I don't really trust ideas - especially good ones... Rather, I put my trust in the materials that confront me, because they put me in touch with the unknown.

And all of this, all these physical aspects of painting at that time excited me very much. You could do a picture in just black and white. I mean all the things, whether you're soliciting permission or not, do give you permission

I want my paintings to look like what's going on outside my window rather than what's inside my studio.

I'm quite taken aback when I get something that appears to be technically a good photograph, because it's not necessarily my intention.

And also the new excitement and variety of ways that the abstract expressionists were applying paint. You could put it on as though it were colored air and it would be painting.

I always have a good reason for taking something out but I never have one for putting something in. And I don't want to, because that means that the picture is being painted predigested.

You have to have the time to feel sorry for yourself in order to be a good abstract expressionist.