I am often drawn to something to paint and as the process proceeds, I begin to resolve things into thoughts.  By allowing myself to let go of the "clutter" and only keep that which "sparks joy" am I able to keep what is most important to me.  I make decisions about colors, shapes, texture, etc. based on where I want the painting to go, not merely on what I actually see.

I often think about how very young children paint.  If you have ever had the pleasure of watching a 3 year old paint,  you you know what I mean.  Without hesitation, a child will paint what may appear as a simple painting that completely represents to them what is important about what they see, with little concern for accurate visual imaging, but reflecting their exact feeling and thoughts.