Posts by Angel Ayala

The most important question to answer this year is how you want to feel, captured in one single word. This word changes how everything unfolds because it influences how you approach every decision and challenge. Nicholas’s word “adventure” pushed him to complete an unplanned 16-hour run through the Grand Canyon from rim to rim. His…

Use this simple three-question framework to dramatically improve your art and life: What do I keep and amplify? What do I stop? What do I dream? By identifying what’s working (and doing more of it), eliminating what’s not serving you, and staying connected to your vision, you can speed up your artistic growth significantly. This…

Instead of focusing on what you want to accomplish this year, ask yourself how you want to feel in your art making. This approach comes from ultra running, where having a mantra (words that keep you present and grounded) is key to completing long distances. Nicholas’s words for 2026 are “grounded ease” because ease creates…

As the year closes, ask yourself what practices you want to bring forward into 2026 and what you want to leave behind. Looking at old work revealed I spent 3-4 years coloring inside the lines, staying controlled, and plateauing. Now I’m bringing forward three game-changing practices: varying how I start (collage, paint, charcoal), being wildly…

Feeling pulled between your art and holiday obligations? This simple card-making technique lets you do both. Create custom holiday cards by making art freely on card stock, then choosing which pieces remind you of specific people. It’s a twofer that keeps you creating while crossing gifts off your list. All you need is card stock,…

Glazing is the turning point in my painting process where everything shifts. After building up thick layers of paint, texture, and experimentation, I use a 5-step glazing technique to bring it all together. I seal the panel with gloss medium, apply a thin neutral glaze (burnt sienna or red oxide with black), keep it mostly…