I like to paint boldly and a little out of control, especially in the beginning.

If the picture is giving you bold, clear messages, you can better respond with the same.

In other words, it is easier to know what to do next.

A strong start can make your progress easier and a lot faster.

Today I am sharing a few tips about how I make my art. I know how much it helped me to discover how different artists make art.

Maybe one of mine will help with your art-making.

Have a look here.

Let’s crowdsource some helpful tips from our practices in the comments below!

Just one might have a dramatic impact on how you make your art.

Enjoy the day!

Nicholas

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!

Hi there,

I thought I would share what I have been working on in my studio today.

I always enjoy seeing what others have been making, so hopefully, you find some value in seeing my recent work.

I am pretty excited about this new work.

Have a look here.

So what are you making that has gotten you excited?

Leave a comment below.

Thanks for being here!

Nicholas

PS If you want to see more videos of me working in the studio, tips, and tricks, inspiration, and more, head to my YouTube Channel!

Nobody likes a copycat – especially when they are copying our art.

However, if we all think back to different times or stages of our art, we probably all have a time or two when we’ve been influenced a little too much by some else’s art.

I know I have.

I doubt this problem is ever going away.

If this has ever happened to you or if someone’s Instagram looks a lot like yours, I might have some helpful ways to think about this challenge.

Watch here.

The big takeaway I hope you get today is that you don’t want to spend much energy worrying about copycats.

As we all know, we have such limited time and energy to spend on making our art.

And THAT is where we should all be focusing all of our resources.

Let us know in the comments your experience with copycats.

And if you are courageous, share who you copied for a spell along the way to figuring out you.

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art and you are invited!

*Photo Credit by Maria Teneva on Unsplash.

I’m excited for you to meet an extraordinary artist.

His name is Adam Wolpert. For over 35 years, we have been sharing our journeys, making art and I honestly would say, teaching each other.

I have learned so much from Adam, even though our art is so different.

For quite a few years, Adam has painted the local landscape, but lately, his art shifted. Not only did it become bigger, but it became simpler. Now it is mostly just about trees.

These remarkable paintings are realized from countless hours standing beneath trees, paying attention, listening, thinking, and quietly observing.

It turns out trees have a lot to teach us about art, resiliency, and life.

Join me as Adam shares all he is learning and discovering in the pursuit of his remarkable Tree Paintings.

Watch here.

In the comments, let us know what this has stirred in you.

You can see Adam’s Tree Paintings at Erickson Fine Art Gallery and the SFMOMA Artists Gallery.

You can follow the journey of Adam’s art-making on Instagram:

@adam_wolpert

Thanks for being here.

It means a great deal to me.

Nicholas

PS Last week’s blog guest, Artist Delita Martin, chose a lucky member

of the Art2Life Community to receive her recent book “Conjure.”

The lucky winner is Carolyn King! Carolyn, please reach out to us at [email protected] so we can send you Delita’s book. Congratulations!

PSS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!

I love stories.

But I especially love it when art tells them.

Today I want to share Delita Martin’s art and the stories it tells.

Her art is stunning, moving, and poignant.

Once I met her, I understood why.

I think you will, too.

We all have a story to tell.

It differentiates but also connects us.

Is a story part of your art?

Let us know yours in the comments.

We will be choosing a lucky artist from the comments to give away a copy of “Conjure,” Delita’s recent book that highlights works from her 2021 exhibition.

We will announce the winner next week.

If you can’t wait till then, you can always get a copy here:

https://blackboxpressstudio.com/shop/conjure

Check out Blackboxpress and more of Delita’s artwork here:

https://blackboxpressstudio.com/

And follow her on Instagram… @blackboxpress

Enjoy this day.

Nicholas

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!

Today I am sharing how I create color when I start my paintings.

From the beginning, I heavily harmonize them.

Even though the painting is still very raw and unfinished, the harmonized color makes the work look cohesive.

Check this out.

This practice of creating beautiful colors keeps me excited in the early, and sometimes ugly stages of my art-making.

It also makes the colors that are not harmonized stand out.

How do you create colors in the early stages of your art?

Let us know in the comments!

I hope you have a great day today.

Nicholas

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!

How do you take your art, creative expertise, or teaching and show it to a lot more people?

How do you attract an audience?

In the beginning, I didn’t know.

I had to ask a ton of questions to create a business centered upon my art.

Most of the answers I was looking for came from one person.

He is a visionary, my mentor, friend, and business coach.

His name is Stu McLaren.

And today, you get to meet him!

From working with Stu and the other entrepreneurs in his business Mastermind,

I realized that artists, people overflowing with creativity (us!), are particularly good at business!

In other words, you can throw that myth of the starving artist out the window.

It is 2021, and EVERYTHING is different now.

Have a listen today and if this business of art is something that you are interested in, join our Artist Business Roundtable call in a few days.

Stu, myself, and artist/entrepreneur Bonnie Christine will be sharing some inspiring stories of how creatives like you and me can create art businesses that can impact the world!

Click here to sign up for the free Artist Business Roundtable call.

It is this Wednesday, April 21st at 10:00 am PDT.

If you can’t join us live, I will send you the recording.

Let us know in the comments how you would like to grow your art business!

And most importantly, make some art today!

Nicholas

PS Once a year, Stu offers a free training all about creating membership businesses.

The training is packed with strategies and tactics for getting your message out into the world.

It starts this coming Thursday, April 22nd.

Sign up for Stu’s free training

There is one vital ingredient in art that makes it super potent.

I learned this many years ago when creating a poster for the Salvation Army.

Here is what happened.

Until that point, I never really paid attention to the degree of feeling and emotion I placed in my art.

Now I know that if I can identify the feeling I want to convey, regardless of the materials or kind of art I am making, it will be far more engaging for myself and the viewer.

Connecting with someone visually and emotionally is powerful.

If you can identify and focus more on the feeling behind your art, it gives way to more creativity.

How do you bring your feelings and emotions into your art?

Let us know in the comments.

Enjoy today,

Nicholas

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!

I used to be addicted to buying art materials — especially the expensive ones.

I was looking for the one tool or material that would suddenly make my art unique.

Well, I never found that magic tool.

Changing and improving my art was a slow process.

It happened because I learned more art-making information.

I did, however, find one very excellent tool during that time.

And I didn’t find it in an art store.

I discovered it in a house painting store.

And it was one of the best but cheapest tools I ever found.

I thought today I would show you why.

When I am making my art, I am constantly using this tool.

Let us know in the comments what is your favorite tool and why.

I hope you can make some art today.

Nicholas

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!

Which is better in Art? Simplicity or complexity?

It seems lately simplicity is more popular.

It took me a long, long time to find the answer.

But I did, and today I will share my answer with you.

I found out right as I was leaving art school.

I was confused because every teacher I asked had a different opinion.

After a while, however, I realized that was part of the answer.

I love answers that don’t require a lot of groundwork.

Following what you love is surprisingly easy.

There rarely are any lines, big expenses, and if that wasn’t enough, it is available right now.

So go ahead and choose what you love.

And then share it with the world.

Which do you prefer? Simplicity or Complexity?

Did Covid change your answer?

Let us know in the comments.

Have a sweet day.

Nicholas

PS Check out the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group.

Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art, and you are invited!