The most important part of art, and not just art but life, is INSPIRATION. Without inspiration nothing would ever get done. Technique comes after inspiration, and without it technique would never evolve.
The following is a list of people who have inspired me throughout my life. This list is by no means complete.
Childhood Hero:
Manfred Von Richthofen aka "The Red Baron"
http://www.richthofen.com/
Photographers:
Danny Lyon
http://bleakbeauty.com/home.html
Dusan Reljin
http://www.drstudios.com/frontpage.html
Sam Haskins
http://www.haskins.com/
Writers:
Tim O'Brien
http://www.illyria.com/tobhp.html
Edgar Allan Poe
http://www.poemuseum.org/index.php
Ray Bradbury
http://www.raybradbury.com/
Artists:
Frank Frazetta
http://frankfrazettamuseum.com/
Salvador Dali
http://www.daligallery.com/
Ken Kelly
http://www.kenkellyfantasyart.com