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For years, I've had a hankering for the portrait of Benjamin Franklin by Joseph Duplessis. Franklin is credited with so many inventions: the postal system, lightning rods, the constitution. He was a rock star before there was such a thing.

Even though the museums guarding their precious property fence everything off, in my own studio, I made them so you and I could walk in and around, and among these sculptures.

I like the idea of being a sculptor. Just me alone, making something - that solitary existence.

I've been working in sculpture and painting since 1920.

My sculptures cause an uproar, astonishment, and put a smile on your face.

I like to think of myself as kind of a sculptor, only I sculpt people.

I think that Benjamin Franklin felt very strongly in foreign policy in this world, that you needed to at least show some humility, especially when you were strong.

I'm not a sculptor; I'm a hard-edged model maker. You give me a drawing, you give me a prop to replicate, you give me a crane, scaffolding, parts from 'Star Wars' - especially parts from 'Star Wars' - I can do this stuff all day long. It's exactly how I made my living for 15 years.

I had wanted to be a sculptor throughout life, but to do so, I had to stop painting.

I never thought that I would treasure doing my job, and I have reached that point. I've gotten to a point where it's like the priesthood: this is what I was called to do.