The aura given out by a person or object is as much a part of them as their flesh.

The painter must give a completely free rein to any feeling or sensations he may have and reject nothing to which he is naturally drawn.

The paintings live because their creator has been passionately attentive to their theme, and his attention has left something for us to look at. It seems a sort of miracle.

Sometimes, when I've been staring too hard, I've noticed that I could see the circumference of my own eye.

I would wish my portraits to be of the people, not like them. Not having a look of the sitter, being them.

A painter must think of everything he sees as being there entirely for his own use and pleasure.

My work is purely autobiographical... It is about myself and my surroundings.