Billy Childish

I make sure I make a painting - that's my job. And I cook the Sunday dinner. ”

People could live very happily without the Turner Prize, but they could not live without real communication and emotion. ”

I coined this term 'freedom thru limitation' back in the '90s because I was sick of art being treated like pop, because of this boring 'anything can be art' theory. ”

I like feeling at home and knowing people. I like talking about ideas and being friendly. ”

My favourite things are jokes, friendliness and feeling comfortable. ”

I did not like prizes at school. I didn't like tests or exams, or the 11+, or O-levels. Later I hated B.A.s and M.A.s. The reason I hated them is that I don't like being tested, failed or falsely praised by anyone. ”

I've dubbed myself as an amateur, not because I work in different field, but because I do what I do for love. ”

I think that the mythology of Van Gogh's life, and the beauty of his paintings, is unstoppable. ”

I liked drawing and painting, because the only failure would be to listen to the doubters who wanted me to stop drawing and painting because 'you aren't going to make a living doing that.' I liked looking in art books at the work of painters. ”

We are not actually in charge of life, yet behave as if we are the masters of our own destiny. The realization of this fact is quite a hard one. The ridiculousness of our pomposity and presumption can only result in anger or humor. ”