All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this expression abstract seems to me often to confuse the issue. Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract . . . a realistic or non-objective approach makes no difference. The result is what counts.

Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.

When I am halfway there with a painting, it can occasionally be thrilling... But it happens very rarely; usually it's agony... I go to great pains to mask the agony. But the struggle is there. It's the invisible enemy.

I can never accomplish what I want - only what I would have wanted had I thought of it beforehand.

Don't 'discover' a subject of any kind.

Do search, but in order to find other than what is searched for.

Somehow don't be bored, but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.