--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: First we draw what we see; then we draw…" description: "\"First we draw what we see; then we draw what we know; finally we see what we know.\" — Robert Beverly Hale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg" --- # First we draw what we see; then we draw what we know… ![“First we draw what we see; then we draw what we know; finally we see what we know.” quote by Robert Beverly Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg) > “First we draw what we see; then we draw what we know; finally we see what we know.” Robert Beverly Hale ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The process moves from observing reality, to applying knowledge, and finally perceiving through that knowledge. **In simple terms:** Seeing evolves from raw observation to informed perception. Key Takeaway Integrate knowledge into observation. Themes art perception learning creativity Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - drawing lessons - teaching art - personal growth - critical observation Key Concepts visual cognition expertise Questions to Reflect On - How does prior knowledge shape what you notice? - Can you unlearn assumptions to see anew? A Different Perspective Knowledge can bias perception if not checked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [First you draw what you see. Next, you draw what you know, and only then will you know what it is that you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/first-you-draw-what-you-see-next-you-draw-what-you-know-and-only-then/) Robert Beverly Hale > [“Ish #177 "You never know what you don't know, until you finally know it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-griffin/ish-177-you-never-know-what-you-don-t-know-until-you-finally-know-it/) [Regina Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-griffin/) > [I rarely draw what I see. I draw what I feel in my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hepworth/i-rarely-draw-what-i-see-i-draw-what-i-feel-in-my-body/) [Barbara Hepworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hepworth/) > [If you know how to use a pencil to draw, you could draw anything. Now apply that to everything in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-r-durban/if-you-know-how-to-use-a-pencil-to-draw-you-could-draw-anything-now/) Justin R. Durban > [One must always draw, draw with the eyes, when one cannot draw with a pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balthus/one-must-always-draw-draw-with-the-eyes-when-one-cannot-draw-with-a/) [Balthus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balthus/) > [You can always draw as well as you know how to. I flatter myself that I feel more than I express on canvas; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-morris-hunt/you-can-always-draw-as-well-as-you-know-how-to-i-flatter-myself-that/) [William Morris Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-morris-hunt/) > [“ How are you going to know who I am, she finally said, if I dont look like me? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/how-are-you-going-to-know-who-i-am-she-finally-said-if-i-dont-look/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [After many years of studying my Geography book I finally know by heart that Australia is on page 23.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-brittany-lawn/after-many-years-of-studying-my-geography-book-i-finally-know-by/) Eliza Brittany Lawn > [When I see my ex and feel nothing that's when I know I'm finally over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-tomasello/when-i-see-my-ex-and-feel-nothing-that-s-when-i-know-i-m-finally-over/) [Mario Tomasello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-tomasello/) > [Finally I know all the truth behind the lie... Thanks...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-low/finally-i-know-all-the-truth-behind-the-lie-thanks/) [Alex Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-low/) > [“I finally know why my heart beats faster when you're not around I guess it's hoping you'll hear it, 'cause you know; it's beating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana/i-finally-know-why-my-heart-beats-faster-when-you-re-not-around-i/) [Ariana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana/) > [I finally know what distinguishes man from the other beasts: financial worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/i-finally-know-what-distinguishes-man-from-the-other-beasts-financial/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [I don't need to be 19 years old or starve myself for some weight or turn men's heads down that road. And thank God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-yearwood/i-don-t-need-to-be-19-years-old-or-starve-myself-for-some-weight-or/) [Trisha Yearwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-yearwood/) > [“You will know you are finally free from sin when you have full access to it and yet no desire for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heath-lambert/you-will-know-you-are-finally-free-from-sin-when-you-have-full-access/) [Heath Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heath-lambert/) > [And all this counts for nothing cause now we finally know were not alone...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-elektricity/and-all-this-counts-for-nothing-cause-now-we-finally-know-were-not/) [London Elektricity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-elektricity/) ## More by Robert Beverly Hale > [An artist sees things not as they are, but as he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/an-artist-sees-things-not-as-they-are-but-as-he-is/) Robert Beverly Hale > [Drawing is like studying Greek and piano- you can't speak or play in your conscious, which is clumsy. You must get it into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/drawing-is-like-studying-greek-and-piano-you-can-t-speak-or-play-in/) Robert Beverly Hale > [First you draw what you see. Next, you draw what you know, and only then will you know what it is that you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/first-you-draw-what-you-see-next-you-draw-what-you-know-and-only-then/) Robert Beverly Hale Explore all 4 Robert Beverly Hale quotes ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“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 > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [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 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/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "First we draw what we see; then we draw what we know; finally we see what we know.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Beverly Hale" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-what-we-know-finally-we-see/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-what-we-know-finally-we-see/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/robert-beverly-hale-66483_draws_first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-w_1854001.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“First we draw what we see; then we draw what we know; finally we see what we know.” — Robert Beverly Hale", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Beverly Hale", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-beverly-hale/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "First we draw what we see;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-what-we-know-finally-we-see/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-beverly-hale/first-we-draw-what-we-see-then-we-draw-what-we-know-finally-we-see/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```