I was driving the other day and saw this woman set up with her easel, happily painting the landscape of arroyo and mountains in the distance. A friend encouraged me years ago to occasionally get out paper and pen or paints and try to quietly draw or paint the surroundings. It’s become so easy for us to snap photos….and it’s genius to quickly capture moments with our phones.

But my friend taught me the value of trying to recreate a scene with a brush because it’s just amazing how more intently you observe an orange tree or a winding country road or a man’s hat when you’re trying to create your own image of it on paper….even if you’re not trying for precise realism but rather an artistic interpretation of whatever you’re painting.

Try it. It will set you free.