I’ve been thinking about what we need in daily life — our essential needs as artists. Some days, I feel happy, and other days, not so much. I’ve been charting the things that make an optimal day.

Here is how I break them down…

The 5th essential need is art. Art is a central need that connects to all other needs. Think about the creativity you bring to your art and apply it to even the most mundane parts of life — from shopping to bookkeeping. Because we are artists, we can leverage our creativity in all parts of our lives!

Does this resonate with you? Let me know in the comments.

This week on the Art2Life Podcast, I expand on this venn diagram of essential needs. I’ll be sharing an exercise to help you find one word that captures where your energy is and what brings you alive to carry with you through the whole year. Join me this Wednesday for our next episode. Listen in from wherever you stream podcasts. Don’t forget that you can also watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Have a great week!

Nick

PS: Do you have an artist friend that you think would benefit from this weekly Sunday vlog? Forward this along to them and invite them to our amazing community of artists!

Happy Sunday! Artists commonly say, making art is good, but promoting it is not. The business of art can feel like a separate burden from art-making. How can you get your work seen in a way that energizes you like art-making?Here’s one way I discovered purely by accident.

Check it out!

Painting in front of people was a surprisingly fun and easy way to promote my work. I was already doing what I love, so the transition to sharing my joy with onlookers was seamless. The answer to aligning your art-making with your art business is YOU. Share your work in a creative way that makes you feel alive! Be energized, get noticed.

What ideas do you have about aligning self-promotion with your art? Let me know in the comments.

This week on the Art2Life Podcast, I’m expanding on this idea of self-promotion and aligning it with who you are. I’ll talk about how to think about galleries and social media. I’ll share thoughts on how to bring alignment and energy to your art and promotions. Join me this Wednesday for our next episode. Listen in from wherever you stream podcasts or watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Have an awesome Sunday!

Nick

PS: We have an amazing Facebook Group and I just love scrolling through and seeing artists from all over the world sharing their art and stories. If you aren’t in there yet, click here to join us!

I hope you’re having an awesome Sunday! I’m back in my studio today but haven’t been here in a while, so it can be hard to get going again. There’s often a resistance I need to move past. Here’s a hack that helps me. It has to do with having a plan.

Check this out.

Sometimes we rely on our art alone to lead the way. Pausing to think through what we’re chasing in our art, and taking notes, helps create a plan for the next steps. I often do this after a painting session right on the painting. It gives me the juice I need to return to the work with clarity and energy!

Does this resonate with you? How do you keep the thread going in your painting sessions? Let me know in the comments.

This week on the Art2Life Podcast, I will expand on this idea. How do you come back to your studio and work after a long break? At first, you can feel like a stranger in your studio. I’ll share ideas on tapping into what brings you alive and how you can drop into your work more quickly. Join me this Wednesday! Tune in wherever you stream podcasts or watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Thanks so much for being here! Hope you make art today!

Nick

PS: I’d love to see what YOU are working on. We have an amazing Facebook Group and I just love scrolling through and seeing artists from all over the world sharing their art. If you aren’t in there yet, click here to join us!

I’ve been working on larger paintings recently that call for different tools. As you scale up your canvas, you need to scale up your tools. Like the one I’ll show you today, my favorites aren’t usually found at an art store. This brush came from a hardware store.

Take a look.

I love how this brush holds so much paint and nicely covers my surface. The brush was easy to find but I’ve had to make some art tools myself too – like my giant T-square! Once you go bigger in your work, you might find yourself making your tools too.

What are your favorite tools when working larger? Let us know in the comments.

I’ll be talking more about working bigger and the steps it takes to get there on this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast. It starts with your thinking. To paint big, you need to think big. Join me this Wednesday for our next episode and I’ll share ideas on the mindset about scaling up. Listen in from wherever you stream podcasts or watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Have a great Sunday!

Nick

PS: Thank you to everyone who left a tip in the comments of last week’s Sunday Vlog! I loved reading them and learned so much! I’ve chosen Parinaz Bahadori as the winner of the Viviva Color Sheets! She said, “Before beginning a painting, I will write a word or phrase directly on the canvas– an intention or wish that I have – and then cover it up with the painting. It gets hidden beneath those layers and I only know about it. First of all, it ensures that I lay down many layers of paint, and I also feel like those words are guiding me.” Congratulations!

And click here for a link to the brush I mentioned today.

Welcome to the last Sunday Vlog of 2023! It’s been another amazing year of being with all of you in this amazing community and sharing what we’re learning. Of all the great tips I learned throughout the year, I’ve been thinking about the coolest…

Check this out.

This is a simple way to avoid the smudges of dry pastels and charcoal. The paper towels make the application of gloss medium easy too. Avoiding spray can fumes and fixatives is an added bonus! Give it a try when using chalk pastels or charcoal.

What’s your favorite tip of the year? Let us know in the comments. *And for extra fun, whoever submits the coolest tip will receive a set of our Viviva Color sheets! These sheets are perfect for on-the-go watercolor painting. The color they hold is incredibly vibrant! So, let’s hear your tip!

This week on the Art2Life Podcast, I will talk about the new year. Rather than talk about resolutions and doing more, I’ll be talking about being. No checklists here! The focus is on how to find balance, spaciousness, and a way to be in the new year. Join me this Wednesday! Listen in from wherever you stream podcasts or watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Thanks so much for being with me for another year and I hope you close out the year beautifully.Art2Life has amazing things to come in 2024, so let’s stay connected!

