I've always worn a hat when I work. I think it also comes from a picture of Rothko I saw with a painter's hat on.

Western artists stand as humans looking at nature; Asian artists try to be in nature. You become one with nature rather than painting a portrait of it. That's a big shift.

When you're using a long brush, you have your arm at full length. Basically, it exaggerates the movement of your body. But I always start far away and end up really close.

A painting, you know, it's all dirty material. But it's about transformation. Taking that earth, that heavy earthen kind of thing, turning it into air and light.

Holding together a kind of tension. When you see a painting that's really good that's what it's doing.

A work of art is a renewable source of energy.

I'm an abstract painter not just for myself, but because I really believe in abstraction.

Painters are amongst the priests - worker priests of the cult of man - searching to understand but never know.

I don't remember any dream. All I remember is waking up and feeling that there had been a change while I was sleeping.

When you're not smoking anymore, you don't have to carry around a pack of cigarettes, a lighter - all this paraphernalia. So you're liberated in a certain sense. It's the same with drinking.

I respect all artists, just some more than the others. Because it's something that really needs to be done.

Take a closer look at the word "Change". You never "Changed", instead, you were 'Manipulated' by illusion.

Muses work all day long and then at night get together and dance...

Love is like the measles. The older you get it the worse the attack.

If Roosevelt were alive he'd turn in his grave.

The audiences are what keep me enthusiastic.

Ever since economists revealed how much universities contribute to economic growth, politicians have paid close attention to higher education.

Men lie, who lack courage to tell truth--the cowards!

Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing.

I think, unfortunately or fortunately, the reality of Hollywood is that if your movie makes money, they'll make another one.

I never look for a photograph. The photograph finds me and says, I'm here! and I say, Yes, I see you. I hear you.