Artist Quote by Richard Diebenkorn
“I trust the symbol that is arrived at in the making of the painting. Meaningful symbols aren't invented as such, they are made or discovered as symbol later.”
About This Quote
Artistic symbols emerge through the creative process rather than being pre‑designed, reflecting deeper meaning discovered during making.
In simple terms: Symbols are discovered while creating, not invented beforehand.
Key Takeaway
Observe and trust the symbols that arise in your work.
Themes
creativity
art
meaning
process
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
philosophical
artistic
When to use this quote
- painting
- design
- visual storytelling
- creative brainstorming
Key Concepts
symbolism
discovery
intentionality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize a symbol’s meaning as it forms?
- What does a discovered symbol reveal about your intent?
A Different Perspective
Symbols may be ambiguous to viewers, limiting shared interpretation.
![“[T]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom, just waiting for us to pick the whole thing up and heave it away. It has to happen. Free people can put up with such laws only for so long.” quote by Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aed/dick-armey-16265_america_t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-af_12886.jpg)
![“The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a [person] postulates as being a greater totality than [oneself] can become a symbol of the self. For this reason the symbol of the self is not always as total as the definition would require.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/251/carl-jung-274_defined_the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-t_7148.jpg)
