Working larger is amazing, but it often requires a subtle shift in your approach to art making.
Watch the video and see what I do when I’m starting a big, new piece.
In gratitude, Nicholas
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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.
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I agree with you about painting with your body movements and are so important to be loose and enjoy the intimacy!!
Still trying to inch my way up to the bigger stuff. I have a 40 x 40 canvas looming in the corner!! Your advice and demos are so encouraging. Can’t wait to start on these.
Oh good Debby–go for it!
Good topic! I struggle with this issue quite a bit. What medium do you use with your paint in the squirt bottles? I have been trying to get to a good consistency for pouring with oil without losing too much opacity. For transparency I have been using Galkyd Gel, but not as good with opacity.
HI Mary- I use liquin..
Thanks, Nicholas.
Thanks for these insights, Nick. I have grown very fond of starting my Sundays with your videos and I always find something in each one to take with me to my own studio practice. Your sharing is helping me learn approaches to loosen up in my painting. I still clench up inside at times, get tight or in my head and your demos really encourage me to let go and trust. I greatly appreciate all you do!
OH Great Jeanne–that is why I have them come out on Sunday…that is my best day too..seems like time slows down on Sundays–glad you are watching!
That’s really wonderful advice Nick. It seems like an intuitive thing, something we should know automatically, that working larger requires our body to move and engage on a larger scale, but we forget. I know the minute I start noodling on a large canvas I’m dead in the water!
Great observation, I agree and am going to promise myself as I am painting to recognize when “noodling” is happening.
Totally. My favorite teacher urged me to go big immediately because I’m a “noodler” by nature. She didn’t like me doing it even on small pieces, and she tossed me on to a huge panel right away. It’s still intimidating, but totally freeing all at once!
That is a big step to go right away but it seems like it worked for you..sounds like a great teacher..
It was and she is!
Yes I know that noodling thing quite well–ha!
good one……..
Thank you Nicholas.Bringing back the grunt! I have yoga ropes on my studio wall…going to hang upside down with my eyes closed and paint 🙂
That makes me think of the Big Lebowski painting scene!!
OMG I want that… I think I could do this..love it!
It’s a challenge, a bit messy …and the paints appear to be on the ceiling! lol
Love this, it’s like dancing with the painting! Thanks Nic
I look forward to Sundays. You take the fear out of painting…thanks!
I love how you summarize that..wonderful and glad it helps you..
Fantastic! Thank you!
The movement, and using my whole body to paint, is the reason I love to go big with art. It’s like a dance… Sometimes as powerful and fluid as a ballet, and sometimes as raw and energized as tribal dance.
Yes I know what you mean–I love thinking about it like that…the art is the residual of a dance…
I really enjoyed hearing about your process! Love the idea of getting to know the canvas, the space, for your work!
Yes It is like checking out a new neighborhood before moving in by taking a walk around the block…
Yes I totally agree! What size is that and why did you choose that particular dimension? Thanks Nick — like many here, I so appreciate you sharing this videos with us.
I think this painting is 72 x 72. I like a painting – if it is going to be large to be about as tall as me…but really I have no particular preference-I tend to work all sizes so it keeps it interesting..
Awesome video and lesson. I miss painting large. I have a tiny studio and loved the large arm movements.
Hey Jeff–Well, you can work small and that will give you 80% of the fun…space and working larger will come later…
This my recent painting. Fun with continuation, color and translucence .
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/9f277272fa6f13459bc29e8d3d6f70672d1bca2d196990bb40de5ff23222b52f.jpg
This is really helpful Nicholas, you always capture the essense of an idea so succinctly.I find the rock music and dancing gets me going with large movements!
Hi Victoria, I used to have an evening class– now I mostly do workshops but probably will do a multi day workshop using my studio in the future..will certainly send out an email when I do!
I would love to join you for this type of class Nick…
I recently made made major changes in my life……space is limited…..now working small, but wanting to do a big piece. My studio is small, but I do have a free wall space. Your video has encouraged me to tack some canvas up and see what happens. Thank you for being my ‘life-source.”
Carol–good! This is all doable..making the art- even small art will lead you to where you need to go–it provides momentum…
Hello Carmen Wilkes Uhre – this is for you! Brilliant
YES, like Vicki S, I also put on something energetic and rhythmic, usually salsa music, that makes me want to move. I love the feeling I get when painting large. The physicality and energy ….feeling alive! I usually go too far! Then the hard part comes when I have to start paying attention to “design” and fine tuning. I turn off the music and sometimes find myself STUCK! How to “correct” the painting but not lose the feeling of energy and looseness…that is my dilemma.
