Sketchvolution

Here is a great example of how most ideas for pieces are generated. While working on a commission, I chanced to look up at the light fixture above me, and saw it had a neat pattern of lines radiating from its center, and I wanted to draw the pattern (you can just barely see it in the scan). After I drew that I thought it would be fun to draw one of those old-fashioned circular mouldings. Then I thought I'd make it into a full room and draw the tops of walls. I thought the effect of looking up so steeply was interesting and drew a face looking down, then immediately thought it felt like lying on the floor. So I thought I'd draw the person lying on the floor.

It would be nice if I could just pick an idea straight out of my head, but most of they time they come from this type of meandering doodling. Even when I feel like an idea pops out from nowhere, I can usually trace it back from mental "doodling". Making pictures for me is usually a lot like a free-association game.