"I had some money, I made the best paintings ever. I was completely reclusive, worked a lot, took a lot of drugs. I was awful to people"
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
About this Quote
This quote by Jean-Michel Basquiat assesses his life as an artist. He had some cash, which permitted him to create some of his best work. He was reclusive, investing most of his time alone and striving on his art. He also took a lot of drugs, which could have been a way to cope with the pressures of his success. Regrettably, his drug use and reclusiveness had a negative effect on his relationships with other people, as he was typically "dreadful to individuals". This quote demonstrates how money and success can have an unfavorable effect on an artist's life, and how it can lead to devastating behavior.