"Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself"

"Music is my religion"

"Every painting is a voyage into a sacred harbour"

"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"

"I've always been into melodies. That's what I love about music – a good melody that gives you goosebumps"

"Painting is an infinitely minute part of my personality"

"It is not hard to understand modern art. If it hangs on a wall it's a painting, and if you can walk around it it's a sculpture"

"We worked very hard to make the lyrics suit the music. I can't, like Elton John, for example, compose by lyrics. Elton has a great talent for that. Whatever you give him, including your questions, he composes in half an hour and makes a great song out of it"

"You don't need a framework. You need a painting, not a frame"

"Music is the shorthand of emotion"

"I think of my peace paintings as one long poem, with each painting being a single stanza"