I began painting in early 2020. I was in a painful place with difficult circumstances and picked up a beginners book and purchased the brushes and paints that it recommended. The first tree I painted was terrible. But practically, I couldn’t quit because I had invested some money into this. So I tried painting a tree the next day, and it was better. I learned that repetition and encouragement are the key ingredients to painting. I also lived out firsthand the healing that takes place with working with one’s hands and making something beautiful. I’m a beginner, but I sure do love it.