I've been wondering lately how artists create their artworks and what processes they go through in terms of imagination and conceptualisation?  Are you inspired by writers, music, other artists, pure imagination?  For my personal artwork I am sometimes blessed with a spontaneous "vision", where I get a flash of inspiration in my mind's eye of something unique, which I have to draw and create.  Sometimes this flash of inspiration is so strong it keeps me awake for hours at night thinking of how to execute the artwork and what methods to use.  I plan out what references I need, go through my library of personal photographs, look at the natural world around me with fresh eyes, pinpointing certain things like the leaves on trees, their colour and detail.  I find that if I don't follow these leads within a certain amount of time my enthusiasm will fade and the feverishness of the possibility of art creation will drift away.  My art needs a certain amount of high energy and not too much distraction from daily life.