A reader points out that painter Robert Ryman earned fame and notoriety using a monochrome palette, most conspicuously in works all in white.  The reader asks Matt whether he would possess the desire or obsession to paint only in one color?

Matt responds:

I applaud people with the dedication and ability to concentrate on one thing for a long period of time.  I myself am definitely a wanderer, but I wander with my friends.  Sometimes we’re at the front of the line, dancing; sometimes we’re in the back, straggling.  But I’m always with my friends, which are the colors of the rainbow in all their mutations, strengths, and weaknesses.

I always thought in all endeavors of my life that perception is reality.  If I ever get to the very end of my knowledge about a given subject, I’ll go on to something completely different.  One of my lawyers used to maintain that if all the wars being waged in the world were suddenly to end, that I would say:  “Oh hell!  Peace has broken out!”

It’s probably my greatest obsession to turn victims into victors and spread peace throughout the world.  But I always come with my little gang of color to throw it around hither and thither and yon, so that a dark color becomes a light color, and a very sunny powerful red explosion will be calmed down by some gray or dark brown.  They’re always dancing around, fighting, playing, creating havoc in my little world that I spin around this planet with.

Thanks for the question,
Matt