I’m in Los Angeles, California, just back from teaching Art2Life destination workshops in Spain and Morocco. I haven’t been making art, and it feels great! It makes me think we have two parts involved in our art-making — our intellect and our soul. These two parts are often in different places, and one needs to catch up.

Here’s how I think about it…

The answer to catching up is doing less and letting go. Feeling our way into what we want to have happen in our lives — creating space, seeing new things, staying open to serendipity. These things spur change and excitement within us. After these travels and this break from art, my soul is so fired up to return to the studio!

Which part needs to catch up with the other part for you? Let me know in the comments.

Stay tuned for this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, where I’ll share my three big takeaways from the recent Art2Life Destination Workshops. One of them is about reducing. We always think we need to add more to our work, but oftentimes, those additions get in the way of a great piece. Curious about the other two takeaways? Find out this Wednesday!

Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.
Or watch it on our YouTube Channel.

Make some art today!

-Nick

**This vlog was inspired by seeing a pillow created by Joshua Tree artist, and art queen, Shari Elf.

PS: Interested in attending an Art2Life Destination Workshop in 2024? Click here to get on our notifications list to get future workshop announcements in your inbox.

Hi there,

I’m teaching a workshop in Mallorca, Spain right now, and it’s such a serene and peaceful setting. The studio has big openings with gorgeous views, so it feels like we’re working outside. One of the many things I love about these workshops is discovering the cool art tools people bring that they just can’t live without!

Let me show you…

These basic kitchen tools can make your art practice easier and fun, plus most can be found with a simple Google search. Keep your eyes open if you go to garage sales, too. You never know if you’ll find the perfect gadget for studio use. What tool would you bring with you to an Art2Life workshop? Let me know in the comments.

And coming up on this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I did a “pool cast” with artists from the Art2Life Workshop in Marrakesh, Morocco! It was a Q&A that led to a meaningful conversation all about promotion. For so many, promoting your art is the hardest part! Listen in on Wednesday for the big ah-has and see artwork by the artists in the conversation.

Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.
Or watch it on our YouTube Channel.

See you next week! Nicholas

PS: Looking for a place to share your work with other artists and get feedback and support? Check out our Art2Life Artists Facebook Group! I can’t wait to see you there!

I’m teaching a workshop in Mallorca, Spain right now, and it’s such a serene and peaceful setting. The studio has big openings with gorgeous views, so it feels like we’re working outside. One of the many things I love about these workshops is discovering the cool art tools people bring that they just can’t live without!

Let me show you…

These basic kitchen tools can make your art practice easier and fun, plus most can be found with a simple Google search. Keep your eyes open if you go to garage sales, too. You never know if you’ll find the perfect gadget for studio use.What tool would you bring with you to an Art2Life workshop? Let me know in the comments.

And coming up on this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I did a “pool cast” with artists from the Art2Life Workshop in Marrakesh, Morocco! It was a Q&A that led to a meaningful conversation all about promotion. For so many, promoting your art is the hardest part! Listen in on Wednesday for the big ah-has and see artwork by the artists in the conversation.

Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.
Or watch on our YouTube Channel.

See you next week! Nicholas

PS: Looking for a place to share your work with other artists and get feedback and support? Check out our
Art2Life Artists Facebook Group! I can’t wait to see you there!

It’s Day 1 at the Art2Life destination Workshop in Morocco, and it’s hot! But we’re excited and just getting going using only black and white paint. It’s the best way to train your eye to see design very clearly. It’s easy to notice differences: what’s light, what’s dark, what’s big, what’s small, what’s rough, and what’s smooth.

Take a look…

As I walk around, it’s so cool to notice how different everyone’s boards are! It’s a great reminder that when you paint from a place of self, your art can’t help but be uniquely yours and that makes it powerful. Give this exercise a try, because if you can create good work using only black and white, adding color and texture will make it even stronger.

Do you work in black and white to improve your design skills? I’d love to hear in the comments.

This week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast is about my friend, scientist, and award-winning author, Dawson Church. He’s an amazing researcher who blends neuroscience with intense firsthand experience to show you how you can rewire your brain for happiness! He’ll share how to optimize your brain to get into the creative state and flow. Listen and watch this Wednesday; you’re going to love him.

Click here to listen or click here to watch the Art2Life Podcast.

Hope you can make some art today!

Nick

PS: Looking for a place to share your work with other artists and get feedback and support? Check out our Art2Life Artists Facebook Group! I can’t wait to see you there!

I’ve been working on this piece, which has a lot of underpainting, and I got a little stuck. When going in with another layer, it’s easy to fall back into applying the same color in the same area as if you’re coloring. The trick is to come in with new paint without being influenced by the underpainting.

Let me show you…

Amazing depth and richness show up in the work when you allow yourself to apply new thinking over the underpainting. This combination of differences, the new with the old, brings an energy to the work that’s far more interesting. I like this piece so much better now!

Does combining old and new ways of thinking make sense to you? Let me know in the comments.

On this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’ll reflect on ideas from my recent backpacking trip with my daughters. There is nothing like being in nature to let the mind wander and generate ideas. I thought a lot about art—how it fuels us and how to stay in motion. Join me as I share tips and strategies to enhance your creative practice. Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!

Hope you’re making some art today!

Nick

PS: Click here to download our Free Color Tips PDF.  It’s loaded with useful ideas!

