CBS Colorado Visits Our Outdoor Studios

We were thrilled to welcome CBS Colorado to our outdoor studio and share more about the Abstract Adventures’ hike & paint experience!

A milestone moment for us highlighting the benefits of art in nature. We were able to share what so many of you have already discovered: painting trailside is a reset for the body, mind and soul.

During the Denver Arts Week interview, we explored how stepping into Colorado’s landscapes and creating art directly in nature helps people slow down and reconnect with themselves and the beauty around them. In a world that moves quickly, a trailside canvas and a palette knife can do wonders whether you’ve picked up a paintbrush before or not. 

What truly excites us is that folks are noticing our hike & paint adventures as a new must-try experience in Denver. Travelers come to Colorado for views, and now they’re leaving with their own original plein air artwork!

From interpretive nature hikes to our outdoor trailblazer studio sessions, every adventure is designed to help you experience the mountains through creativity on the canvas. We’re grateful CBS Colorado helped amplify that message and share how there’s nothing else quite like an Abstract Adventure.

Our 2026 season countdown is on… Stay tuned for more and keep exploring outside the ordinary!

Trailside Creativity Featured

Abstract Adventures shares the powerful transformation of creativity trailside with the Loss & Damage Collaboration in their newest blog! Check out how painting in nature can influence climate conversations and our environmental perspectives.

This article was originally published on the Loss & Damage Collaboration’s Wellbeing blog

5/20/2025

TRAILSIDE TRANSFORMATION: FINDING CREATIVITY IN NATURE TO INSPIRE CHANGEMAKERS

BY SARAH LEISTICO

Take a deep breath and close your eyes.

Imagine you’re nestled underneath towering pines, cedars, or maybe on the edge of a flowering meadow.

You can feel the breeze tickle across your face and take in the whoosh. You open your eyes and scan the beautiful horizon to eventually look down at a blank canvas in front of you.

How does that make you feel?

What inspires you?

This is the spark. The transformation that occurs when creativity meets the natural world. In these spaces, the mind quiets, the senses awaken, and we open ourselves to exploration and creating boldly.

…

Find a friend in nature and your creativity

The healing power of nature is well documented

It’s even been shown that intentional, immersive experiences in nature – specifically walking and grounding – provide an even stronger range of mental, physical, and social health benefits (Mygind et al. , 2019). From reduced stress and anxiety to improved cognitive function and emotional regulation, nature is an intangible medicine. Many cultures understand nature not just as a backdrop, but as a living partner in our wellbeing.

Whether we’re strolling through a neighborhood park or trekking to a remote ridge, our relationship with the natural world strengthens when we take the time to notice. We can learn from the intrinsic experiences offered and take those lessons with us every day.

When we pair this intrinsic connection with creativity, the impact becomes even stronger. Art and creativity also have their own bounty of evidence for better wellbeing: creative expression supports our mental health, increases self-efficacy, and offers a way to process emotions beyond words (Jean-Berluche, 2024). Enjoying the freedom of painting under the pines can combine and multiply these benefits to spark insight and reflection that we might not be able to discover otherwise.

Check out the full Loss & Damage Collaboration’s blog

Canvas Rebel Feature

Abstract Adventures Founder Sarah Leistico sat down with Canvas Rebel to share more about the journey, mission and what’s next for hike & paint adventures. Check it out!

AUGUST 31, 2023

This article was originally published on Canvas Rebel

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Leistico. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
In riding the wave of launching Abstract Adventures, I’ve learned to embrace the art of balancing risk and research. A couple months ago I bid farewell to my corporate job for the world of creative entrepreneurship. My spirit was tugging me to shift directions and refocus priorities, and after years of research, planning, and encouragement from others I took the leap. It’s been a whirlwind of meaningful changes and I’ve been surprised each day by the puzzle pieces that continue to fit into this journey.

So many of us, including myself, are afraid of diving off the deep end to pursue our dreams because there is a possibility of failure. Whether that is making moves in your life, business, or across the canvas, it takes bravery to step out into the unknown. Pushing past that fear helps us all rediscover our path forward.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a self-taught landscape artist with a passion for connections, creativity, and community. A few years ago, my love of painting trailside ignited an idea that has now transformed into Abstract Adventures — hike & paint tours that empower folks to reconnect with nature and discover their inner artist among Colorado’s stunning scenery.

Locals and travelers alike are always looking for fun things to do near Denver and this is an opportunity for them to escape the everyday and explore outside the ordinary. Whether you’ve picked up a paintbrush before or not, we’re making outdoor painting (plein air, if you’re fancy) a breeze by providing all the tools and techniques needed to create unforgettable memories and leave inspired with a unique piece of art to call your own.

What truly excites me is the impact off the canvas and trail that our adventures spark, with participants finding fresh perspective, new connections, and some even picking up painting or other creative ventures after their experience!

Check out the full article on Canvas Rebel