A work of art is more than just an image. It's a piece of the person who made it.
I find that translating a spark of an idea, or interpreting a split-second glimpse of whatever I see, onto a 2-dimensional surface in oil paint, is a fascinating, challenging endeavor. The paintings often take on a "life of their own" as they develop, suggesting steps to take along the way.

Oil paint, to me, is the most durable, long-lasting, and "magical" of art mediums.
There's an element of spirituality in there. I think of painting as an active form of meditation.

At times, the inspiration is simply the visual beauty of the subject; at other times, it's the fun of illustrating a thought, catch-word, phrase, homonymic pun, or cliché with a twist.

Relating to stark reality and using your experience with it to make something, is a good part of the joy of living.