Paul Kane Quotes

A collection of quotes by Paul Kane.

Paul Kane (born September 19, 1810) was a prominent Irish-born Canadian painter during the 19th century. He is renowned for his vivid and accurate depictions of Indigenous peoples and landscapes in North America. Born in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, Kane was raised in Toronto, Canada. As a young man, he studied painting in London and subsequently travelled extensively throughout Europe, refining his artistic technique.

In 1845, Kane embarked on an ambitious journey across the North American continent, sketching and painting Indigenous cultures and capturing their way of life firsthand. His four-year expedition took him through present-day Canada, the United States, and into the Rocky Mountains. During this time, Kane created numerous sketches of Indigenous communities, their traditions, and their natural surroundings. He also engaged in detailed written observations that shed light on the daily lives and customs of Indigenous peoples.

Returning to Canada in 1848, Kane dedicated himself to transforming his sketches into oil paintings. His extensive body of work encompassed portraits, landscapes, and scenes of Indigenous life, offering invaluable documentation of the rapidly changing Indigenous cultures in the face of colonization.

Paul Kane's artworks and writings continue to be highly regarded for their historical and ethnographic importance. His legacy serves as a testament to his deep respect for Indigenous peoples, as well as his commitment to capturing their stories and preserving their cultural heritage.

I can look back at stuff I wrote in my early days and squirm

I can look back at stuff I wrote in my early days and squirm at some of the mistakes I made. But we're all learning every day we never stop. I just hope people keep on liking what I do. That gives me such a kick.

Paul Kane


I believe that, like most writers, my personality comes thro

I believe that, like most writers, my personality comes through in the fiction. So in that respect my writing can't be like any other author's really.

Paul Kane

Respect

Unlike life, you've got more or less complete control over w

Unlike life, you've got more or less complete control over what's going on in your stories. That's not to say you can make characters do whatever you want them to - they usually have a life of their own if you've done your job properly.

Paul Kane

Life Character

I've had a lot of very positive feedback about those stories

I've had a lot of very positive feedback about those stories, and seem to have struck upon something that most people feel. I can also tap dance, and don't know many other authors who can.

Paul Kane

Positive

The most terrifying thing I can think of is being alone - an

The most terrifying thing I can think of is being alone - and I mean utterly alone, like no one else in the world alone - at night. That's the nucleus of the first story in my collection and it's also where the title came from for the book.

Paul Kane

Alone

I love a good laugh as well, I think that's so important in

I love a good laugh as well, I think that's so important in life, which is probably why I've dabbled in comedy writing as well as horror. I think if you can make someone laugh or smile it's the most special thing in the world.

Paul Kane

Smile

As for goals, I don't set myself those anymore. I'm not one

As for goals, I don't set myself those anymore. I'm not one of these 'I must have achieved this and that by next year' kind of writers. I take things as they come and find that patience and persistence tend to win out in the end.

Paul Kane

Patience