artistic devotion.
Themes
art
identity
labor
Mood
contemplative
melancholic
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- painting
- sculpture
- personal development
Key Concepts
creativity
craftsmanship
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your work reflect your identity?
- Can you detach from your creation?
A Different Perspective
Obsession can lead to burnout.
