--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an artist, I write and I do what I…" description: "\"As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists should do the same thing.\" — Salim Akil" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg" --- # As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what… ![“As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists should do the same thing.” quote by Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg) > “As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists should do the same thing.” [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should follow their authentic creative impulses rather than conforming to expectations. **In simple terms:** Create authentically, not by external pressure. Key Takeaway Trust your creative voice and act on it. Themes creativity authenticity self‑expression Mood inspirational encouraging Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - art workshops - personal projects - collaborative studios - creative retreats Key Concepts artistic integrity creative process Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture authentic creativity? - What obstacles hinder artistic self‑expression? A Different Perspective External expectations can stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-write-446544/) [Artists Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists-thing-2351028/) [Creatively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatively/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Know Creatively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-creatively-2351027/) [Same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/same/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-artists/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [That's the thing about great artists: They find the thing that's most obvious to themselves, what's most conscious and natural, and they put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-vai/that-s-the-thing-about-great-artists-they-find-the-thing-that-s-most/) [Steve Vai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-vai/) > [I've always said that with kids' TV that people get stuck in it from drama school but that's not fair because I know myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/i-ve-always-said-that-with-kids-tv-that-people-get-stuck-in-it-from/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [People who know how to creatively break the rules also know why the rules were there in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/people-who-know-how-to-creatively-break-the-rules-also-know-why-the/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [An artist should write for himself & not for an audience. If the audience likes it, great. If not, they can keep away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artie-shaw/an-artist-should-write-for-himself-not-for-an-audience-if-the/) [Artie Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artie-shaw/) > [“The real is the poem. Hence, for the poet—our figure for the writer as artist—to write is to get real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-mino-h-abad/the-real-is-the-poem-hence-for-the-poet-our-figure-for-the-writer-as/) [Gémino H. Abad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-mino-h-abad/) > [I love pop songs so much and I don't put a ton of pressure on myself as a solo artist to always write the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/i-love-pop-songs-so-much-and-i-don-t-put-a-ton-of-pressure-on-myself/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [That's just a part of being an artist: you can't write great stuff all the time, because if you did, then you'd be inhuman.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/that-s-just-a-part-of-being-an-artist-you-can-t-write-great-stuff-all/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm self-deprecating, but I'm an artist, too. I have to write new songs to chronicle stuff for myself. I write a song like 'Middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-forbert/i-m-self-deprecating-but-i-m-an-artist-too-i-have-to-write-new-songs/) [Steve Forbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-forbert/) > [“Every mother should endeavor to be a true artist. I do not mean by this that every woman should be a painter, sculptor, musician,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-mother-should-endeavor-to-be-a-true-artist-i-do-not-mean-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Jubal shrugged. "Abstract design is all right-for wall paper or linoleum. But art is the process of evoking pity and terror, which is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/jubal-shrugged-abstract-design-is-all-right-for-wall-paper-or/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [As a fan of music, there's nothing I hate more than hearing an artist write a new album off the back of a successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-origliasso/as-a-fan-of-music-there-s-nothing-i-hate-more-than-hearing-an-artist/) [Jessica Origliasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-origliasso/) > [Usually as an artist I would write relatively within my own playing boundaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tolcher/usually-as-an-artist-i-would-write-relatively-within-my-own-playing/) [Michael Tolcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tolcher/) > [Most people think in order to validate yourself as an artist, you have to write your own songs. I commend the guys that do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/most-people-think-in-order-to-validate-yourself-as-an-artist-you-have/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [One thing for me that modeling definitely did was that you go to do a different job every day, and you are working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/one-thing-for-me-that-modeling-definitely-did-was-that-you-go-to-do-a/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) ## More by Salim Akil > [Jefferson Pierce is the epitome of what black men are: He loves his wife, his children, and the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/jefferson-pierce-is-the-epitome-of-what-black-men-are-he-loves-his/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [Michael Schultz's 'Cooley High' is a classic. Oftentimes, we don't get to see films about coming of age, especially for young African Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/michael-schultz-s-cooley-high-is-a-classic-oftentimes-we-don-t-get-to/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [Every time I get an opportunity to do what I love to do, it's huge. It never gets old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/every-time-i-get-an-opportunity-to-do-what-i-love-to-do-it-s-huge-it/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [When you're young, taking a risk doesn't necessarily feel like a risk because you're young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/when-you-re-young-taking-a-risk-doesn-t-necessarily-feel-like-a-risk/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [I don't walk around all the time thinking of myself as African American, but oftentimes in Hollywood, you are reminded of that in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/i-don-t-walk-around-all-the-time-thinking-of-myself-as-african/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [It's a wonderful thing to see 'Wonder Woman' directed by a woman. That did have an affect on the character, the , and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/it-s-a-wonderful-thing-to-see-wonder-woman-directed-by-a-woman-that/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [There are so many families who do not come up in a traditional household. African Americans, Latins, and, I'm sure, whites as well, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/there-are-so-many-families-who-do-not-come-up-in-a-traditional/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [Come election time, black and white politicians put on their costumes of compassion and care, shake black hands, kiss black babies, sing 'We Shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/come-election-time-black-and-white-politicians-put-on-their-costumes/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [When you see a superhero that looks like you and lives in and fights in a neighborhood that is sort of like yours, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/when-you-see-a-superhero-that-looks-like-you-and-lives-in-and-fights/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [It doesn't make sense to constantly talk about the lack of diversity in Hollywood. We all know it's there. My wife and I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/it-doesn-t-make-sense-to-constantly-talk-about-the-lack-of-diversity/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [If you bury me in a grave, don't ever come visit - because you won't find me there. You'll find me in the books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/if-you-bury-me-in-a-grave-don-t-ever-come-visit-because-you-won-t/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [It's less about Trump and more about the people... If the American people are willing to elect someone like that president, then that's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/it-s-less-about-trump-and-more-about-the-people-if-the-american/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [If I see one kid dressed up like Thunder or Lightning or Black Lightning, I'll feel like I influenced the culture in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/if-i-see-one-kid-dressed-up-like-thunder-or-lightning-or-black/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [America has a strange relationship with its racial memory. Death has always been a constant companion of black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/america-has-a-strange-relationship-with-its-racial-memory-death-has/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) > [If the only thing that was interesting about Jefferson Pierce is that he is African-American, I don't think we'd have much of a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/if-the-only-thing-that-was-interesting-about-jefferson-pierce-is-that/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) [Explore all 64 Salim Akil quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other artists should do the same thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Salim Akil" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-know-and-what-creatively-comes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-know-and-what-creatively-comes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/086/salim-akil-10564_art_as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-kno_232463.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As an artist, I write and I do what I know and what creatively comes out of me, and I think that other…” — Salim Akil", "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": "Salim Akil", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As an artist, I write and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-know-and-what-creatively-comes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/as-an-artist-i-write-and-i-do-what-i-know-and-what-creatively-comes/#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 } } ] } ```