I was drawing a mandolin, and I made the sound hole very small, which made the mandolin look gigantic. I saw that making the details small made the form monumental. So in my figures, the eyes, the mouth are all small, and the exterior form is huge. Fernando Botero detaildrawexterior share on social
The circus is a global theme. It exists in all parts of the world - maybe not in Africa, but it exists in Asia in all parts. In Latin America, it's difficult to find a person who hasn't gone to the circus. Fernando Botero africaamericaasia share on social
Art should be an oasis: a place or refuge from the hardness of life. Fernando Botero arthardnesslife Change image and share on social
I had wanted to be a sculptor throughout life, but to do so, I had to stop painting. Fernando Botero lifepaintsculptor Change image and share on social
I follow politics very closely. I read several newspapers every day. Fernando Botero closelydayfollow Change image and share on social
My work is a self-portrait of my mind, a prism of my convictions. Fernando Botero convictionmindportrait Change image and share on social
There's nothing more superficial to do than to paint a beautiful woman. The most beautiful portraits in art were of ugly women. If you paint Brigitte Bardot, it's a disaster. Sunsets, you have to stay away from sunsets. You paint a sunset, you are in great danger. Fernando Botero artbardotbeautiful share on social
People say, 'What a discipline, painting so much.' I say, 'No, I love it.' Nothing amuses me as much as my work. To have discipline would be not to paint. Fernando Botero amusedisciplinelove Change image and share on social
You paint what you know best; what you went through as a teenager and child. My world is the one I got to know in Medellin; I never paint anything else other than that. Fernando Botero childmedellinpaint Change image and share on social
