Statement from the artist: "from nature a certain sequence and...correctness in placing the tones, I study nature so as not to do foolish things...however, I don't mind so much whether my color corresponds exactly, as long as it looks beautiful on my canvas".

Personal note: Vincent Van Gogh, is the second of three artists who impacted me in my youth. From viewing the movie version of his life, to learning about him in school and to finally be exposed to original examples of his work on that same middle school field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, I became fascinated by the artist's life as well as his art. As a child though, I do believe the 'ear thing' really attracted my attention.At the middle school age, I was able to empathize with the stressed life that Van Gogh seemed to lead.