what does Rothko mean?

Then Rothko would sit and look for long periods. Sometimes forhours, sometimes for days, considering the next colour, considering expanding an area. He worked on more than one painting at a time. The veils of colour were applied quickly and spontaneously. Most of the time in his studio was spent sitting silently on his bench and looking. Dan Rice, Rothko's assistant

i don't know if he knew what he was doing. i don't think artists always have to know what they're doing artists often do more than they know they are doing.

David Antin art critic 2003