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Picasso's always been such a huge influence that I thought when I started the cartoon paintings that I was getting away from Picasso, and even my cartoons of Picasso were done almost to rid myself of his influence.

Picasso is still influencing me. Of course, I haven't got that kind of energy, or skill.

I don't think that I'm over his influence but they probably don't look like Picassos; Picasso himself would probably have thrown up looking at my pictures.

It took me six years to get close to Picasso. I learnt a lot from him, and he was an absolute genius. He almost became my grandfather at the time. It was like he was a magician or something.

Picasso once remarked I do not care who it is that has or does influence me as long as it is not myself.

My first influences were superhero artists.

I didn't really start appreciating Picasso until a few years back. I didn't like him at all. But now I can see this world is crazy.

For me, Picasso was the ultimate man. He taught me that photography is all about how you approach an image: what you do and what you don't do. He inspired me to go beyond what you think is in front of you.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, and knowing nothing about Picasso, I had the audacity to knock on his door, became his friend, and took thousands of photographs, of him, his studios, his life and his friends.

R Stevie Moore was obviously a huge influence and is still a very big influence in my life.