Mixing the perfect gray
As I paint, I collect extra paint in cans and end up with muddy grays that can be useful when I need a neutral color. These neutrals work well next to saturated colors. However, they sometimes have too much color and aren’t used as effectively as gray can be, so you have to adjust.
Watch what I mean…
Grays are most effective when they complement the other colors in a picture. They work best when they relate to the overall palette but remain neutral. I spend a lot of time mixing the perfect gray because it can make all the difference between an okay painting and a memorable one! All grays are not equal; you may need to adjust them.
How do you mix gray? What’s your favorite? Let me know in the comments.
In this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I talk about brand – your brand. This is beyond style. Your style can change over time, but your brand is something long-term. It’s a reflection of you — what you love, what’s important to you, and it relates to your art and how best to promote it through your brand. Join me this Wednesday as I share some ideas about this important topic. And don’t forget that we now have the video of our podcasts on our YouTube Channel!
Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast on your favorite streaming service.
Have a wonderful 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. www.facebook.com/groups/art2lifeartists
How I create lines in my paintings…
I love creating lines in my work, but I don’t do it by painting them directly. There’s an easier way. By working with values and the paint layers I have, I paint and cover areas, resulting in cool lines that give the work a finished quality.
Check this out…
Sometimes I make a line with a big stroke, but paint it out with a value close to the background. The result is a subtle difference between two values, and those details make the work feel refined. I love finding easy ways to create richness, like painting and repainting, including working with drips. They are lines, too!
Have you made lines this way? Let me know in the comments.
This week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast is all about knowing when a painting is finished. I get asked this question all the time. I’ve come to learn that the secret comes in timing. We spend too long trying to get a painting finished. Join me on Wednesday as I share some helpful ideas to keep you moving on. Subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!
Have an awesome Sunday!
Nick
PS: If you have something else you’d like to learn about, please let me know! And if you are looking for more ways to stay in touch with Art2Life, click here!
Watch how I create cool effects with crayons!
Happy Sunday! I’m working in my sketchbook with crayons and thought I’d share the cool effects I’m getting. I start by making a simple pattern.
Check this out…
What I love about crayons is that you can alter the color with layers of other colors. Plus, scratching through the crayon creates richness. My sketchbook page can almost resemble an oil painting!
What are you doing in your sketchbooks? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m with artist Anna Kincaide, who I discovered on Instagram. I first noticed her art, but her story drew me in. Despite previous successes, one less successful show made her question her work and process. It was a challenging period to navigate, but she learned so much about herself and her purpose. Join me for this inspiring story coming this Wednesday! Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!
Have an awesome day!
Nick
PS: In case you missed it, it’s almost time for us to open the Call for Entry for the2023 ART2LIFE INTERNATIONAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION!
To be sent the official Call for Entry on June 27th, you MUST add your name to the list here: https://www.art2life.com/upcoming-exhibitions/
And if you want to see our exhibition from last year, click here: https://www.art2life.com/exhibition-2022/
How I drop into my work quickly…
I’m in the studio today with a painting I haven’t worked on in a while. To help me drop back into it quickly, here’s something that I do, that you might want to try too. I unplug from my phone and other distractions and set a timer for 20-30 minutes. It gets me out of my head and fired up to make big moves fast.
Watch here, at high speed, how this painting changes in 30 minutes.
A timer is super effective if you’re short on time, too. So give it a try. Take the time seriously, set a timer, and go for it! I’m never sure where the work is going, but I trust that I’m finding my way. Experimenting and staying loose is the best way forward.
How do you show up and drop into your practice? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m joined by Adam Rosendahl, a facilitator of this cool company called, Late Nite Art. He’s an incredible musician and an artist, but his real art is bringing people together and creating connections through powerful art events. His music and playlists are amazing, too! Join me this Wednesday; you’ll be inspired! Click here to listen to and subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast.
Have the best Sunday!
-Nicholas 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.
Working large, small, and everything in between!
What sizes of paintings do you like to make? I work large, small, and everything in between! I have several different sizes going on in the studio now.
Let me show you my favorites.
Some sizes I choose are based on what people will buy, such as “the above the couch” painting. Also, because I’m tall, I love working big to feel myself in the work. I love how it forces me to move around more. The 12” x 12” panels will always be my standard small painting, but there’s a new size I’m excited about — 18” x 18”! It’s a nice medium size that I’m having fun working with.
We are selling these in our Art2Life Online Store, with frames too! (Please note that we only ship within the US.)
What are your favorite sizes and why? I’d love to hear in the comments!
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m talking about consistency in your practice. I’ll touch upon the obvious ways to gain consistency, plus offer some new ideas around optimizing your art space and process. I hope you’ll join me this Wednesday for our next episode.
Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!
Have an awesome Sunday!
Nick
PPS: If you’re looking for more ways to stay in touch with Art2Life, click here!
