Losing my father at a tender age was extremely important in being able to accept what happened to me later when I became a quadriplegic.

I wanted to translate from one flat surface to another.In fact, my learning disabilities controlled a lot of things. I don't recognize faces, so I'm sure it's what drove me to portraits in the first place.

Of all the artists who emerged in the '80s, I think perhaps Cindy Sherman is the most important.

Having a routine, knowing what to do, gives me a sense of freedom and keeps me from going crazy. It's calming.

I learned you could suffer a terrible tragedy and still be happy again.

Never let anyone define what you are capable of by using parameters that don't apply to you. Inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and get to work. Every great idea I've ever had grew out of work itself. Sign onto a process and see where it takes you. You don't have to invent the wheel everyday. Today you will do what you did yesterday, tomorrow you will do what you did today. Eventually, you will get somewhere.

Any innovation that is evident in my paintings is a direct result of something that happened in the course of making a print.