Art Quote by Quentin Blake
““I suppose that really I had a training or education not so very different from a lot of other artists and illustrators — it’s just that I didn’t have it in the normal order. When I was at school I liked drawing, and I liked anything to do with humor, and I liked writing too. When I was about fourteen, I was lucky enough to be introduced to a man who both painted pictures and drew cartoons for newspapers and magazines, including Punch , the most famous English humorous magazine at the time. He was called Alfred Jackson and every few months I would take him a collection of my drawings to look at. Now I look back and realize these were in fact lessons or tutorials, and what was especially good about them was that he talked not only about the cartoonists’ drawings in Punch at the time, but also about Michelangelo and Modigliani as well.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, 1995
Blake learned art through informal mentorship, blending humor, drawing, and classical influences, showing non‑linear education can be rich.
In simple terms: Learning can happen outside formal schools.
Key Takeaway
Seek mentors, value diverse influences.
Themes
education
art
mentorship
humor
creativity
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- art school
- career development
- personal growth
- creative practice
Key Concepts
informal learning
interdisciplinary influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you create informal learning pathways?
- What diverse influences could enrich your work?
A Different Perspective
Formal training may lack the flexibility of such mentorships.
