I have this connection with nature that is tied to my emotions and color. I just cannot describe it with words, but it gives me great joy and a peacefulness when I am painting. What I do is, I find a landscape scene that I enjoy from my hikes. Then after I am done creating an imprimatura underpainting it is time to pick out a set of colors for the painting. From my pallet, I carefully pick and create colors and pairings that I find go well together. I try to make it feel like they are so made for each other that they are dancing. Then I use the landscape before me whether it is done plein air or a photograph as a reference a guide to the colors I am seeing in it. Within my eyes, nature always produces the best, most intense colors. Then I simply just paint all the textures and details I see. It’s just what my eyes choose to highlight and admire in the landscape scene. Over time I developed this emotional connection to the painting and its colors. Sometimes adding colors that are not in the original landscape reference but somehow it is what the painting wants and feels right. What starts as a landscape photograph turns into a ball of colors and emotions.