The Trouble With Being Poor

When, About Fifteen Years Ago, I Walked Into Arshile's Studio For The First Time, The Atmosphere Was So Beautiful That I Got A Little Dizzy And When I Came To, I Was Bright Enough To Take The Hint Immediately. If The Bookkeepers Think It Necessary To Make Sure Of Where Things And People Came From, Well Then, I Came From 36 Union Square. I Am Glad That It Is About Impossible To Get Away From His Powerful Influence.

Every So Often, A Painter Has To Destroy Painting. Cezanne Did It, Picasso Did It With Cubism. Then Pollock Did It. He Busted Our Idea Of A Picture All To Hell. Then There Could Be New Paintings Again.

Even Abstract Shapes Must Have A Likeness

I'm Not Interested In 'abstracting' Or Taking Things Out Or Reducing Painting To Design, Form, Line, And Color. I Paint This Way Because I Can Keep Putting More Things In It - Drama, Anger, Pain, Love, A Figure, A Horse, My Ideas About Space. Through Your Eyes It Again Becomes An Emotion Or Idea.

I See The Canvas And I Begin... It's A Necessary Evil To Get Into The Work, And It's Pretty Marvelous To Be Able To Get Out Of It.