I think making things beautiful is important. But often what's first considered ugly is beautiful, too.

I certainly am one of those people who is incredibly privileged to have an art career, which happened out of luck. Then luck kept happening. Besides that, things just move along in their own weird way.

I first had no interest in figuration whatsoever.

Many people don't have relationships to their siblings in adulthood, or they have superficial ones. It's sort of unfashionable, particularly in America, to be close to your family.

Artists live in unknown spaces and give themselves over to following something unknown.

I like Betsy Ross as a model, too, the quilting bee, sitting around with your friends making art, asking what they think, so that you get the benefit of everyone's opinions and so it's not just about you in your you-dom.

Life really changes. And it gets lighter, for the most part. You tolerate yourself and others better.