Back when Covid lock down happened, I started a painting a day from life starting on day one. I continued to do it for months. Painting small paintings from life daily, was also a practice I did in College. My professor was very strict on me studying from life and not photos, and I can see why. Doing these daily paintings from life does so much for me. It brings me something to look forward to daily, and opening up creativity to look for something new to paint. It helps any creative rut because just simply getting back to appreciating what is around me always reawakens creativity. Studying from life, is the best way to learn and experience color, period. Color is so much more alive and dimensional when observed with our eyes, rather than camera. It adds in the whole element of transience and light. Even if its a still life, the atmosphere is forever changing with time, weather, etc.