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!

I’m so excited to share a cool resource for intense color called, Viviva Colorsheets. The color in these watercolor sheets is amazingly vibrant! They come in two sets, Springtime and Metallic, and are the right size for on-the-go painting. Just tuck into your sketchbook with a small brush and go!

Check it out…

Coming this week is the Opening Reception for the 2023 Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition! All selected works will be unveiled live and online on Tuesday, August 29, 12pm PDT! Our juror, Anita Rogers, will join us to share her experience putting this fantastic show together, and we’ll hear from some of the winning artists too. All works will be for sale, so be ready to see the selection. Join us, it’s going to be amazing! Click here to sign up to join us for the Opening Reception.

Also, this Wednesday’s new episode of the Art2Life Podcast features my conversation with an amazing content producer, Adrien Anne. Not only does he make stunning travel reels, he does it all on skates! Hear about his creative partner, their wonderful love story, and the rich lives they lead by doing just what they love. Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!

Have an awesome Sunday!
Nick

If you’re new to this vlog, welcome! This is a place to learn and share. If you have something you’d like to learn, leave a comment. Let’s crowd-source all we know!

Last week I showed how I glaze my paintings to harmonize all the colors. Today I want to show you the effects of adding new color on top of the glazed painting.

Check this out…

I glaze multiple times on a painting. It’s a great way to get the color looking so rich!

Do you do this with glazes in your work? Let me know in the comments!

This week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast features questions from you! I’ll answer many of the great questions you’ve recorded on the art2lifepodcast.com page that center around finding your way, authenticity, and more. Be sure to tune in this Wednesday! Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.

And I’m so excited to share that the winners of the Art2Life International Art Exhibition for 2023 have been selected! Be sure to join us Tuesday, August 29th at 12pm PDT for a live online Opening Reception where we will announce this year’s winning artists. This live reception will include some of the artists in the show, and our distinguished juror, Anita Rogers. You’ll see all the work selected and hear Anita’s perspective on the show. Click here to be sent all the info to join us for the live online Opening Reception! We hope to see you there!

Have the best day!

Nick

The colors in this painting are pretty wild, but watch what happens when I start to glaze it. I’ll first demonstrate how I glaze in oil using transparent paint, a product called Liquin, and odorless mineral spirits. Next I’ll show you the same technique using acrylic paint, gloss medium, and water.

Take a look!

Glazing is a great way to bring harmony to a painting, especially with a challenging palette. Whether you’re using oil or acrylic, the technique is simple. I love glazing and I’ll show you why this technique is so effective next week.

What glazes do you use in your work? Let me know in the comments.

In this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m doing a deep dive into the value of mistakes. I make mistakes all the time and have learned so much from them. If you have a fear of making mistakes, be sure to tune in this Wednesday! You’ll learn not only to accept your mistakes, but embrace them as well. Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!

Have an awesome Sunday!

Nick

PS: Here are links to the products I mentioned today:

Gamblin Artists Oil

Liquin Fine Detail

Gamblin Gamsol Mineral Spirits

Saffron Yellow

Gloss Medium

When I’m not sure if a painting is working or not, it’s time to make a big change. Big changes can help reveal what’s working and what’s not. I’ve made big moves on this piece, and it still isn’t working, but that’s okay because now I feel more committed to pushing it further.

Watch how I change it…

Wrecking this painting allowed me to go back into it with more freedom. Using bigger tools really made the difference, and I like it more. If you’re not sure where you’re going in a work, let it fail and search for a new direction. There’s joy and discovery in the search!

Can you relate to this approach? Let me know in the comments.

In this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I continue a conversation I’ve had for 25 years with my dear friend Steve Lomprey. He’s a multimedia artist whose mediums include painting, videography, and music. Join us on Wednesday for an encouraging discussion about humanity, freedom, and taking a 40,000-foot view of life and art. Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!

Have an awesome Sunday!

Nick

PS: Have you joined our Art2Life Artists Facebook Group yet? It’s an amazing community of artists from all over the world! I pop in and share what I’m working from time-to-time, and I’d love to see what you are creating too! If you’re on Facebook, click here to join the group.

Check out these weird colors! This painting is so garish, but I’m excited about it anyway! Because I’ve started with colors I don’t like, it gives me confidence that I’ll improve this painting easily with colors I do like. I often begin with this strategy. In the first pass, I give myself permission to make something that’s not really working. It’s okay because opportunities emerge and then the real work begins. It’s the most exciting time.

