It all starts with a thought, and that thought turns into sketches. The sketches become more sketches, and finally then the process can begin.
If digital art is the goal then I send my sketches over to be translated onto the screen. That becomes more refined, with lines upon lines coming together uniformly before color and rendering is applied.
But if a painting were to be made, then that sketch needs to be on a canvas, with a sketch next comes a wash layer to help block in shadows and such. Then more colors join in, forming together to create an image. Many revisions are then made until I am satisfied.
How about a sculpture? Dimensions are planned then materials are gathered. More and more planning is done to ensure it ends well. Then it begins, step by step until finally the project is done.
(Actual process does not follow these to a T, but rather just as a guide for me to stay on track. I tend to take days if not weeks producing art.)