When I started painting in 1965, I bought a book on how to sell art. It said, “Selling a painting is like finding money in the street; great when it happens, but don’t count on it.”

 Ten years later, I quit my job to sell my art and haven’t worked for anyone since. Throughout my career of penury and prosperity, I have held to one core idea: I want to be happy and I don’t want anyone to tell me what to do. Freedom and autonomy. That’s my wealth. Some of my collectors have been astonishingly rich if you measure by their toys and world travels. One of them said to me, “Given the choice George, I’d rather have what you have.” So there ya go. I may not be all that famous, but I am enviously wealthy!