Being an artist has taught me that when the universe has a plan for you, opportunities will unfold before you, and the only thing needed of you is to say "YES!" Happening across Nicholas Wilton's 2025 Art2Life Workshop was that abundance producing opportunity, I just had to say "YES!" to.
Day 1, March 3rd:
This is the first day of the Art2Life Workshop, and it is exactly what and where I am, at this moment in life. It's all about finding those exciting moments and taking risks. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity to be evolving so quickly as an artist over this winter. And the best part, we arted together!! Each of us in our individual studios played, explored and created. I love how my painting took a Monet turn, something completely different for me. I am incredibly happy with it, knowing it just came out as it was meant to. It looks like real fine art, whatever that means. It is completely different from the multimedia stuff I am used to making, and the risk of it didn't feel like it. I just let it be and it was. Thoroughly excited and moved by it all.
Day 2, March 4th:
After taking in another wonderful workshop with Nick I manifested this risky piece. I feel so much about it and can't fully put my finger on what about it that touches me so. I was inspired by the guest speaker and her focus on trees. By utilizing the feel-open-play principle I just allowed. I recognized as I brought value to different areas, it was about hearing and responding, not taking control. Just saying yes to play! That's when it simply became breathtaking. This experience is overwhelming and the transformation of safe to risky is happening. Those loud conversations are harmonizing with the quiet ones to make me a better artist. Over the moon with excitement and intrigue!! Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow!!
Inspired by the collage idea from our guest speaker in our Art2Life Workshop, I made a travel collage for my scrapbook. (Done as a Task from Julia Cameron's Artist Way also!!) Synchronicities!!
Day 3, March 5th:
I am just amazed and in total love with today's creation. I really took in all Nick was saying about differences, values, and harmonizing the conversations by covering up parts to help move the eyes around the piece. These simple principles are opening up my artwork and new themes that I never would have expected from myself are pouring out of me. With today’s creations I have been drawn in as I am walking past several times, and find myself captivated by the story it tells. I loved using off-the-wall items to achieve the design, and opted to limit myself to black and white paint (mostly) to achieve shades of value. Inspired by an upcoming trip to a concrete jungle, I feel shades of gray and splashes of red capture some of what I might see.
Day 4, March 6th:
Colors, colors, colors. Today's Art2Life Workshop was illuminating in seeing colors as values. The saturation or desaturation of a given color brings its value. This conversation that emerges between the colors creates the design. Understanding how Design, Value and Colors play with each other made my art feel less chaotic and much more liberated. When it came time to work in the studio, I couldn't help but take what Nick had provided and expound on it with what I had experienced at a recent visit to an art museum. The radical combination brought about my vision of a mountain.
As my first attempt with watercolor, I loved playing with the saturation of the colors. As the mountain is the loud conversation, the lighter background sky serves as the quiet conversation. Combined it harmonizes the whole scene. All ROYGBIV was utilized in the painting as a personal challenge. It is a riot of color that has direction, and I love it!! I can't wait to be back in the studio tomorrow!!
Day 5, March 7th:
My art has truly blossomed using the Art2Life Workshop’s BLOOM method. Just by tapping into what I am feeling in the moment, opening myself up to the feeling fully before letting loose and playing on the canvas, I have unlocked this part of me that has been lurking only in corners. Incorporating the principles expressed this week along with the Bloom Method I am ready for the next year to unfold before me and let the art pour out. The adventurer in me has emerged and my art is showing it.
As Nick pointed out, our artistic community is so pivotal to our growth as artists and people too. This Art2Life Workshop group is just the ongoing connection I was asking for. I cannot express how excited I am to now be part of an annual group of artists, to share with and grow with, in art and life.
This week has really opened me up and made me realize that my best work comes when I just let-go and let-art. Getting back in touch with that piece of me that just likes to play was the best experience that Art2Life Workshop has taught me. I am so excited to keep using these principles all year, so I can return next year and see how my art has evolved.
Join me next year in Art2Life Workshop with Nicholas Wilton for another week of artistic deep diving. Let's all take that risky plunge and release the inner workings bursting to get out. See you there!!
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