"At school there were some programs in music. I did take piano lessons, and we had a piano at home. I got very interested in that."
Read quote
3 likes
Quote collection
Paul Smith quotes (page 3 of 4)
62 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I was painting furniture, learning to stencil, and explore all kinds of traditional techniques of decoration. I learned from books that I picked up."
Read quote
3 likes
"I think there were some programs but in those days art programs were kind of basic. You would do drawing and simple collage type work. But at home I was beginning to get interested in doing my own thing as well. I'm not sure what inspired this, but I became very interested in decorating things."
Read quote
3 likes
"In thinking back, not having any experience in any other elementary school, there may have been an advantage of being with different age groups to benefit from what they were learning in a more advanced capacity. With a small group like that, there was a lot of one-to-one teaching."
Read quote
3 likes
"I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled in the arts. So that recognition I credit for my growing interest in art that continued to evolve later on."
Read quote
3 likes
"It was only when I got to high school and was in the art program that my artistic talent was recognized. The art program was directed by a wonderful and a very important person in my life - Charlotte Ranger, who was referred to as Mrs. Ranger. She had been teaching in the school for many years."
Read quote
3 likes
"I was engaged in all the required courses of math and geometry, but the area that I blossomed in was the art program."
Read quote
3 likes
"We've got a nation of people who have one eye looking out for the next speed camera, another looking for a speed limit sign and another looking at the speedometer - which is a bit of a shame, when you only have two eyes."
Read quote
3 likes
"There were neighbors that I played with and did all the things that children do. I did mow the lawn. I did help with various things that needed to be done to occupy my time."
Read quote
3 likes
"The pastors and ministry leaders came away energized to have voter registration drives at their churches and motivated to encourage their congregations to "vote their values.""
Read quote
3 likes
"There was a certain amount of discipline, I think; my parents wanted to be sure that I was not just sitting around doing nothing."
Read quote
3 likes
"In terms of any sacrifices at the time [of World War II], I was somewhat protected living on a small farm where there was food, different perhaps from living in a city environment. I know such things as gas rationing did exist, but it wasn't anything that interfered with my daily activity."
Read quote
3 likes
"I know that I was conscious of all the aspects of the war, having had cousins who were in the army, who would send me notes and memorabilia. I began to collect things that they would send me."
Read quote
3 likes
"Upon graduation, in the yearbook I was voted "Most likely to succeed." which I know was credited to my artistic achievements."
Read quote
3 likes
"I learned from books that I picked up. That was something that just came out of nowhere but continued to be an attraction. So there was a continuum of my interest in the arts and involvement in creating that was strong enough that it later blossomed into much more."
Read quote
3 likes
"The first important [step] one was going to school. There was an advantage as there was a one-room schoolhouse that was within walking distance of my home. I went there being very shy, but I fit in quickly, and I was nurtured by a very dedicated and caring teacher, Magdalen George, who we referred to as Miss George. She was my teacher for a full seven years."
Read quote
3 likes
"Being born in '31 was during the Depression and in my earlier youth World War II took place - so it was not the best of times, and yet I don't recall ever having experiences that were a burden."
Read quote
3 likes
"He [my father] didn't have a basement workshop as such, but I know that he did build things, construct things, repair things. My mother, likewise, was sewing and doing activities that often take place in a household."
Read quote
3 likes
"The environment itself was culturally a vacuum, in that there was simply nothing that would inspire me in the arts. But my parents were always very supportive of anything that I explored or wanted to do."
Read quote
3 likes
"It was mainly a growing farm, although we did have chickens and a few animals, but I did help to some degree with that. I have to say that it was not my favorite association.I did what I was asked to do."
Read quote
3 likes