I feel knowledge helps me with my art. Reading and obtaining information in anyway always give me ideas for a composition. In the eyes of the viewer, it may not seem like as an intellectual thought to it. But as the artisan, simple things such as placement, facial gestures, body language, and other slight by effective physical alterations are what project an emotional and inspirational creation. It almost always relays more, something deeper. (If you haven't read A Brief History Of Time yet you must do so)