Even when I have to write a simple letter I'm scared stiff as if faced with looming seasickness.

I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject for a painting than I am in other people, above all women... There is nothing special about me. I am a painter who paints day after day from morning to night... Who ever wants to know something about me... ought to look carefully at my pictures.

There is always hope, as long as the canvases are empty.

Sometimes I miss out the morning's painting session and instead study my Japanese books in the open.

There is no self-portrait of me.

There is nothing that special to see when looking at me.

I can paint and draw. I believe this myself and a few other people say that they believe this too. But I'm not certain of whether it's true.