“Begin by learning to draw and paint like the old masters. After that, you can do as you like; everyone will respect you.”

“You'll see: if you acquire a taste for drawing, you won't be able to do without it, just like me. Hokusai (The Old Man Mad About Drawing)”

“What do you think Gemma? Do you like being painted this way?" All I can think is that being painted by him feels a lot like being fucked by him, but he already knows that.”

“When I was as old as these children, I could draw like Raphael, but it took me a lifetime to learn to draw like them.”

“I miss you, Jude. I'm looking forward to putting my arms around you. We're going to sing just like the old days. Everyone sings here. After a while it kind of sounds like screaming. Just listen. Listen and you can hear them screaming.”

“You have to find your own shtick. A Picasso always looks like Picasso painted it. Hemingway always sounds like Hemingway. A Beethoven symphony always sounds like a Beethoven symphony. Part of being a master is learning how to sing in nobody else's voice but your own.”