I walked down the hall in my building, and I bumped into artist Terri Froelich. She was telling me how she is scaling up her work. It was super interesting to hear her talk about the whole process, so I asked to see her latest paintings. It was so fun to get a studio tour. Afterwards, I decided to come back and get one for you guys, too.

Have a look here:

I was surprised to hear, among other things, that her much larger art was not only feeling better than her smaller work but that it was easier to make. I also learned a thing or two about color just by looking at Terri’s paintings.

If you have a comment or question for Terri, leave it below…

I hope you have become a little more inspired after seeing Terri’s art. I know I did.

Have a great day in the studio.

Nicholas

PS If you haven’t already, join the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group by clicking here. Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art.

PPS Be certain to check out Terri’s Instagram at @terri_froelich_art

I can clearly remember a time when just the idea of art-making was fraught with worries and concerns. It wasn’t the fact that my work was so bad. It was me. Sometimes I was overly concerned about what others might think about my art. Sometimes I would compare myself to other artists. Based on externalities, these feelings started to get in the way of my ability to create freely. They began to take the joy out of art-making.

It took a long time to realize my way around this issue. But eventually, I did. And this is the subject of today’s video.

Have a look here:

After way too many years, I realized that what I was focusing on was not ever going to get my art to where I wanted it to be. So, I began to shift my focus from the external and started paying more attention to the internal. I started paying attention to the feelings I wanted to have when I made my art. What made me feel alive in my art-making? Where did I want to take my art? As I became more clear, those concerns based on imaginary externalities faded. And as they did, my art became stronger. The fun and joy I was beginning to find in my own art evened out the emotional roller coaster of my art-making.

Looking back, it seems like such a simple solution. Of all the possible doors, the one worth opening is the one that leads back to ourselves. I love that idea.

Do you sometimes feel distracted by external concerns? And if so, how do you quiet them?

Let us know in the comments below.

Helping artists discover or rediscover the door that returns them back to their Creative Path is one of the fastest, most powerful ways to ignite or reignite their art.

Right now, a whole group of artists are about to begin a 21-day process to this discovery. It is called SPARK. It is a brand new online program that I have spent the last year creating. My favorite part is that all the art and experimentation is done in a sketchbook. By the end of the program, this will become your roadmap to take you to the kind of art that will bring you alive. And that can make all the difference in the world.

Check it out.
https://art2life.lpages.co/spark-2020/

We are leaving in just a couple of days.

I hope you can join us. It is going to be amazing.

Happy Sunday!
Nicholas

Do you ever feel like you made the wrong decision? Upon looking back, it seems so obviously wrong. How could I make that decision? Well, that is what I am talking about today.

Have a look here:

If you want to be better able to choose what you want, especially regarding your art-making, it helps to have criteria. Knowing what constitutes a YES, and more importantly, a NO beforehand, can increase your correct choices.

It is never that one decision that is particularly problematic but instead the sum total of many slightly off judgments over time. It is almost more important for those who are just beginning their creative path to pay attention and to stay focused on all that inspires you.

It is all about improving the batting average of your right decisions / how you spend your time, the kind of art materials you use, and even how you want to feel when making your art. These decisions matter. Especially in the beginning stages of the Creative Path.

A small adjustment in your direction in the beginning, can in the end, take you to an entirely different destination.

Starting tomorrow, Monday, October 19th, I am leading the free Creative Breadcrumb Challenge. It is a five-day challenge running next week that is all about clarifying your criteria for what is a yes and what is a no. I hope you can join us. Click the link below to join us.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CREATIVE BREADCRUMBS CHALLENGE

What is your criteria for saying yes?

Let us know in the comments your strategy for staying current with all you desire in your art and life.

I hope your Sunday in the studio is fun.

Nicholas

I remember not feeling so good about the kind of art I was making. I thought it was because of my circumstances. I had all sorts of ideas about what was or was not possible for me. But years ago, I had a conversation with my father, Clifford Wilton, who changed all that. He said something to me that made me realize I was not thinking big enough and honestly imagining what I did want. Not just in my art, but my life, too.

And that’s what today’s video is all about.

Have a look here:

Every year around this time, I take some time to reimagine what truly lights me up, not just in my art but my life, too. They are both, as I know you know, intertwined. To get someplace, we must first imagine it. And imagine it often.

Let us know in the comments your strategy for staying current with all you desire in your art and life.

We would love to know.

