Context begins with other artists - seniors and mentors.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Usually I throw away what I don't get right the first time.

I've also been willing to share any help that I could give to any other artist.

I met David Smith through my former wife, Cornelia, who'd studied with him.

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

The angels will help get you where you need to go.

People gossip. People are insecure, so they talk about other people so that they won't be talked about. They point out flaws in other people to make them feel good about themselves.

Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds.

Either we all live in a decent world, or nobody does.

Only the hypocrite is really rotten to the core.

I've learned a long time ago to never say never about the band Kansas.

Well, you know, I don't really want to trade next year. I certainly enjoyed having the jacket put on me rather than putting it on.

Heroism feels and never reasons, and therefore is always right.

Live in the past, but don't remember too much.

People are saying that I'm an alcoholic, and that's not true, because I only drink when I work, and I'm a workaholic.