This post isn’t just about the Rocky Mountains — it’s about finding creativity in unexpected places. It’s about how a simple, curious question from my granddaughter in the middle of the Rockies became a reminder that creativity often doesn’t look the way we expect it to — and how that lesson can spark new ideas in everyday life, and even help you start creating AI art with more confidence and curiosity.
My granddaughter Ruthie is three and full of curiosity. Before our recent family trip to Colorado, she had been told she was going to see the Rocky Mountains — and she was so excited about it.
During the drive, while riding in the car with her parents and little brother, she stared out the window at the majestic peaks reaching for the sky, pine-covered slopes, and glimmers of streams weaving through the valleys. After a long stretch of quiet observation, she asked a question that made everyone laugh:
“So… where are the rocks?”
Now, I wasn’t in the car when she said it, but I heard the story later — and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It turned into a powerful reminder about how easily we can miss what’s right in front of us.
Finding Creativity in Unexpected Places
Sometimes we’re standing in the middle of a mountain and still asking, Where are the rocks?
I see it all the time in creative work — and in learning something new, like AI art.
We tell ourselves:
- It’s going to be hard
- We’re going to fail
- We’re “not that kind of person”
And so, we either don’t try at all… or we overlook the progress we’ve already made because it doesn’t look polished yet. We focus on the mess instead of the progress.
The truth? Creativity often shows up looking like a mess.
For example, it might be a half-finished Canva graphic, a scribbled list of ideas, or a note-to-self on your phone.
ike trying a new tool or technique and not getting it quite right.
Like saying yes to curiosity and letting that be enough.
Creativity is the process.
Maybe you get a little dirty.
And failure? Yep — you might fail a few times… maybe a lot.
And above all, you have to be willing to laugh through it all.
Because those failures aren’t really failures at all — they’re just rocks on the trail.
Steps you needed to take to learn, grow, and sometimes create something completely different than what you expected.
Ruthie’s Kind of Magic
Ruthie doesn’t question her art. She doesn’t overthink whether the colors match or the perspective is “right.” She simply pours her imagination straight onto the page — and in her mind, every creation is magical.
That’s a superpower we tend to lose somewhere between kindergarten and adulthood. We start judging our ideas before they’re even born, worrying if they’re good enough or if we’re “doing it right.”
Ruthie doesn’t need a fancy art studio or special tools to bring her ideas to life. If she imagined magical mountains — rocks, treasures, and all — she’d simply start painting them, no hesitation, no judgment.
That’s the spirit I want to invite you into — and if you do want to play with an AI assistant, here’s your chance:
Prompt:
A whimsical, storybook-style illustration of a curious child searching for hidden treasures among colorful mountain rocks, vibrant palette, magical realism
Drop it into your favorite AI image tool and see what appears. Here is the image that I created with the prompt:
Because sometimes the rocks are right in front of you — you just have to start creating to see them.
Ready to Start Creating AI Art?
If you’ve been wondering how to start creating AI art but aren’t sure where to begin, my Free AI Image Creation Checklist will walk you through the basics — step-by-step — so you can jump in without feeling overwhelmed.
Click here to get the free checklist — and start creating today!
Want to hang out with other curious creatives who are exploring their own “rocks” and discoveries? Come find us in the Beautiful Creative You Facebook group. It’s where we swap ideas, share prompts, and encourage each other to keep creating (messy or not).
✨ Join the Beautiful Creative You! Community. I can hardly wait to welcome you.
