I love the idea of hitchhiking into the city. It was bizarre.

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'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.

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.

God long ago defined what it means to do evil. It is for violations of His standards that we are to be afraid.

Poems ancient and modern prowled the ice floes in bear form, filled with words that could wound with their beauty.

I would never forbid you. I can’t forbid you. It’s not in my power to, and it never should be.

Rob Chilson's mordant wit will keep you turning the pages until the wee hours!

When all is lost, ask the I.R.S. - they'll find something.

I think it's necessary to let kids get bored once in a while-that's house they learn to be creative.

Honestly, I grew up in pretty modest circumstances. We were a middle-class family.

Ministers who do not spend two hours a day in prayer are not worth a dime a dozen - degrees or no degrees.

One can forgive but one should never forget.

I like interacting with fans and I like hearing what they say, but you have to take it all with a grain of salt.