You study, you learn, but you guard the original naivety. It has to be within you, as desire for drink is within the drunkard or love is within the lover.

Work cures everything.

With color one obtains an energy that seems to stem from witchcraft.

What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter - a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.

There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.

There are always flowers for those who want to see them.

It has bothered me all my life that I do not paint like everybody else.

I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have a light joyousness of springtime which never lets anyone suspect the labors it has cost me.

I don't know whether I believe in God or not. I think, really, I'm some sort of Buddhist. But the essential thing is to put oneself in a frame of mind which is close to that of prayer.

He who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.

Creativity takes courage.

An artist must possess Nature. He must identify himself with her rhythm, by efforts that will prepare the mastery which will later enable him to express himself in his own language.

An artist must never be a prisoner. Prisoner? An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc.

A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light.

Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.