Paint Studies from Photos.

I have been doing fast paint studies from my own photos. One hour each, a single layer, and only one brush. These constraints help keep me flexible in my process, and keeps my hand moving so I don't get into analysis paralysis. I am also learning to push colors to be a bit bolder than the reference I use, and finding ways to display complexity and detail with less work. 
This exercise is also helping me process some of what has happened in the past five years, and gain some orientation as to where I am now. Life throws us seemingly continuous lessons to be learned and maintaining healthy habits to integrate and move forward with these lessons is imperative. 
I encourage people to go outside, get close to nature, examine the way this world is in it's unabused form, appreciate the people (animals included) in your life, and transmute the difficult lessons we are taught into something beautiful. A photo on your phone is enough to record those moment s of divine beauty. 
-NR