--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you set out to copy another painter…" description: "\"Once you set out to copy another painter you can never be more than number two.\" — Sergei Bongart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg" --- # Once you set out to copy another painter you can never be… ![“Once you set out to copy another painter you can never be more than number two.” quote by Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg) > “Once you set out to copy another painter you can never be more than number two.” [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Copying another artist caps your creative identity at second place; originality requires forging your own path. **In simple terms:** Imitation limits you to being a follower. Key Takeaway Develop your unique artistic voice. Themes creativity originality identity art selfexpression Mood inspirational challenging Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - learning new techniques - career development - art education - creative blocks Key Concepts artistic influence personal style innovation selfdiscovery Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to transform influence into originality? - How does risk affect your creative process? A Different Perspective Strictly avoiding influence can stifle growth and learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) ## Related quotes > [We call ourselves creators and we just copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/we-call-ourselves-creators-and-we-just-copy/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [If you can’t out iterate someone who is trying to copy you, you’re toast anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/if-you-can-t-out-iterate-someone-who-is-trying-to-copy-you-you-re/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The theme of counterfeits, of those that produce and sell them, has always been part of the culture of M.I.A. When I was contacted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/the-theme-of-counterfeits-of-those-that-produce-and-sell-them-has/) M.I.A > [I can only listen to what I'm working on, at the time. I can't listen to anything else because I don't want to copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-can-only-listen-to-what-i-m-working-on-at-the-time-i-can-t-listen/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Ive never really tried to copy anyone, I like to have my own style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-aiken/ive-never-really-tried-to-copy-anyone-i-like-to-have-my-own-style/) Liam Aiken > [You can never make copies without first consulting the BLUEPRINT!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-never-make-copies-without-first-consulting-the-blueprint/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've got to be able to copy things faithfully before you can deviate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-copy-things-faithfully-before-you-can-deviate/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [Since the model he so faithfully copies is not going to be hung up next to the picture... it is of no interest whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucian-freud/since-the-model-he-so-faithfully-copies-is-not-going-to-be-hung-up/) [Lucian Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucian-freud/) > [Mr. Trump is Mr. Trump. I'm Mr. Wilders. I'm not anybody's copy or whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/mr-trump-is-mr-trump-i-m-mr-wilders-i-m-not-anybody-s-copy-or/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [Take notes. Everything is copy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/take-notes-everything-is-copy/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If the headline is a good one, it is a relatively simple matter to write the copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caples/if-the-headline-is-a-good-one-it-is-a-relatively-simple-matter-to/) [John Caples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caples/) > [When something original works, then everyone wants to copy it. But if you're trying to do something that no one's ever seen before it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-carter/when-something-original-works-then-everyone-wants-to-copy-it-but-if/) [Chris Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-carter/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Quotations--always inexact. I don't trust people who cannot even copy out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/quotations-always-inexact-i-don-t-trust-people-who-cannot-even-copy/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) ## More by Sergei Bongart > [Most important... develop your technical ability. You are handicapped if you do not develop well enough to hold the subconscious process so as not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/most-important-develop-your-technical-ability-you-are-handicapped-if/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [If you paint from 35mm Kodachrome, you end up with a 4x5 foot Kodachrome!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/if-you-paint-from-35mm-kodachrome-you-end-up-with-a-4x5-foot/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Practice like good musician; draw every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/practice-like-good-musician-draw-every-day/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Never become an artist if you can't learn to draw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/never-become-an-artist-if-you-can-t-learn-to-draw/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Art is more than a product of your efforts - it should be about feeling, life, attitude, soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/art-is-more-than-a-product-of-your-efforts-it-should-be-about-feeling/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Watercolor is like life. Better get it right the first time--you don't get a second chance!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/watercolor-is-like-life-better-get-it-right-the-first-time-you-don-t/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [There is no one just like you, and there never will be anyone just like you, so there's no reason not to be original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/there-is-no-one-just-like-you-and-there-never-will-be-anyone-just/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [All students need to know about color is the basic color wheel and complimentary colors. There are many books on color theory; do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/all-students-need-to-know-about-color-is-the-basic-color-wheel-and/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [First trust your eyes... then check by rules. Many times something else is happening, and the rules will not apply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/first-trust-your-eyes-then-check-by-rules-many-times-something-else/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Contrast warm to cool. Make color sing, ring like a bell. Work from big to small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/contrast-warm-to-cool-make-color-sing-ring-like-a-bell-work-from-big/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [The most horrible question students ask: 'How do you paint copper?' 'How do you paint flesh or glass?' You paint everything the same way:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/the-most-horrible-question-students-ask-how-do-you-paint-copper-how/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [First draw dog, then fleas. First paint apple, then worm holes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/first-draw-dog-then-fleas-first-paint-apple-then-worm-holes/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Always keep your best work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/always-keep-your-best-work/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [Train yourself: It is not by accident an artist becomes a good painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/train-yourself-it-is-not-by-accident-an-artist-becomes-a-good-painter/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) > [The less inhibited you are the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/the-less-inhibited-you-are-the-better/) [Sergei Bongart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) [Explore all 17 Sergei Bongart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/) ## 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": "Once you set out to copy another painter you can never be more than number two.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sergei Bongart" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter-you-can-never-be-more-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter-you-can-never-be-more-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91e/sergei-bongart-30562_artist_once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter_728190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Once you set out to copy another painter you can never be more than number two.” — Sergei Bongart", "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": "Sergei Bongart", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-bongart/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Once you set out to copy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter-you-can-never-be-more-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-bongart/once-you-set-out-to-copy-another-painter-you-can-never-be-more-than/#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 } } ] } ```