I draw and paint as a way of seeing. Whatever I have drawn I remember in more vivid detail than other things, perhaps because it has had to pass through me on it's way to the page.

Though I do have a journal with ideas for paintings, and I even paint those ideas from time to time, I am never certain what the next image will be until I start. Even then, I can begin one painting and end up with something completely different. I've read that authors sometimes let their characters change their books from the inside - that's how my paintings often work, with the subject matter taking more or less control. It's a journey and unexpected things can happen. The resulting painting or drawing is like a map of the exploration. The map is about the journey I took; the journey was taken (at least in part) to make the map.
 
I have strong feelings about lines, colors, and shapes. Certain shapes and compositions please me, and I return to them often. Others repel me and I sometimes explore those to understand why.
 
If anything I've posted here or on my blog affects you, I would love to hear about it. Feel free to comment, or to send me an e-mail.