“As to the question of why I paint, it is something I have struggled with for many years;
But I am no closer to answering that question than the first time I asked it.
I do know that painting is just something I must do (despite the fact that we all choose to do something we do the best, something that needs our competitive advantage : skills, talent, experience, or physical traits - otherwise life would be too hard ).
Anyway, the great feedback I have ever received have of course come from teachers, art critics, family members, contemporaries and friends.
Those, delighted me and ecnouraged me in many ways, but, after a while, I found myself take it for granted (this is not forgivable).
This past summer, I was heading to an exhibit, but my transportor had made a mistake with the truck load, he forgot to bring one of the paintings that was supposed to be at the exhibit, and it was a major piece. Two hours before the show, I had no way of finding someone who has a big enough truck with insurance together with the right kind of wrapping materials. So I decided to hand carry that painting (it is a 125" x 73") myself walking 28 blocks all the way from 57th St. to Chelsea. It was around 4 pm in the afternoon, people saw me, but as typical newyorker would behave, nobody approached me except one - when I got closer to 27th St and 7th Ave, a person came after me and said, “ I don’t know a lot about art, but that painting is so strong it makes me want to cry.”
.......
If I can manage to somehow evoke that kind of emotional gut reaction from people (normal people) whether it be anger, sadness, or delight in all my work, then I have really found something.”
