An ametuer is an artist who supports himself with outside jobs which enable him to paint. A professional is someone whose wife works to enable him to paint.

Every great historic change has been based on nonconformity, has been bought either with the blood or with the reputation of nonconformists.

Being an artist is not only what you do, but how you live your life.

To abstract is to draw out the essence of a matter.

If you're going to be an artist, all life is your subject. And all your experience is part of your art. A youngster told me recently that he was going to give himself a year to see if he has talent. A year! It takes a lifetime to see if you have it. Painting is total engagement.

I feel, having the choices I had, I felt I had more control over my own medium than I did over photography.

Of course I realize that photography is not the technical facility as much as it is the eye, and this decision that one makes for the moment at which you are going to snap, you know.