Happy New Year!

Nick

PS: If you want to see the vlog where I showed how to use the Viviva Colorsheets, click here. For those in the US, you can also purchase them from our online store.

Happy Sunday! We’re wrapping up the workshop in Haramara, and you can feel the energy! It’s been a great week. We always gather at the end to look at everyone’s work. These reviews can get pretty emotional, especially if you’ve finally made something that feels like you. The variety of work created always amazes me.

See what we’ve been up to!

It’s so cool to see how different everyone’s work is. Though each artist can be trying new things on different panels, their work still hangs together as theirs. This open setting and the workshop make it possible for people to show up fully as themselves. I love it!

Let me know in the comments what new thing you’d like to try in the coming year!

This week on the Art2Life Podcast, I share my heartfelt conversation with Haramara Retreat creator, Sajeela de la Borbolla. It was a 15-year art project digging deep into who she is and what she wants to do in this world. Her clarity and conviction about her path is incredibly inspiring. It’s a unique and emotional story. You won’t want to miss the next episode coming this Wednesday. Listen in from wherever you stream podcasts or watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Wishing this amazing community of artists a very Happy Holiday!

Nick

PS: If you are interested in attending a future Art2Life Destination Workshop, join our notifications list so you can be the first to know when we announce our next ones!

I’m here in beautiful Mexico, teaching another Art2Life destination workshop! A topic came up that I want to share with you. I think it could be helpful in your art. It’s about depth — creating an impression of things in the distance versus things up close.

Take a look at these examples…

What’s noticeable in the landscape is value contrast. Things with more value contrast come forward and things with less contrast recede. Creating depth applies not only to representational work but also to abstract work. The example shows areas with higher contrast coming forward and others sitting back. Depth is a realistic aspect of abstract work and another cool difference to add to your art!

How do you bring depth to your work? Let us know in the comments.

This week on the Art2Life Podcast, I’m sharing Part 3 of the painting I’ve been working on for my daughter. It’s been so special to share this with you all. Thanks so much to everyone who has been listening, watching, and sharing your thoughts. Be sure to check out this Wednesday’s episode wherever you stream podcasts. Don’t forget that you can also watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel!

Have an awesome Sunday!

Nick

PS: I’d love to see what YOU are working on. We have an amazing Facebook Group and I just love scrolling through and seeing artists from all over the world sharing their art. If you aren’t in there yet, click here to join us!

Welcome back to my Sunday Art Vlog. I’m in Mexico right now, teaching an Art2Life destination Workshop. During these workshops, when I’m not teaching, I love to work in my sketchbook. As I was looking back on some pages today I noticed that all the pages I liked the most were those I had drastically changed at some point. It seems to be a regular part of my process in which I get bored, then entirely energized by making a big change and liking the page more.

Check out my favorite pages…

This is a useful discovery for me! It gives me the freedom to start my work in any direction, knowing that a drastic shift is bound to come and make it so much better. I also notice this in my life too, when I plan to do one thing and then end up doing something completely different. It seems that I love change!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Do you get energized from change or does it take the wind out of your sails?

In this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m talking about how making your art more personal makes it more universal. It sounds counterintuitive, so it’s important to understand, especially if you want to sell your work. Moving toward what lights you up, moves the needle and attracts more people to your work. I hope you’ll tune in on your favorite podcast streaming service or on our YouTube Channel!

Wishing you an art-filled week ahead!

Nick

PS: I hope the peek into my journal was helpful for you! Click here to see the journal I showed in today’s video.

Happy Sunday! Since working with acrylics on large paintings is new to me, I’ve had to figure out ways to slow the drying time like oils have. I came up with a super simple solution that I’m excited about and I have to share it with you!

Check it out…

A big brush and water is all I need to create a damp surface. This damp surface allows me to manipulate newly applied paint in cool ways. Plus it’s fun just to use this giant brush!

Let me know how you slow the drying time of acrylic paint! I’m thankful for all of the feedback you’ve been giving me about working with acrylic over this past week. I love learning from you all!

Coming this Wednesday, I’ll be sharing the next phase of the painting for my daughter on this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast! Starting a picture is easy, but moving through the murky middle can be challenging. I’ll be talking about how to stay energized and move forward with the parts that are working and see where they lead. I hope that these are helpful for you! Don’t forget that you can watch this week’s episode, on our YouTube Channel or listen on your favorite podcast streaming service.

Wishing you an art-filled week!

Nicholas

PS: I’d love to see what YOU are working on. We have an amazing Facebook Group and I just love scrolling through and seeing artists from all over the world sharing their art. If you aren’t in there yet, click here to join us!

Happy Sunday! I want to share a new tool I’ve been using that creates the coolest texture! It’s a paint roller without the cover. I just picked it up and started rolling it and I love how it cuts through the semi-dry acrylic paint to create unusual textures and marks.

Check it out…

There’s something so great about a tool you can just roll across your surface. Using this has given me ideas about bigger tools I could use. What’s next? Maybe a turf aerator!

Have you ever used something like this? Let us know in the comments.

During this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’ll be starting a painting for my daughter! Watch how the process starts and listen as I share my thoughts and tips on how to play, stay energized, and stay objective. I hope you’ll join me! If you want to watch this week’s episode, head to our YouTube Channel! You can also listen to and subscribe to your favorite podcast streaming service.

Have a great day in the studio!

Nick