--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I am halfway there with a painting…" description: "\"When I am halfway there with a painting, it can occasionally be thrilling... But it happens very rarely; usually it's agony... I go to great pains to m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversity_when-i-am-halfway-there-with-a-painting_2212698.jpg" --- # When I am halfway there with a painting, it can… ![“When I am halfway there with a painting, it can occasionally be thrilling... But it happens very rarely; usually it's agony... I go to great pains to mask the agony. But the struggle is there. It's the invisible enemy.” quote by Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversity_when-i-am-halfway-there-with-a-painting_2212698.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversity_when-i-am-halfway-there-with-a-painting_2212698.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f7/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversity_when-i-am-halfway-there-with-a-painting_2212698.jpg) > “When I am halfway there with a painting, it can occasionally be thrilling... But it happens very rarely; usually it's agony... I go to great pains to mask the agony. But the struggle is there. It's the invisible enemy.” [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. Artistic progress is often accompanied by hidden pain and struggle, which the creator masks. **In simple terms:** Creating art can be painful and hidden. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and work through creative challenges. Themes creativity struggle pain Mood introspective melancholic Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - painting - personal projects - creative blocks Key Concepts artistic process psychology of creation Questions to Reflect On - What hidden struggles do you face in your work? - How can you honor the difficulty in creation? A Different Perspective Masking pain may lead to burnout if unaddressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony/) [Agony Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agony-struggle-4905780/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Halfway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halfway/) [Halfway there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/halfway-there/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [My struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-struggle/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-invisible-2549064/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Thrilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrilling/) [Usually Agony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usually-agony-4905781/) ## Related quotes > [Capitalism involves struggle, but it has an invisible heart beating at its core that transforms people's lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/capitalism-involves-struggle-but-it-has-an-invisible-heart-beating-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One thing that I don’t know if people have come to grips with yet is just how serious ISIS is, just how serious militant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/one-thing-that-i-don-t-know-if-people-have-come-to-grips-with-yet-is/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Just as you believe you may have already halfway there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/just-as-you-believe-you-may-have-already-halfway-there/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I would tell your generation, wherever you are on the totem poll - whether you're halfway there or at the bottom, don't despise small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-would-tell-your-generation-wherever-you-are-on-the-totem-poll/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [When a man plays a woman in a dress, you're halfway there. It's inherently funny. When a woman plays a man, for whatever reason,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/when-a-man-plays-a-woman-in-a-dress-you-re-halfway-there-it-s/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I took my father on a coach trip last summer.We were halfway there when the driver lost control of the coach, it flew down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chic-murray/i-took-my-father-on-a-coach-trip-last-summer-we-were-halfway-there/) [Chic Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chic-murray/) > [Set your goals to paper and you are halfway there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-ward/set-your-goals-to-paper-and-you-are-halfway-there/) [Don Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-ward/) > [Begin and you're halfway there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/begin-and-you-re-halfway-there/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [Believe you can do it and you are halfway there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/believe-you-can-do-it-and-you-are-halfway-there/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [This bridge will take you halfway there - the last few steps you will have to take yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/this-bridge-will-take-you-halfway-there-the-last-few-steps-you-will/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [When you see a roadblock or challenge as an opportunity, it is amazing how you are already halfway there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/when-you-see-a-roadblock-or-challenge-as-an-opportunity-it-is-amazing/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The ability of so many people to live comfortably with the idea of capital punishment is perhaps a clue to how so many Europeans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/the-ability-of-so-many-people-to-live-comfortably-with-the-idea-of/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [In boxing, if you think you will lose... you're already halfway there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennox-lewis/in-boxing-if-you-think-you-will-lose-you-re-already-halfway-there/) [Lennox Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennox-lewis/) > [“As your perspective of the world increases not only is the pain it inflicts on you less but also its meaning. Understanding the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgaard/as-your-perspective-of-the-world-increases-not-only-is-the-pain-it/) [Karl Ove Knausgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgaard/) > [If there's no fire, there's no scream. If there's no scream, then no one hears you and no one comes to help you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/if-there-s-no-fire-there-s-no-scream-if-there-s-no-scream-then-no-one/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) ## 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/) > [Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or-separate-in-this-sense-every/) [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/) [Explore all 34 Richard Diebenkorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) [James Buckham Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buckham-kennedy/) > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) [S.E. SEVER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-sever/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I am halfway there with a painting, it can occasionally be thrilling... But it happens very rarely; usually it's agony... I go to great pains to mask the agony. But the struggle is there. 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