"Observation of your surroundings is one thing, to sit and gaze at the sky and soak in the atmosphere is great, but the role of the artist is more than just this, it is to demonstrate what makes the place "tick". What are the key emotions that are generated? How can these best be presented in a composition to create the right feel? What creates the mood of the place? Is it the history, is the influence felt from pre-made opinions, or what is coming out of the surrounding atmosphere at the time you are there.
The mind begins to spin when you try to rationalise these ideas into something which is formulated in charcoal and pigment.
It is the unknown into which you explore. It is the potential to sometimes grasp something special in pigment which may not necessarily be easy to quantify in words. This is the fun of painting."
- Ken Strong