In 2021, at 35 years old, I started plein air painting.
I share my story, to help you reflect your own journey.
Reflection reveals your approach, inspiration, and style.
Here are my unlikely circumstances:
Travel
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I always traveled as a kid, on family vacations.
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Every year was as new location.
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This created my zest for different geographies.
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I still travel, with my remote tech job, for fresh painting locations.
Magic The Gathering
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In 1994, I got into this fun trading card game.
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I liked the artwork.
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Especially the “land” or “mana” cards.
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Magic opened my mind to fantasy and landscape.
Tech Day Job
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My full time job, and entire career since 2007, is software tech.
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I build websites and apps, meaning 8-hour-days of screen time.
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Being steeped in digital creates a need for analog.
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So the refuge is painting outside, en plein air, in nature.
These 3 seemingly unlikely forces led me to plein air painting.
They were my foundation, when I started the hobby.
They keep me going today.
What forces led you?