musing on paintings

This was from a class in oil painting
my first effort at pallette knife painting,
and in some ways, my most successful attempt.

 It is on my studio wall, not stretched or framed.  It's a reminder of where I was, and a sign post of how to move forward.   

Someone said there really is not any future, only the past and the present.  He was a designer.  I have always felt this was a fairly important statement, but I have never understood why.  

I could take a stab at it here.

I can only imagine anything in terms of what I already know.  By extension, I can only create images in terms of what I already know.

Painting starts in the mind?  I suppose that makes sense.