--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being an artist and being a teacher are…" description: "\"Being an artist and being a teacher are two conflicting things. When I paint, my work manifests the unexpected... In teaching it's just the opposite. I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-alechinsky-35440_accounts_being-an-artist-and-being-a-teacher-are_466218.png" --- # Being an artist and being a teacher are two conflicting… ![“Being an artist and being a teacher are two conflicting things. When I paint, my work manifests the unexpected... In teaching it's just the opposite. I must account for every line, shape and colour and I am forced to give an explanation of the inexplicable and account for the variety of styles the…” quote by Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-alechinsky-35440_accounts_being-an-artist-and-being-a-teacher-are_466218.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-alechinsky-35440_accounts_being-an-artist-and-being-a-teacher-are_466218.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/861/pierre-alechinsky-35440_accounts_being-an-artist-and-being-a-teacher-are_466218.png) > “Being an artist and being a teacher are two conflicting things. When I paint, my work manifests the unexpected... In teaching it's just the opposite. I must account for every line, shape and colour and I am forced to give an explanation of the inexplicable and account for the variety of styles the students present.” [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing creative spontaneity with structured instruction creates tension between freedom and accountability. **In simple terms:** Artists and teachers face opposing demands. Key Takeaway Embrace both roles, but set boundaries. Themes creativity education conflict structure freedom Mood reflective thoughtful inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - classroom lesson - studio practice - curriculum design - personal art projects Key Concepts artistic expression pedagogy explanatory pressure Questions to Reflect On - How can you preserve spontaneity while teaching? - What boundaries protect your creative voice? A Different Perspective Balancing may stifle artistic intuition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accounts/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-teacher-3603781/) [Being a teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-a-teacher/) [Being an artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-an-artist/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Explanation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explanation/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inexplicable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inexplicable/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher Conflicting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-conflicting-4039751/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Unexpected Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected-teaching-4039752/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/) ## Related quotes > [My mother was born in Baltimore, and before her marriage, she was an artist and teacher of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/my-mother-was-born-in-baltimore-and-before-her-marriage-she-was-an/) [J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/) > [It was difficult being a teacher and out of the closet in the '50s. By the time I retired, the English department was proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-gunn/it-was-difficult-being-a-teacher-and-out-of-the-closet-in-the-50s-by/) [Thom Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-gunn/) > [The children are now working as if I did not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-children-are-now-working-as-if-i-did-not-exist/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [ And she \[Eleanor Roosevelt\]loves being a star. And she loves being a teacher and a leader and a mentor and a big friend. Also,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanche-wiesen-cook/and-she-eleanor-roosevelt-loves-being-a-star-and-she-loves-being-a/) [Blanche Wiesen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanche-wiesen-cook/) > [Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Being a teacher at a restaurant in the town where you lived was a little like being a TV star...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/being-a-teacher-at-a-restaurant-in-the-town-where-you-lived-was-a/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [In education it isn't how much you have committed to memory or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/in-education-it-isn-t-how-much-you-have-committed-to-memory-or-even/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [Warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/warmth-is-the-vital-element-for-the-growing-plant-and-for-the-soul-of/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Being a teacher is like being in jail; once it's on your record, you can never get rid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/being-a-teacher-is-like-being-in-jail-once-it-s-on-your-record-you/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I hope that I serve by being a teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-bush/i-hope-that-i-serve-by-being-a-teacher/) [Jenna Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-bush/) > [It's not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between nine and five. It's whether or not our work fulfills us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/it-s-not-how-much-money-we-make-that-ultimately-makes-us-happy/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The best part about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest part about being a teacher is that it matters every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-whitaker/the-best-part-about-being-a-teacher-is-that-it-matters-the-hardest/) [Todd Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-whitaker/) > [Being a teacher is not what I do, it's who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/being-a-teacher-is-not-what-i-do-it-s-who-i-am/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [We've got to make sure that teachers are respected, that they are rewarded, that young people like yourself who have talent and want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-make-sure-that-teachers-are-respected-that-they-are/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If I can make a teacher's salary doing comedy, I think that's better than being a teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/if-i-can-make-a-teacher-s-salary-doing-comedy-i-think-that-s-better/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) ## More by Pierre Alechinsky > [Only during the action is the idea of matter influenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/only-during-the-action-is-the-idea-of-matter-influenced/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [People think you can get out your canvas and paint any time you have a free moment. You can't. Commercial art and painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/people-think-you-can-get-out-your-canvas-and-paint-any-time-you-have/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [When I paint, I liberate monsters They are the manifestations of all the doubts, searches and groping for meaning and expression which all artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/when-i-paint-i-liberate-monsters-they-are-the-manifestations-of-all/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [Too many modern painters set themselves satisfied with just a coincidence, the spot in its raw, meaningless form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/too-many-modern-painters-set-themselves-satisfied-with-just-a/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [The main thing is that we are part of the reality in ourselves to perfect one's power of discovery and that leads to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/the-main-thing-is-that-we-are-part-of-the-reality-in-ourselves-to/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [Everything that you paint may be used as evidence against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/everything-that-you-paint-may-be-used-as-evidence-against-you/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [A very young painter is seldom alone. If he is an art student, he is in an art school with other students. He does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/a-very-young-painter-is-seldom-alone-if-he-is-an-art-student-he-is-in/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [Whoever thought the immediate alternates with the immediate action is not an abstract painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/whoever-thought-the-immediate-alternates-with-the-immediate-action-is/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [The deliberate expansion of means and methods does not automatically bring a new dimension of value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/the-deliberate-expansion-of-means-and-methods-does-not-automatically/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [When a painter thinks to disengage from the world outside himself and fantasies unprecedented forms he thinks he will make a painting, he finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/when-a-painter-thinks-to-disengage-from-the-world-outside-himself-and/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [Those who largely rely on their hands and the beautiful or shocking traces of the imagination that they leave on the canvas ...CONCRETE... one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/those-who-largely-rely-on-their-hands-and-the-beautiful-or-shocking/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [Of course, when one is faced with a canvas, one is no longer alone, and the sense of solitude diminishes. This can be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/of-course-when-one-is-faced-with-a-canvas-one-is-no-longer-alone-and/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) [Explore all 13 Pierre Alechinsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) ## More Accounts quotes > [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/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. 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