For me context is the key - from that comes the understanding of everything.

In the '50s Morris Louis and I were not known, David Smith and Helen Frankenthaler were not much known.

Pollock was well known, certainly, but for all the wrong reasons. He was known as much for being wild and unconventional in his working methods as for being a great artist.

As time goes on, I realize more and more that, beginning in the early 30's, David Smith began setting the precedent for what was to come later for many of us.

Context begins with other artists - seniors and mentors.

I think of painting without subject matter as music without words.

With artists of my own generation there was at first no group identity - and never a clique.