My workspace is defined by books, ephemera, quiet and light. I don't have a computer, telephone or a fax machine there.

You'd have to be completely crazy not to be influenced by and take from other artists. It's completely impossible not to.

My short attention span has allowed me a life of diversity in work and place.

The most inspiring objects are books. I have about 5,000 volumes in my home library. It's an unending source of visuals and ideas.

It's almost impossible to reconcile the realities of how one feels during the day, hour by hour. But I approach things not cynically.

I tell you these stories because these things happen to everyone. It's not about being starched or polished or cute or polite. It's about having ears that stick out, about breaking yet another glass. It's about seeing something for the first time and making a million mistakes and not ever getting completely discouraged.

Wonderful things happen when your brain is empty.