Great video, Nick! I appreciate seeing your process and the videos always seem to come at the perfect time for what I’m working on. I have tried attaching large house painter’s brushes to broom handles. This gives me a long reach so I can get space from the piece. It also forces me to loosen up a bit as you can’t get any details with a large brush. You could also use big mops for drips.
HI Diana! Yes –a mop! I love that..
I really like your ability to let go and just go with your instinct. I really struggle with that need to be in control or for it to be “perfect.” I’m getting better, but seeing your approach is very helpful and encouraging!
It has taken me a long time to embrace the notion that the early stages of a painting may have little to do with the final piece, Preparing the surface for me has become a free exploration combined with a ritual of the known and unknown.
Yes Lori–it is a different way to think about it–but once you can get it –SO much can happen. Not always knowing can keep it exciting..
Just did this ,this morning on a larger landscape ,I stood up and painted with my full arm instead of my wrist ,works wonderful !
Thanks so much for your tips my friend .
Dave Anderson
Portland ,Or.
Hey Dave–thanks for being here. It is so cool to do a video and then see that it has an effect…awesome!
its once again, a happier sunday!..seeing you share your personal art creating gives me, one, permission to dive in!..begone timid…stretch, dance.. it can always be covered…or parts as you showed..your work comes from all of you, something we all need to be reminded of.. great, energetic, thoughtful work .. you are a very sharing soul, thank you!
I enjoy watching you work! Examples of movements, gestures and mark making….talking through the “whys”. Thank you for sharing your gift and knowledge! That is priceless!
I recently started working on 24×24 and I thought that was big. Being a former dancer after 45 yrs I already know that I have to go even bigger to get to that “Dance-y” movement that I want for my paintings in the future. Thanks. nice video w great advice as usual!!!
So true..you movements have to be more expansive when you are working on a larger canvas. Otherwise you lock up, not focusing on the big picture..working on on one part of the painting. Thanks for sharing
what kind of oil paint are you using in the large squeeze bottles?
I would like to know too.
I’ve only seen artist’s oil paints in tubes. I wonder if it is the kind of oil paint that comes in cans from a paint store? Can you mix that with tube oil paints?
Thank you for this advice and for demonstrating your process — it is a great place to start… and to practice… Though I started as a passionate graphic designer (working small + clean) these days I aspire to paint with childlike abandon (movement, textures, shapes, layers + no overthinking) and your videos inspire and grease the wheels.
Question: You work on board but did you ever work on canvas? Given your style (tools, etching, etc.) it seems the appropriate material but can you tell me what you like about it? And how they’re primed? I work on stretched canvas but loved working on a project painting canvas flat to the wall (no bounce). I think I would enjoy panels and would like to know more. And how is it they don’t seem to move at all on the wall??? (I hang 60″ canvas on 4-5 big nails, then duck tape the bottom to secure). Tips?
I enjoy painting on a larger scale because I like moving generically across and around the canvas, and that movement or should I say the energy from movement transfers to the canvas (if that makes sense).
I like what you have shared in this video; to first take the time to become familiar with the canvased area. I can see where movement will then more readily flow from the beginning of the painting rather than somewhere along the way into the painting.
Looking forward to using your advice………THANK YOU!
Great Video Nicholas. Thank you– its always good to be reminded of the body’s role in all of our mark making. I’m not sure why we forget this so easily! I would also be interested in learning more about what medium you are using in the squirt bottles, such a nice way to work with oil. Many thanks.
I love having to stretch and bend to do bigger work. And use big sploshy brushes. The trouble is that transporting and storing bigger work becomes such a problem, that it puts me off. Probably the best painting I’ve ever done is about 10 feet square and it’s currently rolled up and stored in a cardboard tube, which is painful to me – I can’t exhibit it.
A week later: I’m going to start watching on Sunday too. I LOVE this one Nick. I am going to do it tomorrow (Sunday a week later). This feels so right to me. I can hardly wait to try it. Just ‘moving into the work’., moving being the key word. Maybe that’s what I’ve been missing is as much the idea even as the movement. I liiiiike it.
Thank you for this, it’s very pertinent to me today, as I’m working larger but struggling to make larger marks, I have become stuck, and now I realise my energy and my movements are still small when I work. My eyes are opened, thank you!!