This year I thought I would invite whoever wants to join me in my reimagining process. It is called the Creative Breadcrumbs Challenge. It is free, and it will walk you through the process I use to gain clarity, insight, and to fire up my art mojo. It starts in about a week on Monday, October 19th.

Here is a link if you would like to join me.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CREATIVE BREADCRUMBS CHALLENGE

Hope your Sunday is going great.

Nicholas

I used to hate competition. But now it doesn’t bother me.

I figured out that competition was so unpleasant because I was focusing too much on everyone else. I lost track of me in the process. Whether you are running a race, dancing, making art, or almost any kind of creative expression, it just doesn’t help when you are not squarely in the driver’s seat. In other words, the more you pay attention to your internal conversation instead of the noisier, external one, the more your art, or whatever you are making or doing, will feel like you.

This little idea is what we are talking about today.

Have a look here:

Competition loses some of its edge when we shift our focus from them to us. It doesn’t really matter what anyone else is making. What matters most is what you are making. It is about your passion and involvement in the creation of your art.

Let us know in the comments below how you think about competition.

In gratitude,

Nicholas Wilton

PS Click on the link below if you would like to attend the Art2Life International Exhibit opening ceremony. This Tuesday, Oct 6th at noon PDT, I will be opening the exhibition website, interviewing artists, and announcing the awards.

https://art2life.lpages.co/2020-a2l-juried-exhibition-opening-reception/

I hope you can join us on this day of celebration.

Do you ever set goals for yourself to make art so many hours so many times a week? I used to do that, but I discovered that it rarely works out for me. So I changed my thinking. That is what this video is about today.

Have a look here:

I call this strategy, “Following the Pattern of Desire.” This thinking means that I pay more attention to the pattern or sequence of making art, rather than how long I do the activity. If I only make art for 30 min, it is still a win because I upheld the pattern I established for myself as a goal. It is a simple idea, but I feel it will get you more involved in your art without feeling bad about not hitting unrealistic goals. Today I make sure I follow the pattern and let go of how long I did the activity. This thinking helps me make considerable progress without guilt or shame.

How do you maintain consistency in your art practice?
Let us know in the comments.

I am also super excited to announce a brand new upcoming program called Spark. It is a 21-day creative field trip. It is all about getting inspired, playing in our art, and discovering what brings us alive. The program is all done in a sketchbook!

Sign up here to get on the waitlist for when it opens!

https://art2life.lpages.co/spark-2020-waitlist/

We will be starting the program at the end of October, so get ready!

Nicholas Wilton

I love simple hacks that can help make my art easier, quicker, and better.

Today I want to share three with you that I’ve recently started doing in my art practice. Maybe they could help you too.

Have a look here:

In the end, it is about creating more time for yourself so you can focus on the part of your art process that lights you up the most.

What tips and tricks do you use to help make your art easier, quicker, and better?

Let us know in the comments.

I hope today is a sparkly art day.

Nicholas

PS If you haven’t already, join the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group by clicking here. Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art.

A few days ago, we had to say goodbye to Maizy, our sweet dog. She was such a fixture in my life, in my family’s life, and I know, for many of you, she touched your heart as well. I thought I would share a small piece of her sweetness with you today instead of talking about art. I will miss her so, so much.

Click on the video below to watch.

Thanks for being here.
Nicholas

PS Thanks for all the amazing entries for the Art2Life International Exhibition. There are 2 days left to enter, so you still have time.

Here is where you can find all the info:
Call for Entry and FAQ’s.

I get many questions about my favorite tools, and it’s been a few years since I last shared them with you, so today, I thought I would share a couple. All of them help me create an essential contrast in my art. It is a contrast, or “difference,” in my art that I love. It is the difference between control and out of control. Instead of a careful, perfectly made mark, I prefer mine to feel a little like they were made by mistake. It just seems so much more unpredictable.

Click on the video below to have a look.

The tools we use help us get the look and feel we desire. And it is different for everyone.
What is the one tool you love to use in your art?

Let us know in the comments below.

I hope your time in the studio today is surprising.

Nicholas

PS There is still time to enter the

International Online Art2Life Art Exhibition.

Don’t miss this. It is going to be an epic show! Check out the cash prizes, juror details, and dates of the exhibition.

Want more info about this exhibition and how to enter? Click here for the Call for Entry and FAQ’s.

PSS If you haven’t already, join the Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group by clicking here. Every day, artists from all over the world are creating amazing art.