I was taught to draw very well when I was in school at Boston. And I grew to enjoy drawing so much that I never stopped.
One of the first drawings I did in Paris - I wasn't thinking of doing drawings, but somehow or other, I kept drawing - I bought a hyacinth flower with a lot of leaves, just to make me feel like spring.
Shading is more like copying. And certainly I do copy, but I'm making drawings, and I'm not trying to make them with the shading.
My drawings have to be quick. If they don't happen in 20 minutes or a half hour, then they're no good.
All my work begins with drawings.
I don't labor over my drawings. I want to get freedom in the line.
All my paintings are usually done in drawing form, very small. I make notations in drawings first, and then I make a collage for color. But drawing is always my notation.
In drawing, I don't erase. I believe the original gesture has to be the best.
I like to be able to get swift curves in the plant drawings that are usually drawn in five to ten minutes.