I paint cows, goats and sheep because they are the most beautiful animals in the world.
They feed us with their bodies and milk. Seeing their gentleness, humility and devotion to humanity, I cannot explain this phenomenon solely by genetic conditions and the laws of natural selection. Here, man has bred animals that serve his needs, like machines. This pragmatic vision doesn't belong to my world.
Let's look at these faces, ribs, fur, colors. Let's bring our faces close to their curiously sniffing noses, let's feel the smells and odors, let's touch their warm bodies.
When we realize how docility they went to slaughter for thousands of years, and how their muscles and bones gave energy to other creatures and people - it is hard not to think of the great Christian metaphor of God as a lamb.
I have always been amazed by this symbol. Like metaphysical human intuition, it placed animals and the sacrifices they make high in the order of the world.
As a painter of cows, goats, sheep and other creatures, I had to stop eating them.
Apart from all other arguments, in the end they are my models too.