When is comes to being an artist I am not sure if there is any more explanation as to what inspires us to paint a certain thing than there is why some music appeals to one person, but not the other, or why some art appeals to one and not the other for that matter.  

Have you thought about what makes a person simply need to have a particular piece of art?  I am moved to paint each piece, sometimes it can take many weeks to finish because I have to wait until inspiration moves me to do so, other times a piece just moves along seamlessly from start to finish, before I know it I'm done.  There is no rhyme or reason, there just is, and I just do.  I wonder if your art collecting experience is like that, you don't really know why, you just need it?  I think this would be a fun exploration, don't you?

I would like to invite you to choose a favorite work of original art, one that you have purchased if possible, and say a few words in the comments below about how you found it, what moved you to own it and about your daily experience living with it.  Say as much or as little as you like, but touch on that moment when you knew it had to be yours and why...

Work In Progress and a few words about my inspiration.

24"x72" 

I am always inspired by colors, shapes and relationships between the subjects.  Some are about the individuals only, but pieces like this are also about the composition elements regardless of the subjects, the negative spaces on either side and the focal point detail area of the faces.  Often people mistake my paintings as just about cows, but there is a strong design element as well that actually has nothing to do with the cows themselves, though is a dimension that I feel is recognized by the mind even if the viewer is not aware of it.

Work in progress 36"x36"

I love how the cows crowd each other, sort of a me first attitude, even the shy ones.  It's that feeling of motion and how they can be totally captivated by you that moved me to do this piece, the different personalities shining through, plus the feeling that you are there watching them do it, a place I love to be. I try to take you there with me.