Hello, artsy peeps. Using a reference versus experiencing it firsthand. For me, this summer(2025), it was the mountains. I have always loved drawing scenery especially mountains. Not sure why. I grew up around the ocean not mountains. Maybe because i didn’t grow up around mountains, that it adds a sense of unknown or curiosity. Or perhaps not only it’s beauty but giving the illusion mountains portray. Giving a sense of depth and vastness to your art. Experiencing mountains is so completely different then just drawing them from reference. I have driven past mountains. However, actually being on top of a mountain and taking it all in is quite the experience. Which is what I experienced with my partner. When we rented out an Airbnb. It felt like I stepped into a completely different realm. Absolutely breathtaking, I truly had no idea. Which was such a lovely surprise for me. So vast yet so quite. After that experience, I’m actually going to start a plein-air travel journal. I wish artists could have an unlimited travel budget to experience the world at hand. Experiencing it first, take it all in with your senses, then draw. Actually being in that environment and seeing everything in it’s vast beauty just awakened everything for me. A totally different perspective. Hopefully by experiencing it, I can add that extra feel and emotion your art oh so craves. Alright, I’ll see artsy peeps next!