The most inspiring objects are books. I have about 5,000 volumes in my home library. It's an unending source of visuals and ideas.

My workspace is defined by books, ephemera, quiet and light. I don't have a computer, telephone or a fax machine there.

My mother was the influence on me - my father was absent. He was a diamond dealer; he was doing wonderful things in the background, and women were left at home. So my mother really was in charge of everything: the ballet, dance lessons, piano lessons, and latkes.

I have been working for over 30 years and am always wondering about where I am and where I am going. It does not stop and become a fixed event of achievement.

It was good to walk into a library again; it smelled like home.

I said to myself, how could anyone not have illustrated this before?