I always begin by seeing the space where the piece will be located. The space influences me a great deal. I usually study the commission for several days, including background work. I then leave it alone for a few days and start sketching until something strange happens with a line or a feel and I follow it. I always can see the piece finished before I start, to the point that I can walk around it in my mind and scratch the toes. It seems that it already exists in another dimension and I captured it.