Pierre (Tony), 2000
DS: So, what makes you stop for a couple of months?
EP: All kinds of things. Sometimes I'll stop consciously if I feel like I've been painting a lot and I want a break, and I just want to draw. And sometimes, it's times like now - I'm moving and have a lot of real-life stuff to do.
DS: And anyway, you can't just paint. I've had times in which I've been under the misconception that if I just painted all of the time, I'd be alright. (EP laughs). If you just sleep and eat your meals and then paint all day...
EP: Some people are really good painters that way. And I've done it too - swimming, painting, eating, watching TV, waking up and doing the same thing - it can be really good. But I used to be more like that - paint all the time. But now, it's been so long since I've had a regular thing, I'm beginning to think that I'll go crazy if I don't start painting every day.
DS: Do you think it's important to paint every day?
EP: Not every day - but to have it in my life - having that relationship to people, where it's not just knowing them, but it's also keeping them, and having time away from them to think about them, which is what I do when I'm painting - and take time to do it with myself too.
DS: And painting's about other people?
EP: It's about finding yourself and thinking about other people.
DS: Was it a conscious choice to not paint abstractly?
EP: No, but after the fact, it becomes conscious. When I'm put to the question, I kind of believe in humanity. Everyone can understand it - but I guess everyone can understand abstract work as well - it's more sensuous. People are so affected by other people in their life; they can't help but to relate to paintings of people.