Take a look inside my sketchbook…
I’m coming to the end of one of my sketchbooks. Before it gets tucked away on a shelf, I thought it’d be cool to show you some of its pages. After all, the point of this vlog is to inspire, and you might want to try making a book like this, too! I use this book to keep in touch with what lights me up. I might not get to the studio every day, but at least something surprising can happen within these pages.
Take a look!
Some pages are better than others, but working in this sketchbook keeps me connected to my visual language and regular art practice. Many of these pages influence my larger paintings!
Do you have a practice on the side of your regular art-making that keeps you connected? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m talking about objectivity. We all have an emotional investment in our work, but on the flip side, we need to bring objectivity to our work so it’s more relatable and connects with others. Join me this Wednesday as I share different ways to apply objectivity to your practice.
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. www.facebook.com/groups/art2lifeartists
A time-saving tip to take to your studio
Here is a simple tip that helps me stay in a flow as I paint. It could help you too! I use color-coded bins to keep my paints organized. My paint tubes get so messy that I can’t even tell what color is in them. But if I take them from the bin marked with yellow, then I know what I’m getting. Likewise, when I’m done using the paint, it has a place to go where I can easily find it again. What’s cool is that seeing all the colors clearly keeps me from overthinking while I paint; all the options are right in front of me! It’s a simple solution that keeps my table neater and my process more efficient.
Take a look…
How do you organize your paints? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m answering YOUR questions! I love waking up on Sundays and listening to great questions so many of you ask using our new audio feature on the www.art2life.com/podcast page. The response has been overwhelming! So join me on Wednesday, as I dive into answers, and thank you for sharing the podcast and continuing the conversation! Be sure to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast on your favorite streaming service!
Have fun in the studio today!
Nick
PS: Click here to download our Free Color Tips PDF. It’s loaded with useful ideas!
The three stages of art-making
I love this Sunday Vlog because it’s a casual place for me to talk about ideas that come up when making my art. So if you’re new to the Art2Life Vlog, welcome! I encourage you to leave a comment so we can keep the conversation going.
Today I’m looking at three paintings in progress that perfectly illustrate three common challenges in art-making. You may recognize them, too.
Take a look…
These stages are part of the dance in art-making. When you’re too careful, you need to let go. Getting too wild? Time to find balance. Understanding art-making in terms of common stages can help you get unstuck. Remind yourself what stage you’re in and ask, is it good but boring? Is it time to take a risk or refine? This keeps the work moving forward. It certainly does for me!
Can you relate to these three stages? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, I’m joined by psychotherapist, Rick Scott. Rick has taught me a great deal about creativity and authenticity. He breaks down the challenges and risks of becoming your authentic self in art and life. Join me for this engaging conversation! Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!
Have a great Sunday!
Nick
PS: Click here to download our Free Color Tips PDF. It’s loaded with useful ideas!
This is the nature of creativity…
A while back, I shared the progress on a Tiny House I’m making with my daughter. We’re back at it! The house is on wheels, so this week, we’re working on it in a beautiful spot in Chico, CA. Unfortunately, we’ve hit some roadblocks, and things aren’t going as planned. No matter how hard we try, unexpected things arise and derail our efforts. It reminded me of the art-making process.
Let me explain…
There are always twists and turns when you’re trying hard to make something, whether it be a Tiny House or a work of art. You never know exactly how things will turn out — that’s the nature of creativity. Building this Tiny House reminds me that surprises and challenges are all part of the journey. Learning to be okay with what happens along our creative path makes our art and life richer. We’ll have even more memorable stories when it is done!
How do you keep yourself going when unsure where you’re headed? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s episode of the Art2Life Podcast, my dear friend Noah Woods returns for “Vulnerability Hangovers Part 2.” So many of you wrote in after last week’s episode and said you couldn’t wait for the second part of my talk with Noah! He is an artist, writer, teacher, and a gifted storyteller. His stories capture the adventure of becoming an artist! Listen this Wednesday as he shares vulnerable, funny, and life-affirming tales about his art journey. Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on part 1, too!
Hope you get into the studio this Sunday!
Nick
PS: If you’re looking for more ways to stay in touch with Art2Life, click here!
Gaining Momentum in Your Work
A couple weeks ago, I told you that before leaving the studio, it’s a great idea to make a move on your painting that doesn’t quite fit. When you return, you have something obvious to respond to. Today I’m ready to work on this again and I want to show you how the weird mark that I showed you will push me forward, working freely.
Watch as I work on this painting…
Now, there’s a lot of interest in this picture! There are parts I don’t like of course, but I have so much more to work with and refine now. I hope you see how making that bold weird mark fueled my momentum and that this can help bring some momentum to your studio today, too!
How do you push yourself in your work? Let me know in the comments.
On this week’s podcast, I’m talking about, “Vulnerability Hangovers.” You know those moments after you’ve put yourself out there and suddenly feel so exposed? We all have these stories. So join me and one of my dearest friends, Noah Woods, this Wednesday for the next episode of the Art2Life Podcast as we share some of ours. Click here to subscribe to the Art2Life Podcast and catch up on past episodes, too!
Hope make some art this 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 on 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.
