---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think, for an artist, when you're…"
description: "\"I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who actually exists, it's a much steeper critical curve, as there is an actual representation of t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png"
---

#  I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who…

![“I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who actually exists, it's a much steeper critical curve, as there is an actual representation of that person out there. You can't just interpret it any way you want.” quote by Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png)

> “I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who actually exists, it's a much steeper critical curve, as there is an actual representation of that person out there. You can't just interpret it any way you want.”

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Artists face higher stakes when drawing real people because accuracy matters and personal interpretation is limited.

**In simple terms:** Drawing real people demands accuracy, not just interpretation.

Key Takeaway

Respect the subject’s reality while expressing creativity.

Themes

art responsibility representation

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- commissioned portraits
- historical illustration
- media illustration

Key Concepts

portraiture ethical depiction creative constraint

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you honor a subject’s identity?
- When should artistic license be applied?

A Different Perspective

Balancing authenticity with artistic freedom can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actual Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actual-representation-1045598/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-drawing-2420498/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Drawing Somebody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing-somebody-4330612/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Think Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-artist/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [For the artist, drawing is discovery. And that is not just a slick phrase; it is quite literally true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-berger/for-the-artist-drawing-is-discovery-and-that-is-not-just-a-slick/)

[John Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-berger/)

> [“I draw a girl without a face, drawing somebody else’s face onto her own reflection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akemi-dawn-bowman/i-draw-a-girl-without-a-face-drawing-somebody-else-s-face-onto-her/)

[Akemi Dawn Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akemi-dawn-bowman/)

> [In England the practice of "virtual" representation provided reasonably well for the actual representation of the major interests of the society, and it raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-bailyn/in-england-the-practice-of-virtual-representation-provided-reasonably/)

[Bernard Bailyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-bailyn/)

> [Most people on the outside think that being an artist is like the best thing ever in the world and it's so easy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bea-miller/most-people-on-the-outside-think-that-being-an-artist-is-like-the/)

[Bea Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bea-miller/)

> [To be born with a unique instinct, will demand 'unique duties'. If you didn't think about being an artist before 7 years of age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/to-be-born-with-a-unique-instinct-will-demand-unique-duties-if-you/)

[David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/)

> [I think every artist, producer, believe's that it's going to happen at some point and time. You never want to just hear that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jadakiss/i-think-every-artist-producer-believe-s-that-it-s-going-to-happen-at/)

[Jadakiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jadakiss/)

> [I constantly think as an artist, as a rapper of what are the stories you want to tell? They can't all be, "I'm ill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/i-constantly-think-as-an-artist-as-a-rapper-of-what-are-the-stories/)

[Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/)

> [I think every artist reaches a place where they want to transcend genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-think-every-artist-reaches-a-place-where-they-want-to-transcend/)

[Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/)

> [I do my work. My work is my statement. Generally, I think, there is too much interest in what an artist has to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candida-hofer/i-do-my-work-my-work-is-my-statement-generally-i-think-there-is-too/)

[Candida Hofer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candida-hofer/)

> [What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who has only his eyes if he's a painter, or ears if he's a musician,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/what-do-you-think-an-artist-is-an-imbecile-who-has-only-his-eyes-if/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

> [I don't consider myself a painter. I think of myself more as an artist who uses paintings rather than simply makes them. Especially with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-metz/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-painter-i-think-of-myself-more-as-an-artist/)

[Landon Metz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-metz/)

> [I am a writer. I suppose I think that the highest gift that man has is art, and I am audacious enough to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-hansberry/i-am-a-writer-i-suppose-i-think-that-the-highest-gift-that-man-has-is/)

[Lorraine Hansberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-hansberry/)

> [I find that an entertainer is quite content to sit still, and I think an artist always has a little motion, always going somewhere.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-find-that-an-entertainer-is-quite-content-to-sit-still-and-i-think/)

[George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/)

> [I don't think an artist should keep themselves categorized in a specific box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-kingston/i-don-t-think-an-artist-should-keep-themselves-categorized-in-a/)

[Sean Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-kingston/)

> [I think for an artist there are so many things to make pictures of now, that everyone else may be suffering, but at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-drooker/i-think-for-an-artist-there-are-so-many-things-to-make-pictures-of/)

[Eric Drooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-drooker/)

## More by Samoa Joe

> [When it comes to WrestleMania, obviously you'll take whatever opportunity is put in front of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/when-it-comes-to-wrestlemania-obviously-you-ll-take-whatever/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I think part of my journeys here and the places I was able to be at and the styles of wrestling I was able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-part-of-my-journeys-here-and-the-places-i-was-able-to-be-at/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [After I made my initial debut at NXT 'TakeOver,' they looked at the interest and merchandise sales and decided I would be better signed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/after-i-made-my-initial-debut-at-nxt-takeover-they-looked-at-the/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [For me, I've always been confident in my ability and what I've been able to bring to the table - what I can bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/for-me-i-ve-always-been-confident-in-my-ability-and-what-i-ve-been/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I've had the opportunity to wrestle Daniel Bryan through several phases of his career, except for his time in WWE. What I remember is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-ve-had-the-opportunity-to-wrestle-daniel-bryan-through-several/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [My experience at NXT was quite stellar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/my-experience-at-nxt-was-quite-stellar/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [Not a lot of people get into Brock Lesnar like I did. Brock is every bit as intimidating as you'd imagine he would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/not-a-lot-of-people-get-into-brock-lesnar-like-i-did-brock-is-every/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [As long as you're confident in your skill set and what you can do, you're usually good to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/as-long-as-you-re-confident-in-your-skill-set-and-what-you-can-do-you/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I was a judo player as a kid, and I think a lot of the concepts in judo as a kid played over. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-was-a-judo-player-as-a-kid-and-i-think-a-lot-of-the-concepts-in/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I think something that escapes a lot of people is my entire career... I call myself the 'often unwanted' because when I got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-something-that-escapes-a-lot-of-people-is-my-entire-career-i/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I've proved I'm a formidable opponent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-ve-proved-i-m-a-formidable-opponent/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I've always made my opportunities, I've never been one to wait for them and sit around waiting for something to happen. I've always sought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-ve-always-made-my-opportunities-i-ve-never-been-one-to-wait-for/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [Anybody that got in your way or stopped you or barred your success, you either push through them or work around them. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/anybody-that-got-in-your-way-or-stopped-you-or-barred-your-success/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [I think our sport evolves as the talent evolves and the mindset evolves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-our-sport-evolves-as-the-talent-evolves-and-the-mindset/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

> [This is a dream match to many people in this world... Me vs. Brock Lesnar is what people really want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/this-is-a-dream-match-to-many-people-in-this-world-me-vs-brock-lesnar/)

[Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

[Explore all 97 Samoa Joe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/)

## 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": "I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who actually exists, it's a much steeper critical curve, as there is an actual representation of that person out there. You can't just interpret it any way you want.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Samoa Joe"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawing-somebody-who-actually/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawing-somebody-who-actually/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/samoa-joe-6791_art_i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawin_1309870.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think, for an artist, when you're drawing somebody who actually exists, it's a much steeper critical…” — Samoa Joe",
                "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": "Samoa Joe",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think, for an artist, when...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawing-somebody-who-actually/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/i-think-for-an-artist-when-you-re-drawing-somebody-who-actually/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
