initial sketches

I have felt quite stuck with my practical, I don't really have a clear idea of where I want to go with it or what I want to say with my work. So I tried to take a step back and just look at the general themes around my topic like - industrial, revolution, factories, smoke, emblems, red, inventions, education, manipulation, flags, guns etc. and just start making imagery even it isn't going anywhere; maybe an idea will evolve out of what I am making.