A painting usually begins with one central theme: how the moon set the night before or how the light looked through the clouds that morning. Often it's just a feeling, mood, or atmosphere left over from a dream I've just had.

When I face the bare canvas with these "almost" ideas, a conversation begins—free association that ends when the painting is done. I rarely plan paintings. I don't sketch out what I want to do. If I draw something, the idea ends with the drawing.