Welcome back to the Art2Life Vlog! I’ve been hiking with my daughters in Colorado! This has given me a lot of time to think. There’s something that’s been on my mind recently, and that is self-love and how it relates to our art. Giving this art-making experience to ourselves, and feeling like we’re worth it, can be challenging. I’ve thought through three levels of self-love that can be helpful.

Here’s how I think about it…

The third level is the ultimate gift to ourselves. It’s that ability to ask for help from those further down the path. This, too, is hard unless you’re solid in the first two levels. When you ask for help with both confidence and grace, you’ll find that people do want to help! It’s been so gratifying and a game-changer for me.

Where do you see yourself with regard to these levels of self-love? Let me know in the comments.

This Wednesday, on the Art2Life Podcast, I’m talking with Bay Area Artist, Carl Hayward. He does amazing work with paint, collage, and architecture and he also does very cool collaborations. Carl’s perspective on life and art is refreshing. He says, “Give me a lot of differences and I’ll find a commonality… give me anything and I can find a relationship between them.” This is not only true of Carl when it comes to his art, but also when it comes to relationships between people. He has so much valuable knowledge to share. Join us! Click here to find the Art2Life Podcast on your favorite streaming service.

And remember, you can watch the video versions of the Art2Life Podcast on our YouTube Channel!

Have an awesome Sunday! Nicholas

PS: If you are looking for more ways to stay in touch with Art2Life, Click here!

Welcome everyone, especially those of you who are new to this vlog! I’m just loving the conversations we share. Thank you for being here!

This morning, I thought about how scary it was for me to start the Art2Life Podcast. I knew I wanted to do it, but I didn’t know how. There were so many unknowns about the process that I put it off for a long time. Eventually, I became so frustrated that I just took the plunge and decided to figure it out as I go. And guess what? That’s exactly how I approach my art.

Here’s how I think about it…

Getting in motion is the secret sauce. Instead of having a plan for a painting, getting the paint down and responding to it without knowing where you’re going brings up intuition and emotion that can guide you. Of course, some thinking comes into play, and when combined with intuition and heart, the art brings up what’s meaningful for you. We find our way because art-making is the process of becoming yourself!

Are you comfortable with not knowing where you’re going in your art practice? Let me know in the comments.

Don’t miss our very special 100th episode of the Art2Life Podcast, coming this Wednesday! I’ll celebrate with a special friend as we look back at our amazing guests, the pearls of wisdom we’ve gained, and the clues about where we’re heading on our creative journey. I’ll see you there! Click here to find the Art2Life Podcast on your favorite streaming service.

And remember, you can watch the video versions of the Art2Life Podcast on our YouTube Channel! Have an awesome Sunday!Nicholas

I was looking at old artwork and remembering I used to paint on a joint compound. It’s a material generally used with sheetrock found at any hardware store. I think of it as white mud. You can apply it to wood, and what’s so cool is that it has a nice toothy texture that’s fun to draw into.

Check out how I use it…

I can use an awl to make marks deep into the surface and then come in with more paint or sand it down. It’s just a nice soft surface to work on that creates a weathered quality like an old wall. Give it a try!

Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever tried this or how you enhance your surface before you paint.

On this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m talking about rising above unbelief. We often hear comments from friends or family that have doubts about what we’re doing. It’s so hard to keep going when others have little confidence in us, but it’s so important not to let others bring us down. I’ll share some thoughts on how to stay confident and rise above!

I’m also excited to announce our 100th episode that is coming on Wednesday, September 20th! It’s a milestone I’ll celebrate with a special friend as we look back at the amazing guests we’ve had, the pearls of wisdom we’ve gained and the clues about where we’re heading on our creative journey. I am so grateful to everyone who helps make this podcast happen, especially YOU! Your support and comments continue to inspire me. Don’t miss this 100th episode!

Click here to find the Art2Life Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
And don’t forget that you can always find the full video version of our podcast on our YouTube Channel! Have an amazing Sunday! Nick

PS: Click here for a link to the joint compound I mentioned today.

We announced the winners of the 5th Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition! You can watch the recording of our Opening Reception featuring the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, joined by our wonderful juror, Anita Rogers, as she discussed the thoughtful reasoning behind her selections for the show. It’s been a great experience, but of course, not for everyone. There are always more who don’t get in than do, so I wanted to talk a little about rejection.

Here’s how I think about it…

The jurying process is so subjective and you can’t control it. What you can do is say, yes! Say yes to taking risks, say yes to entering again, and say yes to getting your work seen somehow! With each experience, whether or not you win, you learn more, so you are better positioned for next time. Ultimately, saying yes can become a positive lifelong habit.

How do you manage rejection? Let us know in the comments.

This week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast features John Seed, an artist and author who’s written a 2nd book on the art of disruption called, “More Disruption.” Tune in this Wednesday as he shares stories of outstanding artists he features. Their work is impressive and truly inspiring. Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.

Have the best day!-Nick

PS: As I mentioned, the 2023 Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition is now OPEN!

Click here to see all of the amazing art in this year’s show. Thank you to all of the incredible artists that participated and a special thank you to our juror, Anita Rogers, of the Anita Rogers Gallery! A lot of the art is for sale. If you see a piece you like, please contact the artist directly (through the contact link) to arrange a purchase. The artist keeps 100% of the proceeds of their sale.

We hope you enjoy our exhibition!