For me, there are three key elements to painting.

Begin with concept. The painter needs to examine his or her motives in doing the painting. What emotional state is being conveyed - hope, serenity, despair, expectation? The viewer should feel the painter's concept. Why is the work being done in the first place? What is the inspiration?

The second element is the formal design of the painting - the translation of the painter's concept into drawing. In my opinion this is where creativity is most required. I am looking for levels of meaning beyond the obvious, sometimes suggested by frames within frames in the painting.

The painting can begin once a satisfactory drawing is established. The surrealist Rene Magritte lamented that painting was a tedious exercise as the creative work had already been done. Some painters behave as though technique - colour,texture and brushwork - is everything, sometimes at the expense of concept and design. The painting style must not overpower.

The Renaissance Masters understood that a harmony of concept, design and technique is necessary for a truly great painting.

"Life obliges me to do something, so I paint." - Rene Magritte