--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The paintings are like prayers, relating…" description: "\"The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for something beyond everyday life.\" — Susan Rothenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg" --- # The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for… ![“The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for something beyond everyday life.” quote by Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg) > “The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for something beyond everyday life.” [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Her paintings act as prayers, seeking transcendence beyond daily life through visual expression **In simple terms:** Paintings serve as prayers for something beyond the ordinary Key Takeaway Use art as a conduit for spiritual yearning Themes spirituality art transcendence Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual artistic When to use this quote - gallery shows - personal meditation - public installations - art therapy Key Concepts prayerful imagery visual meditation ritualistic creation Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to pray through paint? - Can visual art replace traditional prayer? A Different Perspective May be interpreted as escapism rather than genuine spiritual practice ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Everyday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday/) [Everyday life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyday-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pain in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-in-life/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Wishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishing/) ## Related quotes > [Hope is wishing for something to come true. Faith is belief that it will come true. Believe that for every problem God gives you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/hope-is-wishing-for-something-to-come-true-faith-is-belief-that-it/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [It feels strange to have spent much time wishing for something, for someone and then one day, suddenly, to just stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-feels-strange-to-have-spent-much-time-wishing-for-something-for/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [These things you did were like prayers; you did them and you hoped they would save you. And for the most part they did.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/these-things-you-did-were-like-prayers-you-did-them-and-you-hoped/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Stories,' the green-eyed Sigrid said, unperturbed, 'are like prayers. It does not matter when you begin, or when you end, only that you bend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/stories-the-green-eyed-sigrid-said-unperturbed-are-like-prayers-it/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [“...my thoughts reach out like prayers to you - and if you are quiet, you can hear...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/my-thoughts-reach-out-like-prayers-to-you-and-if-you-are-quiet-you/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Principles are like prayers; noble, of course, but awkward at a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-violet/principles-are-like-prayers-noble-of-course-but-awkward-at-a-party/) [Lady Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-violet/) > [Meanwhile, little people like you and me, if our prayers are sometimes granted, beyond all hope and probability, had better not draw hasty conclusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/meanwhile-little-people-like-you-and-me-if-our-prayers-are-sometimes/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Paintings, like dreams, have a life of their own and I have always painted very much the way I dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonor-fini/paintings-like-dreams-have-a-life-of-their-own-and-i-have-always/) [Leonor Fini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonor-fini/) > [I feel like I have to avoid certain thrift store-isms, having been known for the thrift store paintings. It's like I have to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-shaw/i-feel-like-i-have-to-avoid-certain-thrift-store-isms-having-been/) [Jim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-shaw/) > [Paintings are not like the Internet. They're not like movies. They're not electronic-friendly. You have to go see them. You have to stand in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/paintings-are-not-like-the-internet-they-re-not-like-movies-they-re/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [“Paintings! They're like TV, but they don't move. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/paintings-they-re-like-tv-but-they-don-t-move/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not your paintings I like, it is your painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/it-is-not-your-paintings-i-like-it-is-your-painting/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [At the beginning of the 20th century, the ambition of the great painters was to make paintings that were like music, which was then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/at-the-beginning-of-the-20th-century-the-ambition-of-the-great/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [In a way, my paintings are like my children. They have many possibilities in life. You tell them, 'I believe that you're good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-bisky/in-a-way-my-paintings-are-like-my-children-they-have-many/) [Norbert Bisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-bisky/) > [“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/) ## More by Susan Rothenberg > [Sometimes the painting starts to relate very directly to either sights seen or experiences felt, other times it just goes off on a tangent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/sometimes-the-painting-starts-to-relate-very-directly-to-either/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I started to try to be a colorist, although secretly thinking of myself as somewhat of a black and whiteist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-started-to-try-to-be-a-colorist-although-secretly-thinking-of/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [Some of the pictures are truly mysterious to me.. which is why I so often say publicly that I don't know or don't care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/some-of-the-pictures-are-truly-mysterious-to-me-which-is-why-i-so/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I think I care about beauty, but I don't go for it. I hope it sometimes might be in there. I think, maybe, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-i-care-about-beauty-but-i-don-t-go-for-it-i-hope-it-sometimes/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [You build up a head of steam. If you're four days out of the studio, on the fifth day you really crash in there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/you-build-up-a-head-of-steam-if-you-re-four-days-out-of-the-studio-on/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [Most of my painting is done sitting in a chair with a book. I'd say it's 80 per cent sitting and reading, 10 per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/most-of-my-painting-is-done-sitting-in-a-chair-with-a-book-i-d-say-it/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [The problem with Matisse is that I can't ever figure out when he's done a good painting or a bad painting because I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/the-problem-with-matisse-is-that-i-can-t-ever-figure-out-when-he-s/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I think there has to be an interesting transformative process between your perception of reality and making the paintings. If you are just trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-there-has-to-be-an-interesting-transformative-process-between/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I think artists almost always end up turning to what's around them, what's in their environment or outside their window.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-think-artists-almost-always-end-up-turning-to-what-s-around-them/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) > [I can say that paintings are prayers, they have to do with anything that makes you wish for more that what everyday life provides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/i-can-say-that-paintings-are-prayers-they-have-to-do-with-anything/) [Susan Rothenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) [Explore all 11 Susan Rothenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/) ## 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": "The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for something beyond everyday life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Susan Rothenberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating-to-wishing-for-something/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating-to-wishing-for-something/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/susan-rothenberg-40208_artist_the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating_783679.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The paintings are like prayers, relating to wishing for something beyond everyday life.” — Susan Rothenberg", "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": "Susan Rothenberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-rothenberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The paintings are like prayers, relating...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating-to-wishing-for-something/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-rothenberg/the-paintings-are-like-prayers-relating-to-wishing-for-something/#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 } } ] } ```