Howard Hodgkin Professions : Painter Born : August 6, 1932 Died : March 9, 2017 Browse All Authors Top 35 quotes by Howard Hodgkin I am happy for people to talk about my pictures, but I wish devoutly that I was not expected to talk about them myself. Howard Hodgkin expected wish people A collection makes its own demands. Many artists have been collectors. I think of it rather as an illness. I felt it was using up too much energy. Howard Hodgkin energy artist thinking I don't really have a historical overview of my work at all. I'm not an art historian. I don't see that there's this period and that period. Howard Hodgkin historical periods art I think that words are often extraneous to what I do. Howard Hodgkin thinking In the United States there has been a kind of a structure in the Modern art world. The New York School was nearly a coherent thing-for a minute. Howard Hodgkin new-york art school In England, it's thought to be morally suspect to worry about what your surroundings look like. Howard Hodgkin england worry looks My language is what I use, and if I lost that, I wouldnt be able to say anything. Howard Hodgkin able use say-anything I find old copies of National Gallery catalogues, which are written in the dryest possible prose, infinitely soothing. Howard Hodgkin soothing gallery copies Eventually, a collection ceases to be a personal indulgence and assumes its own identity. In fact, it becomes a thing in its own right - rather like Frankenstein's monster. Howard Hodgkin identity monsters facts It takes a long time for the gleam in the eye to turn into something solid. Howard Hodgkin gleam eye long I'm very envious of the few artists who are any good and still do portraits. Howard Hodgkin envious portraits artist I hate painting. Howard Hodgkin painting hate Matisse was very clear about saying that you have to blow your own trumpet and explain yourself, which I think has been slightly forgotten. Howard Hodgkin saying yourself think you I fell through a crack for years. Historically, I am a nothing because I fit in no category. I can only be me. Howard Hodgkin i-am nothing me i-can I once was interviewed and got so exasperated that I said, 'What do you want, a shopping list?' They kept asking, 'What's in this picture?' Howard Hodgkin picture you shopping want Similar Authors Barry McGee painter Brion Gysin painter Bridget Riley painter Boris Vallejo painter Allan Kaprow painter Augustus John painter All Authors