--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I work with deadlines. It is terrible to…" description: "\"I work with deadlines. It is terrible to be an artist where you are just producing work and nobody gives a damn. Nobody wants to show it.\" — Robert Barry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/robert-barry-3413_art_i-work-with-deadlines-it-is-terrible-to_2995187.jpg" --- # I work with deadlines. It is terrible to be an artist… ![“I work with deadlines. It is terrible to be an artist where you are just producing work and nobody gives a damn. Nobody wants to show it.” quote by Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/robert-barry-3413_art_i-work-with-deadlines-it-is-terrible-to_2995187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/robert-barry-3413_art_i-work-with-deadlines-it-is-terrible-to_2995187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7aa/robert-barry-3413_art_i-work-with-deadlines-it-is-terrible-to_2995187.jpg) > “I work with deadlines. It is terrible to be an artist where you are just producing work and nobody gives a damn. Nobody wants to show it.” [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist feels trapped by deadlines and lack of audience, leading to frustration. **In simple terms:** Artists struggle with pressure and feeling ignored. Key Takeaway Seek supportive communities and realistic expectations. Themes creativity deadline pressure isolation artistic integrity Mood reflective melancholic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - freelance work - gallery shows - online platforms - collaborations - self-promotion Key Concepts Burnout Motivation Audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - What strategies can help maintain creative drive under deadlines? - How can artists find meaningful audiences? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize artists' experiences and ignore those who thrive under pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I am always producing work, but there is always a sort of deadline where you have to finish work. I don't do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-am-always-producing-work-but-there-is-always-a-sort-of-deadline/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [Normally my head is always filled with art ideas and things that I have to do, deadlines that I have to meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/normally-my-head-is-always-filled-with-art-ideas-and-things-that-i/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I am an artist who works very well under pressure, in fact. I like to have deadlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-am-an-artist-who-works-very-well-under-pressure-in-fact-i-like-to/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [“Conventional lives are the perfect refuge if you are a terrible artist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-wilson/conventional-lives-are-the-perfect-refuge-if-you-are-a-terrible-artist/) [Kevin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-wilson/) > [To be honest with you, I'd rather not be working. When you work, there are all sorts of deadlines and pressures. I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benicio-del-toro/to-be-honest-with-you-i-d-rather-not-be-working-when-you-work-there/) [Benicio Del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benicio-del-toro/) > [I no longer feel I'll be dead by thirty; now it's sixty. I suppose these deadlines we set for ourselves are really a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/i-no-longer-feel-i-ll-be-dead-by-thirty-now-it-s-sixty-i-suppose/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The danger of having too close deadlines... It could lead you to just accept an avenue that's not quite good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-weir/the-danger-of-having-too-close-deadlines-it-could-lead-you-to-just/) [Judith Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-weir/) > [I am one of those people who thrive on deadlines. Nothing brings on inspiration more readily than desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/i-am-one-of-those-people-who-thrive-on-deadlines-nothing-brings-on/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [You put deadlines on people you really don't want, because that's how you feel about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-leiter/you-put-deadlines-on-people-you-really-don-t-want-because-that-s-how/) [Al Leiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-leiter/) > [Deadlines concentrate the mind. But deadlines should not be dogmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/deadlines-concentrate-the-mind-but-deadlines-should-not-be-dogmas/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [A harsh reality of newspaper editing is that the deadlines don't allow for the polish that you expect in books or even magazines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/a-harsh-reality-of-newspaper-editing-is-that-the-deadlines-don-t/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [There are no unrealistic goals, only unrealistic deadlines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/there-are-no-unrealistic-goals-only-unrealistic-deadlines/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Publishing is, by its nature, about deadlines, and deadlines are toxic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/publishing-is-by-its-nature-about-deadlines-and-deadlines-are-toxic/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [Nothing focuses attention like a real deadline. If you are in a field where life and death, or having a job or not having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/nothing-focuses-attention-like-a-real-deadline-if-you-are-in-a-field/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [All writers are forced to live within deadlines, and deadlines determine how good they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/all-writers-are-forced-to-live-within-deadlines-and-deadlines/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) ## More by Robert Barry > [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [Any artwork is part of something larger, grander and, you know, the situation that it's in is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/any-artwork-is-part-of-something-larger-grander-and-you-know-the/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [A word refers to something in the real world and so, in a way, does a photo. It's not the thing itself, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/a-word-refers-to-something-in-the-real-world-and-so-in-a-way-does-a/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [Whatever came out came out. That was it. That's what you live with. If you don't like it, that's your problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/whatever-came-out-came-out-that-was-it-that-s-what-you-live-with-if/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I'm fortunate in one respect; that I don't have a lot of work in my studio. Most of it's out, gone; either sold or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-m-fortunate-in-one-respect-that-i-don-t-have-a-lot-of-work-in-my/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I was at one point thinking about being an art historian, when I was in school. And not being an artist, but I decided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-was-at-one-point-thinking-about-being-an-art-historian-when-i-was/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I have a lot of ideas for art. And it is really - I don't really have time to do them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-have-a-lot-of-ideas-for-art-and-it-is-really-i-don-t-really-have/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [But artistically, my art I kept very separate from my political beliefs, deliberately and very, very rarely would I allow that kind of thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/but-artistically-my-art-i-kept-very-separate-from-my-political/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I am always producing work, but there is always a sort of deadline where you have to finish work. I don't do it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-am-always-producing-work-but-there-is-always-a-sort-of-deadline/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [If you want to know about what's good in art, you should talk to an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/if-you-want-to-know-about-what-s-good-in-art-you-should-talk-to-an/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [Developing your own style became something very interesting, very important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/developing-your-own-style-became-something-very-interesting-very/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I'm getting more and more into Chinese art and Japanese, some of those scroll paintings are amazing. You follow the change of the seasons.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-m-getting-more-and-more-into-chinese-art-and-japanese-some-of-those/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [How does any idea come to your mind? I don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/how-does-any-idea-come-to-your-mind-i-don-t-know/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [Heidegger wrote a book called Was Ist Das Ding - What Is a Thing? which was kind of interesting and influential to me, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/heidegger-wrote-a-book-called-was-ist-das-ding-what-is-a-thing-which/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I had always taken photos - always, always taken photos, made movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-had-always-taken-photos-always-always-taken-photos-made-movies/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) [Explore all 131 Robert Barry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I work with deadlines. 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