El oso Jul 1, 2018:

painting is not just about pain alone. That's definitely more like it!
А еще говорят? что от перестановки мест слагаемых сумма не меняется.. Еще как меняется! ;)

Andrew Vdovin (asker) Jul 1, 2018:

Всем спасибо за предложенные варианты. Что касается painter и pain - мне кажется, здесь как раз нужно не противоставлять, а сравнивать: To be a good painter, you have to take pains... - что-нибудь вроде этого.

The Misha Jun 30, 2018:

It really depends on what you do with that play on words. You see, little brother, painting is not just about pain alone. If you do your best and work hard, you'll get there - i budet tebe shchastye:)

Incidentally, this is also true. I should know, I oil-paint myself even though I have absolutely no idea how and what the heck it is I am doing. But I get by.

El oso Jun 30, 2018:

@ IrinaN Ага! Теперь понятно откуда коллеге пришла идея про "painter и "pain"! :)

Turdimurod Rakhmanov Jun 30, 2018:

RE:nothing to do with "pain" I completely agree with this "nothing to do with pain", because the play on words is the best way of rendering here. However, I would like to point out that:
Russian word "Художник" does not mean "Painter" in this context. Painter=живописец, which is one of the special genres of Art. But "Художник" creates his works not only with paints, the term "Художник" covers more than "paint". Art and Artist is a broader and clear term in this case.

IrinaN Jun 29, 2018:

Very interesting question And two entirely different approaches to the meaning of pain. There is an attempt to play with "pain" here: https://phraseology_ru_en.academic.ru/29688/художник_от_слов... with the suggestion that pain here means pain and suffering for those who are forced to look at such art. In any case, pain has something to do with pain.

El oso Jun 29, 2018:

RE:nothing to do with "pain" I've got to say, I am somewhat surprised to see a heavyweight like Misha throwing his weight behind this option :) Yes, I suppose, you could argue that the play on words there is good (excellent, even), except it has nothing to do with the premise of the original, as I see it. I think everyone here will agree that being an artist (or any other professional for that matter) DOES "have to do with pain", because being a professional involves hard, PAINstaking work, no matter what you are: an artist, a pianist or a soccer player. See my point? And notice that even the original goes on to say "you have to work hard and learn a lot of things, only then will you be successful''. I mean, how could you possibly marry hard work and intensive learning process with "nothing to do with pain"? It just makes no sense.

I'm sorry I had to ruin your Black Panther party, guys (c) ;)

Turdimurod Rakhmanov Jun 29, 2018:

Painter vs Artist Здесь сначала уточнить Panter или Artist, как мне кажется здесь не painter а, artist.

Turdimurod Rakhmanov Jun 29, 2018:

I think, you want English equivalent here?
Version:
Look here, my buddy (bro), Artist is not of the word "Arte" (or "Artel" or "*art", "artless"), too many options.