I get asked quite a lot, especially at the studio, where my ideas come from. This question has lead me to take a look at where 'in me' they come from, because they have to come from somewhere, right?
Sometimes I get a flash of an image, like a subliminal message on a t.v screen that lasts only a mere second (these are little buggers to bring into conception); some images come from listening to music. At times I build an image from what is happening in my life or something I say, which evokes strong images.
Recently I wrote the line "How can one person navigate a two-person boat?" My thinking behind that is when it's necessary to navigate dark unchartered emotional waters, especially in relationships, there need to be two people at the helm. A relationship is, after all, a two-way thing. It's hard to steer a two-person boat on your own when the other person is needed for their understanding of what they know of those dark waters.
Anyway's, this little picture popped into my head. A very Nordic, almost Viking boat, with one person very much on their own having to create their own light and understanding of those dark waters to navigate to safety. It's early days yet, but I think it'll be done in soft dark pencil, and I'm excited to have a new idea for a drawing/illustration.