One thing I am always thinking about is making sure I don’t limit myself – here’s how I bring that to my art.
How do you not limit yourself?
34 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
Join me and artists from all over the world in our Free Art2Life Artists Facebook Group or learn more here about Art2Life.
Thanks! I try leaving pics but they are always too big?
Nicholas, thanks again for your willingness to share.
In the past you have talked from time to time about oil pastel in your work and also as a way to introduce line. I was interested in the technical aspects of this, especially since they don’t dry. Some of my questions include:Do you seal you paintings in some way when they are involved? Do mix them with oil paint etc? It would be interesting to see a clip in oil pastels.
I don’t like oil pastels because they are waxy. I just don’t know how to use them I guess. I love soft pastels.
Yes, a clip on applying lines to a painting. So if oil pastels are used, a fixative spray is used to seal them? What about using pencil or scraping?
Many years ago a friend commented on the work of an artist named Mati klarwein …when I showed my friend Klarwein’s art he commented on the fact that there’s usually several pictures within each picture …yet each of his paintings is in harmony ….. In fact, in an interview Klarwein said that even if he was simply creating a simple landscape, he would always put a line or some strange and unexpected thing to surprise the viewer……… So what you’ve said about “two things happening at once” is something I’ve done in my own art since that day about 40 years ago when I shared Klarwein’s art with my friend….’cause I love that surprise & sense of the unexpected …..after all, that is part of life and the joy of art ….(goes along with Art2life) …..the unexpected …..the unusual….the surprises….
I don’t paint the same subject matter all the time. I vary among several, like – flowers, dancers, figures, abstracts, still life’s, trees scenes. And within the abstracts I have several series/themes, like – music, dreams, spirits, doodles, storms. And that way I can find what resonates with others and what feels good to me while keeping my ideas in categories that I can revisit.
That’s exactly it Nicholas!
I have been painting with another artist the past few years. The visual conversations we get going in the works are amazing and inspirational. We only need to agree that we give each other permission to make changes, additions, deletions desired. The end result is creating a third artist.
As I realist/impressionist painter, after watching this, I thought “How can I relate this concept he’s talking about to the way I paint?” And I realized that it’s the same concept, whether you’re painting abstract or realism. In your abstract work, that “conversation” is between the flat shapes and the straight lines, and in mine, say a big floral painting, the conversation might be between the big bold brushstrokes of a peony and the super fine lines as few blades of grass or little tiny leaves … Love the concept and will consider that conversation as I paint my florals … or anything! Thanks Nicolas.
Another difference to think about! Love this concept of differences and opposites…..I seem to need a reminder often, so I do appreciate these weekly videos. Thank you, thank you!
WHAT IF…. the lines would of been darker? would it still work? I see it as an “outsider” trying to get into the conversation with something interesting to say… Of course, I realize the lines would be of greater value and would take a shift in the design… But I would be interested to see the result if you can make it with image adjustment! 😉
As a beginner I especially appreciate the advice. In a recent abstract I used drips and splatters as my secondary focus. One thing is for sure, it’s so much fun to paint abstracts.
Your amazing… at work early Sunday morning… even with Daylight savings…! I’m just drinking tea… but contemplating painting I’m working on.
Very helpful this morning… two conversations. I’ve been thinking about how to paint my abstract kimonos with some of my fanciful botanicals…. maybe today I will drop down from another planet and speak to this painting in a new language! The painting so far isn’t working… so what do I have to lose?!
Candace – your work is wonderful…!!! Just checked out your new website, neworangeland.com and find your work intriguing. Can’t wait to see your kimonos!!!! I visualize them as having the patterns of your botanicals – stunning!!
A fresh way to go to work on my paintings that aren’t quite there. Thanks. Make sure you go soon to the Matisse/Diebenkorn show. It was in Baltimore, and I wished I could have gone back a couple times.
I am very much enjoying this. I signed up for and am trying to view the free workshop series from Jan/Feb and the links don’t seem to work. Anyone know how can i view these?
