This is a good link on Kelly Searl (Ponyrider).
She talks about her design process, her inspiration:
http://charlotterivers.blogspot.com/2010/09/creative-loves-of-pony-rider.html
This is one for my favourite one for a new artist on the market :
"How do you appreach each project you work on? Every brief needs a certain amount of answers required before starting. The intended audience is one of the primary questions I find helps me design a more consistent outcome. Being aware of varied audiences and educated about these within the market place is what I think an essential tool as a designer, of course every brief varies considerably depending on the medium but there are always a few staples that run across the board. Intended audience being the primary in my book."
But I will add that you need to create for you first, to make beautiful things that makes you happy and the rest will follow.
Have fun
:-D