Although painting may seem like a small and insignificant skill, creating a truly expressive and meaningful piece of art is not a difficult task. A painter must be well-read and knowledgeable, explore famous mountains and rivers to broaden their horizons and experiences, cultivate friendships to delve into techniques, and study famous works of art to expand their perspective. Only by immersing oneself in the world can an artist truly have depth, and only through dedicated and solitary practice can they excel.

It is often said, "Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles," and this statement holds much meaning. For instance, the historian Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty traveled extensively through famous mountains and rivers, living among the landscapes. This allowed him to create extraordinary and remarkable writings. The Ming and early Qing Dynasty painter Shi Tao, who often mentioned "searching for unique peaks to draft sketches," wouldn't have been able to contribute to the history of Chinese landscape painting with such brilliance if he hadn't thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful scenery of nature.

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Similarly, in the 17th century, great Dutch landscape painters like Allart van Everdingen (1621-1675) and Jacob Isaakszoon van Ruisdael (1629-1682) went to great lengths, traveling as far as Switzerland and Norway to study mountains and waterfalls in the fields. They immersed themselves in nature to infuse their works with subjective emotions, making landscape painting an independent genre. Therefore, traveling is an enriching experience, not merely wasteful consumption!