I like looking at a piece and postulate what the story or what the creature/subject is doing/thinking/what abilities it may have, it's a way to keep my imagination alive  
With the requests I get (mostly from my fiance), if I'm doing a creature or person I like to have a basic personality so I can put it into the piece, like the piece I'm working on now. I believe it helps create more depth in the piece? If "Depth" is the right word to use.

And I'll check it out