I do encourage a lot of my audience to give me their interpretation before I explain what was intended. Sometimes I think nobody besides me would understand something, but I often am surprised by people. The overwhelming majority interpret the initial concept and key right in. I find a lot of clientele is much more observant and clever than me.

From time to time there are certain political statements, but they are not revolutionary, just matter-of-fact observations.

Isn't the saying that if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life? If you try to paint for the market, then what you're doing becomes a job. Once someone starts to lose passion for what they're doing, you can see it in their work. There are so many good artists throughout history who did not start until late.

It seems that when I was younger, everyone talked about going to school out of the area and getting outside of the valley. But sometimes you don't appreciate your surroundings until you're out of them for a bit. I found the city claustrophobic, and I did not take well to being pent up in a small apartment surrounded by buildings. It was fun for a time, to be there, and I don't mind visiting.

Isn't the saying that if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life? If you try to paint for the market, then what you're doing becomes a job. Once someone starts to lose passion for what they're doing, you can see it in their work. … There are so many good artists throughout history who did not start until late.

Isn't the saying that if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life? If you try to paint for the market, then what you're doing becomes a job. Once someone starts to lose passion for what they're doing, you can see it in their work. … There are so many good artists throughout history who did not start until late.