--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Abstract means literally to draw from or…" description: "\"Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his visual impressions. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/richard-diebenkorn-18615_abstract_abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or_270785.png" --- # Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this… ![“Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his visual impressions. A realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The result is what counts.” quote by Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/richard-diebenkorn-18615_abstract_abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or_270785.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/richard-diebenkorn-18615_abstract_abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or_270785.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1e/richard-diebenkorn-18615_abstract_abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or_270785.png) > “Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his visual impressions. A realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The result is what counts.” [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Abstraction is about extracting personal visual impressions to create unique art, regardless of style; the outcome matters most. **In simple terms:** Art is personal expression, not style. Key Takeaway Focus on creation over classification. Themes art creativity individualism Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - gallery openings - art education - creative workshops Key Concepts abstraction visual perception artistic process Questions to Reflect On - How does personal perception shape artistic value? - Can style be irrelevant to meaning? A Different Perspective Some may argue that abstraction lacks technical skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Abstract art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract-art/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) ## Related quotes > [All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/all-paintings-start-out-of-a-mood-out-of-a-relationship-with-things/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > ['Abstract' literally means to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract... a realistic or nonobjective approach makes no difference. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/abstract-literally-means-to-draw-from-or-separate-in-this-sense-every/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [“She means everything literally. Don't kid yourself about that lady. She means everything literally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/she-means-everything-literally-don-t-kid-yourself-about-that-lady-she/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [In a successful painting everything is integral - all the parts belong to the whole. If you remove an aspect or element you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/in-a-successful-painting-everything-is-integral-all-the-parts-belong/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [The only and one way to say what abstract art or art-as-art is, is to say what it is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ad-reinhardt/the-only-and-one-way-to-say-what-abstract-art-or-art-as-art-is-is-to/) [Ad Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ad-reinhardt/) > [Among those born into chaos, some will imagine an order and become scientists; a few will recognize the chaos and become abstract artists; most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/among-those-born-into-chaos-some-will-imagine-an-order-and-become/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [Abstract art places a new world, which on the surface has nothing to do with 'reality,' next to the 'real' world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wassily-kandinsky/abstract-art-places-a-new-world-which-on-the-surface-has-nothing-to/) [Wassily Kandinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wassily-kandinsky/) > [Abstract art is a fundamental distrust of the theory of reality concocted by the eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/abstract-art-is-a-fundamental-distrust-of-the-theory-of-reality/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The only thing I collect is art. 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Abstract art enables the artist to perceive beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arshile-gorky/abstraction-allows-man-to-see-with-his-mind-what-he-cannot-physically/) [Arshile Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arshile-gorky/) > [In abstract mathematics or abstract art, the purpose is to describe inner states of our mind, and to explore the limits of our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjan-sundaram/in-abstract-mathematics-or-abstract-art-the-purpose-is-to-describe/) [Anjan Sundaram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjan-sundaram/) > [“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality. —Pablo Picasso”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-b-burger/there-is-no-abstract-art-you-must-always-start-with-something/) [Edward B. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-b-burger/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) ## More 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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-trust-the-symbol-that-is-arrived-at-in-the-making-of-the-painting/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea-of-saying-something-what-i/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [And I can just see that sometimes the technique is blasting powder rather than steady struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/and-i-can-just-see-that-sometimes-the-technique-is-blasting-powder/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I want painting to be difficult to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-want-painting-to-be-difficult-to-do/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/all-paintings-start-out-of-a-mood-out-of-a-relationship-with-things/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [In a successful painting everything is integral - all the parts belong to the whole. If you remove an aspect or element you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/in-a-successful-painting-everything-is-integral-all-the-parts-belong/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [One wants to see the artifice of the thing as well as the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/one-wants-to-see-the-artifice-of-the-thing-as-well-as-the-subject/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I would like the colors, their shapes and positions to be arrived at in response to and dictated by the condition of the total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-would-like-the-colors-their-shapes-and-positions-to-be-arrived-at/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [With rare exceptions, I respond most to painting that cuts across grain rather than following it. I think the artist here can get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/with-rare-exceptions-i-respond-most-to-painting-that-cuts-across/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Somehow don't be bored, but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/somehow-don-t-be-bored-but-if-you-must-use-it-in-action-use-its/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I want a painting to be difficult to do. The more obstacles, obstructions, problems - if they don't overwhelm - the better. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-want-a-painting-to-be-difficult-to-do-the-more-obstacles/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Mistakes can't be erased, but they move you from your present position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/mistakes-can-t-be-erased-but-they-move-you-from-your-present-position/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/use-and-respond-to-the-initial-fresh-qualities-but-consider-them/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [My father didn't think being an artist was a respectable or worthy goal for a man. He hoped I would see my way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/my-father-didn-t-think-being-an-artist-was-a-respectable-or-worthy/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I came to mistrust my desire to explode the picture and supercharge it in some way… what is more important is a feeling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-came-to-mistrust-my-desire-to-explode-the-picture-and-supercharge/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) [Explore all 34 Richard Diebenkorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) Anthony W. Ivins > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his visual impressions. A realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. 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