Jean-Michel Basquiat

The black person is the protagonist in most of my paintings. I realized that I didn't see many paintings with black people in them.

I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist; or I'd draw a big ram's head, really messy. I'd never win painting contests. I remember losing to a guy who did a perfect Spiderman.

I want to make paintings that look as if they were made by a child.

I didn't want to be famous. I just wanted to earn enough money to have a nice life and enjoy acting.

So many cartoonists draw the same year after year. When they find a style, they stick with it. They don't mess with innovation, and they become boring.

I was a bit challenged when I was younger to stay on the right path.