As you were talking it occurred to me that I tend to have an “either/or” attitude about what to do on a painting. I need to start a painting today and was dragging my feet because I couldn’t decide which of two directions to go in. Now, after your talk, I think why not use both approaches together on this painting and see what comes out of it.
I just recently did what you said. I had painted an adequate painting–but I found it boring. I stared at that painting for at least five days trying to figure out what it needed. Finally I went for more color and kept adding it until I was satisfied. I went for a walk and found a funny little piece of paper with a bunch of holes in it and brought it back and placed it in pieces on the painting and painted over them–hurrah! it was done and it wasn’t boring. I figure if I’m bored with my own piece, I definitely need to spice up the conversation.
Spice up the conversation. Love that.
Running into the studio now! Thank you.
I love this insight. It is like a plot and a sub plot which weave in and out and around each other. Thanks
Thanks for sharing your AHA moment! So very helpful this morning!!
I wish a foreigner would come and paint on this painting I am working on right now, perhaps something would shift for the better. (:
Food for thought …. thankyou as always.
Hi Nicholas. I am really enjoying your talks about your art and how you look at your paintings. It is changing the way I look at mine – like this morning I realised that if I don’t love my art, how can anyone else love it. So I am putting more energy into loving what I do.
Love what you are doing. Not only your work, but sharing your thoughts AS you work. It is easy to hear something like this and BETTER when you SEE it. Thank you!!
Just what I needed to hear today. I have some “adequate” paintings along a theme right now, but they each need to be approached by a foreigner today to give them a bit more interest. Thanks, Nicholas.
Philip Glass the composer does the same thing in his music. While listening to his music, I realized that the combining of themes or movements are also done in the visual arts.
This gave me the solution to the problem I was having with the last board I posted in my CVP album. Honestly, a lightbulb turned on. My painting felt like your painting before you added your lines but I couldn’t put my finger on the solution for my painting. I limited myself by thinking that the painting already was FULL of elements so adding more couldn’t possibly be the answer when, in fact, that was the element missing, the last conversation, ‘lines’ of a sort….actually snowflakes. Thank you for pushing me to think further and remind me to not limit myself from possibility. Truly a zen moment for me.
That’s something that never occurred to me to do or try. So now I will be thinking of what conversation might enhance the abstract, kind of ethereal pictures I usually tend to paint…food for thought…thanks Nick!
Hi Yeah I have have had a new conversation whenI come back in as well. So I try to do most of the painting in one session if possible. Any other ideas?
What a great idea – have two conversations going on, maybe a dominant one and another one going on in the background – what a concept, thanks Nicholas! I will try to remember this especially when painting abstract. Layers of meaning.
I’m an abstract artist as well. I can relate to exactly what you’re saying in your videos. They are very helpful to me and I appreciate you sharing them! Love your work!
I’m returning to painting after years of dormant non-activity. My example is pre-digital age, 22×30″ using mostly Dr Martins watercolor on rag paper, hence I have nothing to show you. (My only documentation is a Kodachrome slide. The painting is under glass now and has sold, so I cannot rephoto it.) Here is how i used this idea, inadvertently, making my painting so much better. Perhaps due to an unexpected turn of events, it sold! I painted a lovely image of my daughter, titled Serenity; it looked almost complete and quite satisfactory. I left it by an open window to dry (in Phoenix where is rarely rains in MAY). It rained that night, before I could get back to it to protect it. The rain as you can imagine, left spots and blended colors in ways on her face that made her look like she had severe acne. Ruined! I felt angry and sad and unable to fix it. After 5 days of contemplation, I calmed down and accepted it as a divine intervention. I sat with the painting, had a new conversation, opened with new mind and heart. Eureka! I added dancing figures at the bottom with slanted lines for the rain, and called it “Let It Rain!” Great breakthrough for me and the visual worked well. Thank you for reminding me of this important lesson. Marcia Diane
This is a great idea of the two different layers. I try to hide a pattern as an under painting to landscapes but maybe I will move it to the surface to describe the unseen element that is informing my hidden pattern