The pleasure that attaches to the artistic life comes in imagining what we might do as opposed to acknowledging what we have done.

You have to be willing to recognize failure.

Art never lies, I believe.

If I were writing about Picasso and pointed out that he painted women because he was interested in the female form, that would seem like an obvious point. I don't know why people revolt when I point out that Rockwell painted the male figure and was interested in it.

If you love everything you do, you will probably end up with mediocre work. I think dissatisfaction with the state of things does propel creative people forward.

Most artists probably feel lonely or set apart in childhood. But they grow up and find people who share their interests.

When you feel your book is the height of irrelevance you can return to the excitement of the daily news.