Accumulation Quote by Will Eisner
“Before World War II, I was living a very cloistered existence, as most cartoonists do. The work I was pouring out did not come from any real, personal life experience; this was all the residue of the accumulation of Rafael Sabatini, O. Henry, all the short-story writers that I'd been reading.”
About This Quote
The creator acknowledges that early work was derivative, built from literary influences rather than lived experience, highlighting the gap between imagination and personal authenticity.
In simple terms: Early art was imitation, not lived truth.
Key Takeaway
Authenticity grows from personal experience.
Themes
creative process
influence
authenticity
learning
artistic growth
Mood
reflective
introspective
thoughtful
Type
personal anecdote
creative insight
When to use this quote
- starting a career
- seeking originality
- reflecting on past work
Key Concepts
derivation
literary influence
personal experience
Practical Applications
- Developing a unique voice
- Using influences as a springboard
Questions to Reflect On
- How can personal experience deepen your work?
- When does imitation become originality?
![“[Before the Spirit] I had been producing comic books for 15-year-old cretins from Kansas [I wanted to aim for] a 55-year-old who had his wallet stolen on the subway. You can't talk about heartbreak to a kid.” quote by Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/33a/will-eisner-30264_aim_before-the-spirit-i-had-been-producing-c_1208222.jpg)
![“Still,[...] in all forms of comics the sequential artist relies upon the tacit cooperation of the reader. This cooperation is based upon the convention of reading and the common cognitive disciplines. Indeed, it is this very voluntary cooperation, so unique to comics, that underlies the contract…” quote by Will Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f4/will-eisner-30264_art_still-in-all-forms-of-comics-the-sequent_1816463.jpg)
