--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I paint with a language I can call my…" description: "\"I paint with a language I can call my own... it takes a ruthless honesty with oneself. If one admires or is influenced by anyone else, one is not being..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg" --- # I paint with a language I can call my own... it takes a… ![“I paint with a language I can call my own... it takes a ruthless honesty with oneself. If one admires or is influenced by anyone else, one is not being true to oneself.” quote by Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg) > “I paint with a language I can call my own... it takes a ruthless honesty with oneself. If one admires or is influenced by anyone else, one is not being true to oneself.” [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes using a personal language in painting, requiring brutal self‑honesty and avoiding imitation. **In simple terms:** Authentic art demands personal language and honesty Key Takeaway Cultivate unique artistic voice. Themes art authenticity self‑honesty Mood thoughtful inspirational Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - painting workshops - personal projects - self‑portrait series - creative retreats Key Concepts creative identity influence avoidance Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your work remains true to yourself? - What practices foster ruthless honesty? A Different Perspective Imitation can dilute originality and self‑knowledge. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [True to oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-to-oneself/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [As long as one asserts oneself and is true to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/as-long-as-one-asserts-oneself-and-is-true-to-oneself/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [“The highest ideal of life is to be true to oneself, and the worst is to lose one's true self for the sake of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/the-highest-ideal-of-life-is-to-be-true-to-oneself-and-the-worst-is/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [Reminiscence and self-parody are part of remaining true to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/reminiscence-and-self-parody-are-part-of-remaining-true-to-oneself/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Being true to oneself is the greatest force to uncover the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/being-true-to-oneself-is-the-greatest-force-to-uncover-the-soul/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [To be true to oneself is the hardest test of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/to-be-true-to-oneself-is-the-hardest-test-of-life/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Being true to oneself more often leads one toward success rather than away from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-svob/being-true-to-oneself-more-often-leads-one-toward-success-rather-than/) [Mike Svob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-svob/) > [There were certainly more conventional and predictable paths that I could have taken in life, but I believe in being true to oneself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananya-birla/there-were-certainly-more-conventional-and-predictable-paths-that-i/) [Ananya Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananya-birla/) > [“To be true to oneself is the greatest force to uncover the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-negi/to-be-true-to-oneself-is-the-greatest-force-to-uncover-the-soul/) [Shiva Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-negi/) > [It's a challenge to stay true to oneself and celebrate our stories. I do so by continuing to be what I am, continuing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himani-shivpuri/it-s-a-challenge-to-stay-true-to-oneself-and-celebrate-our-stories-i/) [Himani Shivpuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himani-shivpuri/) > [Maturity involves being honest and true to oneself, making decisions based on a conscious internal process, assuming responsibility for one's decisions, having healthy relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pipher/maturity-involves-being-honest-and-true-to-oneself-making-decisions/) [Mary Pipher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pipher/) > [Being true to oneself is not for the faint of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-anupam/being-true-to-oneself-is-not-for-the-faint-of-heart/) [Kumar Anupam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-anupam/) > [When one is true to oneself, when one is authentic, one becomes true to the evolutionary thrust for self-optimization that exists within oneself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasuhiko-kimura/when-one-is-true-to-oneself-when-one-is-authentic-one-becomes-true-to/) [Yasuhiko Kimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasuhiko-kimura/) > [Real beauty is to be true to oneself. That's what makes me feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laetitia-casta/real-beauty-is-to-be-true-to-oneself-that-s-what-makes-me-feel-good/) [Laetitia Casta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laetitia-casta/) > [Sanity is to be found in accurate honesty to oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bain/sanity-is-to-be-found-in-accurate-honesty-to-oneself/) [David Bain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bain/) > [“It was true that one could be more alone with someone than by oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-campisi/it-was-true-that-one-could-be-more-alone-with-someone-than-by-oneself/) [Mary Campisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-campisi/) ## More by Scott Kahn > [The conceptual and politically-driven art so popular and considered to be the forefront of contemporary art today is limited by its topicality and will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/the-conceptual-and-politically-driven-art-so-popular-and-considered/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Art springs from life but it doesn't mean we have to be tyrannized by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/art-springs-from-life-but-it-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to-be-tyrannized-by/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Color, like everything else concerning visual expression, usually boils down to a gift, an innate sensibility and sensitivity. Ultimately, artists develop their own palette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/color-like-everything-else-concerning-visual-expression-usually-boils/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [What the artist should be asking is, "Am I being honest? Am I being myself? Am I searching for the truth? Am I reporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/what-the-artist-should-be-asking-is-am-i-being-honest-am-i-being/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [The voice will always be heard, even if the song is very different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/the-voice-will-always-be-heard-even-if-the-song-is-very-different/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Self-deceit is a most damaging trait. The remedy, for an artist, is to paint a self-portrait!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/self-deceit-is-a-most-damaging-trait-the-remedy-for-an-artist-is-to/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Let us not forget that group of self-taught, outsider artists who never stepped foot in any classroom and cared less about even exhibiting, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/let-us-not-forget-that-group-of-self-taught-outsider-artists-who/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [No amount of virtuosic skill and choice of subject matter can be a substitute for depth and poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/no-amount-of-virtuosic-skill-and-choice-of-subject-matter-can-be-a/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [The art business is a rarified business and appeals to an audience capable of spending money on a luxury. Too often the atmosphere in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/the-art-business-is-a-rarified-business-and-appeals-to-an-audience/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [I don't approve of what Wall Street and the wealthy have done to this country, but they are the very ones buying my paintings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/i-don-t-approve-of-what-wall-street-and-the-wealthy-have-done-to-this/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Selling is not a static activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/selling-is-not-a-static-activity/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Becoming an artist cannot be taught. A degree and diligence is not a guarantee that one can become an 'artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/becoming-an-artist-cannot-be-taught-a-degree-and-diligence-is-not-a/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [The art which speaks to a universal audience concerns itself with the 'big' questions of life and death, and delivers its message with unrelenting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/the-art-which-speaks-to-a-universal-audience-concerns-itself-with-the/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [Preconceived notions and rules are antithetical to the creative process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/preconceived-notions-and-rules-are-antithetical-to-the-creative/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) > [I don't think it's wise to manufacture a painting, just for the sake of working... if the impulse isn't truly there, the painting will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/i-don-t-think-it-s-wise-to-manufacture-a-painting-just-for-the-sake/) [Scott Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) [Explore all 16 Scott Kahn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/) ## More Admire quotes > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I paint with a language I can call my own... it takes a ruthless honesty with oneself. If one admires or is influenced by anyone else, one is not being true to oneself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Kahn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-own-it-takes-a-ruthless-honesty/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-own-it-takes-a-ruthless-honesty/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac8/scott-kahn-31749_admire_i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-ow_1595689.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I paint with a language I can call my own... it takes a ruthless honesty with oneself. If one admires or is…” — Scott Kahn", "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": "Scott Kahn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-kahn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I paint with a language I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-own-it-takes-a-ruthless-honesty/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-kahn/i-paint-with-a-language-i-can-call-my-own-it-takes-a-ruthless-honesty/#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 } } ] } ```