Quotes from Alex Katz

Actually, you want to go into an area where you're frightened. Otherwise, you're just going to be repainting beautiful paintings, but a little duller each time.

If you're going to go for 'it' you have a common thing you share with other artists; that's desperation. You jump out a window style-wise. Try to put it together before you hit the ground.

Sometimes it takes me days or weeks to get something clear in my head on what I want to do. Everything is in steps. One thing leads to another.

Painting seems an old man's business. After a certain time you're out of it, and you just paint masterpieces.

Most important, for openers, work six hours a day, seven days a week for six years. Then if you like it you can get serious about it.

Make a painting you can work on for a long period, and make it look like it doesn't show any effort.