In this short weekend I spent with my girlfriend, I took the opportunity to watch The Hobbit. This was just after I read the book, so the story was fresh in my mind. My girlfriend alerted that the book was better, and that the movie trilogy was not as good, but turns out I had a very enjoyable experience nonetheless.
Regardless of the differences in interpretation, I found the movie's scenes and visuals to be good, and seeing with my eyes what I was picturing in my mind as I flipped through the pages was interesting. Mind you, this was the first time I actually read this book, and also the first time I read the source before watching the movie based on it (I am not an avid reader nor a movie watcher myself).
I don't consider myself a fan of Tolkien's works, but I knew it was an extremely influential cornerstone in the genre, and I'm glad I experienced it at last. I can see why it was so cherished by those who love it.
I believe that to create good art is also to consume good art, in equal parts. To appreciate the works of other artists is helpful to mature your own artistic tastes and find new impetus to your own works. And to experience artistic values from different sources leads to a better grasp on what you can do.
I am grateful for this, and I hope to be able to channel this new knowledge on my next works.