So, today begins my journey in the study of the fine arts. It starts out in our painting studio, and we are asked to make a still life. In the middle of the room, our instructor gathers together some commonplace objects, and then invites us to make a picture. We can include the whole scene, or any part of it — it's our choice. We set up easels, crack open paints and brushes, and busy ourselves with our canvases. There are fifteen painters, each working from a different location in the room. Ninety minutes later, we put down our paint brushes and walk around to have a look at the other pictures. They're all different, each and every one of them interesting.