49. KURT VONNEGUT: The life of art
This is my second Kurt Vonnegut quote (here’s the first one). He just had such a gift for expressing the joy of living and creating into a few sentences that I was always going to adapt more than one of his. I’m trying to avoid double-ups this soon into the website being online, although obviously not trying too hard since I’ve also done two Robert Frost and Hunter Thompson quotes.
Vonnegut’s words are so true – there’s a certain joy in just creating something … anything. Personally, to go from sitting in front of a blank sheet of paper then to having a completed comic is pretty cool. And then for that comic to be put online, be seen by thousands of different people around the world and for those people to relate or connect with it is really magical. And this happens all in the space of a few days! It’s amazing when you think about it.
- Thanks to Tristan for submitting this one.
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MOST POPULAR COMICS
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A very sweet piece! So lighthearted and true.
Great quote! it’s so true- there’s something amazing in doing art, no matter how talented (or not) you are.
Vonnegut brought a zany yet scientific voice to life which pointed out the absurdities of modern life and warfare. I was inspired to embody him in a surrealist portrait on my artist’s blog which you can see at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/11/happy-birthday-mr-vonnegut.html
great blog!
Thanks!
I really loved the first line “the arts is not a way to make a living…”
Indeed it is true. Thank you Gav for putting this up. Really loved the piece and the ending
So great. That’s what I’ve been telling my parents so long.
Wow 50%? It’s a very generous donation! Some people only offer 30% or lower, but not you. Well, that explains a lot about you. LOve this quote.
I love this one!
Awesome
“You will have created something”, that´s the most important thing in life. The creation of new experiences allow us to enjoy life. Great quote! =)
“Make. Good. Art.”
As Neil Gaiman just told graduates in his commencement address: http://vimeo.com/42372767.
Love it.
Sigh … so true! I have loved KV since Cat’s Cradle was required reading in freshman English. Thanks, Gavin!
LOVE the Where the Wild Things Are reference. Good one.
Ditto.
They just keep getting better Gav. The 2 days a week thing must be working for you!
Thanks everyone – yes, the Where The Wild Things Are reference is my little tribute to Maurice Sendak.
Awesome work…I’ll remember this one for those days you just can seem to create something good….Keep up the good work.
I just discovered your website last week, and feel compelled to encourage you to continue your wonderful work. I have spent the past nine years of my life studying and practicing engineering, and I can honestly say that stumbling across this site reminded me of the value of well written words. The quotations you use are masterfully written, and the illustrations you provide to accompany them add to both the value of the words and to the interpretation thereof.
So long as you continue to create, I shall continue to add what traffic I may to your hopefully high page view statistics
You got a deal Jordan
I just had the pleasure of Stumbling your site and have spent the last hour reading and changing my computer background repeatedly. Probably should have just read all of them first then I wouldn’t have had to go through the hassle. I love that you give background on who you’re quoting. I’ve read a lot of these quotes many times but never really thought about the author. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks Emily, glad u found your way here
perfect!
cute
Dude you are awesome. These quotes were great but we normally just read them and then continue about our day. But you slow them down and make us take our time adding such gravity to the content. It really is amazing. You are creating quality art that I want everyone to see. Thank you
This quote is as meaningless as is “life” or the universe as a whole. We pretend to feel the “beauty”, but we are just triggering chemical flow in a particular direction. The only reason this seems meaningful is because most of us are A) limited in our perception and forecasting capabilities, and so do not grasp the reality of our situation, or B) intentionally attempting to ignore what they know the be true and resolve their state of dissonance, which is yet another chemical state.
While some intelligent individuals may then point out the pointlessness of me writing this, based on my own logic, the reasonable saving grace here is that we may all evolve significantly by learning and accepting this meaninglessness, and rather than terminating ourselves, attempt to continue learning and seeking something of true value.
I just recently stumbledupon this website and this is incredible. I love this one especially as these were the sentiments taught and drilled into me by my mother who is one of the dearest and most astonishing people I know. thank you for this blog and I look forward to it’s future!
I have that quote on my bedroom wall. I have been 2 year without drawing, because even if i tried and tried nothing comes out. Now i’m fdoing again. And that quote is now for me one of the most meaningful things i’ve ever heard
this post is really great thanks
this post is really great thanks.
its awesome
extreme creativity dude 
amazing work 
Nice but short story …!
Creative and more ,,,,,,
This is really nice! Stumble upon brought me here, but I’m gonna bookmark you now. Really nice inspirational short story in drawings. You are so creative!
I saw this on StumbleUpon, and I thought it was great. The quote is very inspirational/motivational.
I noticed at first the boy and girl are both engaged and active in the arts but the story soon leads into the boy being the focus and active participant and the girls part is then reduced to simply reacting to his actions.
I can’t call singing in the shower an “art”, it’s more like a self-expression. Though, nice post!
Thanks, I love Vonnegut. My favorite quote is probably:
Roses are Red
and Meant for the Pluckin,
Your 16 years old now
and Ready for High School.
awwww,
That’s So Cute… ^_^
and also a Great Msg In It.
HA, that has never once worked for me.
This is the Joy Of Living
Why isn’t this one available as a print anymore?! It is one of my favorites!
Nice Picture Story
Is it just me, or are the kids supposed to look like the couple from the Litany of Fear and the You’re Not Poet Enough quotes?