I carry themes in my mind for years before I will try to compose them. I've got themes that will last me now 'til I die.

My pictures had and have secret lives, and so there were things I did not tell, a lot of stuff I did not say back then which I'm saying now... I intend to continue allowing forms of secret life to paintings I'm working on right now because it excites me to do that.

Don't listen to the fools who say that pictures of people can be of no consequence, or that painting is dead. There is much to be done.