My surroundings are my biggest influence. You could say I am mildly susceptible to the entire outside world whether it be alive or inanimate. Taking photographs of vagrants on the street or the texture of an age-old tree, I find wonder in most things.
My intentions as an artist is for my work to have impact on the viewer. An attention-grabbing moment of absorption (however brief or lasting it is) will be the catalyst for emotion, thoughts or just a sense of questioning about the work itself.
I don't try to force the narrative of my work, even if it does have a fundamental theme; it isn't necessary. Part of the process is for viewers to have their moment with my work in their own time. They can have my opinion of it if they want to hear/read it, as well as whoever else wants to make their opinion of it, too.