Does art come from you or through you?

Looking at art:

Several artists have told me that when they are in the zone, in the studio, it feels like a force outside themselves is doing the work. Although I am rarely aware of this feeling, I sometimes look at a piece I have made and wonder how I it appeared. I understand the technical process, but the work has a certain magic that is beyond my comprehension. If you have not had this experience yourself, perhaps you can imagine it when you look at any art that seems to rely on intuition rather than reality.

Work in the Studio:

I have done a lot of experimenting with watercolor. The painting called Wisdom was an attempt to allow the transparency of the watercolor paint to come through in the painting. The piece is based on a drawing from a live model. A bearded, elderly man was posing when I made the original sketch. I started out by pouring watercolor paint directly on the paper. By enhancing the results, the colors and shapes in the final piece evolved as I worked. The painting won a transparent award from Florida Suncoast Watercolor Society.

Wisdom, Watercolor, 14” x 11”