Let me show you what I mean.

Making something you don’t like initially is the best setup for success. It’s much easier than starting with a blank canvas because you already have so much to respond to. Turning your canvas around gives you a fresh perspective too. Give it a try!

How do you set yourself up when starting something new? Tell me in the comments here.

In this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m joined with David DuChemin, an incredible photographer, writer, and daring world traveler. David captures encounters with wildlife and humans across the globe so intimately that you feel you are traveling with him. His work creates connections to feelings the way our art does. He speaks so eloquently about this and the creative process. Join us for this engaging conversation.
Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!

Have an awesome Sunday!
Nick

PS: Speaking of color, click here to download our Free Color Tips PDF. It’s loaded with useful ideas! https://workshop.art2life.com/ctmc-vlog/

It’s valuable to show your work to others because you gain objectivity. I recently showed this piece to my gallerist. She didn’t like the big brown area, and others reacted similarly. I looked at the painting with fresh eyes, and uncertainty bubbled up. Of course, you don’t want to adjust work based on what others think, but here’s the thing, once that uncertainty comes, it won’t leave until you make a change. You have to do something to regain certainty for yourself.

Let me show you what I mean.

That move was a “YES” for me! If you’re questioning something in your art, change it as soon as possible to find an answer. You may return to where you were, but making a significant change restores conviction. If it’s not a “hell yes,” then change it!

Can you relate to this? How do you go about making changes in your work? I’d love to hear in the comments.

It’s summer, and I’m talking about rest in this Wednesday’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast. I dive into the benefits of taking a break and will share my tips on power-napping! It’s one of my favorite habits. I can fall asleep anywhere! Join me for this relaxing discussion. Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.

And don’t forget about our Call for Entries for the 2023 ONLINE ART2LIFE INTERNATIONAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION!
The last day to enter is this Tuesday, July 25th at 11:59 am PDT.
We can’t wait to see all of your amazing work!!
To see FAQs, the eligibility and guidelines, and to enter the exhibition, please click here: www.a2lcallforentry.com

Have a great week!

Nick

My favorite part of the art-making process is starting a new piece! Applying the first layers of paint in any way, in any color, is so fun! It’s the best time to experiment and play, because anything you do will be more exciting than a blank canvas. So, even if you are creating a figurative piece, start painting anything. There’s so much to learn through play! I like to think that all the initial expressive energy, even if it gets covered, still comes through in the work. Here’s how I start…

Watch me start a painting here.

Getting in motion provides answers for where the work wants to go. Being present without a plan invites you to stay relaxed and open to whatever comes. Give it a try!

How do you start a painting? Let me know in the comments.

In this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’ll address some of the great questions I’ve received from listeners. Join me as I dive deep into common motivation and self-doubt challenges from artists committed to improving their work. Sometimes it’s just a matter of reframing the issue! Check it out this Wednesday. Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.

And just a reminder, there is still time to enter our 2023 ONLINE ART2LIFE INTERNATIONAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION!

We have created a new Art2Life online gallery and will be promoting the work of those selected to our large social media following!

To see FAQs, the eligibility and guidelines, and to enter the exhibition, please click here: www.a2lcallforentry.com

Have an awesome Sunday!

Nick

PS: Here are some links to the two materials I mentioned today:

Gamvar Varnish
Pigment Sticks

I’m super excited to be on the last page of my journal! There’s a celebration at the end of one and an anticipation at the beginning of another. Before I switch, I’ve been thinking about the common things I do that show up in all my art. Whether in a journal or on canvas, how I make art and the symbols that reoccur have become so loaded with personal meaning over time. They feel like metaphors for how I experience life. I’ve included my favorite symbol on my final page.

Check it out…

The infinity symbol reminds me that life is a journey of venturing out and returning to yourself. It’s a repetitive process but not a rut; it’s expansive! While venturing out and coming back to you, you’re always learning more about yourself and life. I use such symbols and lines to evoke the freedom I want in my art and life.

What rituals and/or symbols are part of your practice? Let me know in the comments.

In this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast as I explore further how art-making and life are related. I’m making a painting while thinking this through. It was super fun! I hope you’ll join me this Wednesday for my next episode. Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.

Have a super Sunday!

Nick

PPS: Don’t forget that Call for Entries for the online 2023 Art2Life International Juried Art Exhibition is open through July 25th! Find more info, answers to all of your questions, and how to enter here
→ www.a2lcallforentry.com