I was 11 when I was first introduced to live drawing classes and going to art school.

I think there's something important in going against the grain, and perhaps finding value in things that aren't necessarily institutionally recognized.

This is something that, as artists, we constantly deal with-throwing away the past, slaying the father, and creating the new. This desire to throw away the old rules.

The backgrounds by design are a very key part of the conversation, because I want a kind of fight or pressure to exist between the figure and the background.

All art is self-portraiture.

Painting is situational. And my particular situation exists within gender, race, class, sexuality, nation.

I believe that artists should be part of the culture. I think that my work clearly bears that out.

The art world has become so insular. The rules have become so autodidactic that, in a sense, they lose track of what people have any interest in thinking about, talking about or even looking at.

We have a lot of sort of received historical ways of viewing portraiture. And I suppose in some way I'm sort of questioning that by toying with the rules of the game.

We're wired to be empathetic and to care about the needs of others, but also to be curious about others. And I think that's just sort of in our DNA. And so portraiture is a very human act.

I guess art is in the eye of the beholder.

You can grow softly, lovely and delicately amidst the hard surfaces. Not all who passed tougher times in life have a hard heart, kindness and tenderness do breathe despite of worse times.

Talk to yourself the way you'd talk to someone you love. Shush your inner bully. Be your own bestie.

In that moment, Dan was reminded why he wanted to write in the first place. It was the same reason anybody does anything -- to impress women.(Jeremy Goodwin, Sports Night)

It sounds a bit sad, but my new hobby is knitting. I love it. I find it really relaxing.

Greyhound Bus Lines motto: "We Stop For Some Damn Thing Every 200 Yards."

To take sides with life and experience how we can transcend ourselves is a process that has many names and faces. Religion is one of those names.

You have to be doing something you enjoy. That is a definition of happiness!

They judge lest they be judged.

I am in constant search for that project that speaks to me personally. And when all the pieces come together properly, it'll happen.

Sometimes people have nothing to say because they're too empty. And sometimes people have nothing to say because they're too full.