I see what he's saying -- being a painter is a choice.
Maybe both are a bit like what Gov. Perry says about alcoholism. Certainly there are people born with the proclivity for being an artist. I know because I raised two. Mama don’t let your baby grow up to play banjo. My family also has some genetic disposition to addictive behavior whether its drugs, alcohol, video games, etc. My boys had a friend in the neighborhood when they were little whom they referred to as she. He was four years old. I never corrected them and I don’t think he was telling them that. Now an adult he lives that lifestyle in CA. I was not at all surprised. Celibacy is a choice. Sin is a choice. De Niro is a very good actor (just watched his Richard III) but he is an east coast lib. Kudos to him for helping his old, alcoholic, depressed father. Doesn’t matter if he is gay or not.