Thank you so much!! This is my favorite kind of video... - where you paint, and at the same time relay your thoughts on what you're doing, what is happening from your perspective!... Nothing's more instructive and helpful to me!...

I paint with Acrylic on hardboard (uk) primed with at least two layers of Gesso. Each layer of Gesso must fully dry before the next. Apply it with a coarse decorators brush at 90 degrees to the previous layer leaving texture similar to canvas. Dry thoroughly to set the Gesso hard. Then wet it all over with plain water. Keep spraying it with water through your process. Occasionally apply a thin layer of slow dry medium to the area you are painting or add a tiny bit to the paint you are using. If you use too much you risk muddy layering and stickiness. Use good Gesso and good medium. If you add water directly to the paint it can make the paint dull. Better to use flow medium or (apparently) vodka 😄 I’ve used this method for years after discussions with technical advisors from Daler Rowney. The oldest picture I have done using this technique is over 25 years old. Hope it helps.

I do so enjoy listening to your thought processes while watching you work. Thank you for these videos. Can't wait for part 2.

Love the process of using big tools on the first layers and then 'fine-tuning' with smaller tools towards the middle and end stages!

@ellygarcia6986

2 ай бұрын

That was so GREAT Nicholas. Have been watching you for ages and have been just waiting for you to begin showing your technique. Love it and am now able to start working on my own canvasses which have been sitting there until NOW! Thanks so much!

You are a gem. Thank you for the step by step. Looking forward to part two. 😊❤️

Yes this was very helpful, the "getting the full range down" , "stay open", and "Dark and Rich" is exactly where I am stuck. Thank you!

Omg I can't believe I never thought of wetting my canvas first. Duh, haha. Thank you Nick!!

@tendr247

5 ай бұрын

I add a bit of Elmer’s glue to paint I want to thin

Super, super interesting and helpful to see your process. It gets the wheels turning. Great idea to keep the underneath surface wet when using acrylic paint. Looking forward to Part 2!

A very exciting start! So happy to watch you paint. I hope we get to see you create the next layer...& the next, & the next etc.!!!

Beautiful creation 🥰👍

I love this! Especially the paint roller trick! We always need extra lines!

I see that you’re at peace. Your voice is very soothing.

Great video again Nicholas! Love the painting already as it is now 👍🏼❤️

excited to see the next steps!

I would not thought of getting canvas or using a spray bottle. This is excellent. Also really enjoyed freedom!

Sooo valuable. Thanks Nick!!

Thank you! I can’t wait for the next one

thanks - so much valuable information shared and the thinking, all I feel I can apply to what I do.

Fun podcast! Loved seeing you tell us how you think when beginning a new painting. Your daughter will love this!

Thank you Nicolas ~~ for sharing your process. Watching you changed me. I went on vacation!

loved the different tools like the paint roller without the fuzzy plus the trowel, smoothing out the surface or dragging over paint to make a drybrush look. thanks you!

I won't take the shirt off your back, Nick but I do hope, hope, hope you give us Part 2 soon! Thanks so very much for this - I don't use nearly enough paint; lesson learned.

Awesome!

I love seeing the process!

Love it!

So enjoyed watching . Thank you

great start, thanks for the tips!!

Luv this session- great that you share Nick!

You show us how you do this - creating- and we get to discover how to be ourselves.

This was so fun to watch! I just finished a piece in honor of my first grandchild. At one point I stalled, until he was born and then a flood of inspiration came in and now it is done. It’s my favorite and no preconceived elements - just working the A2L process and hitting my stride. Now I am on the edge of my seat seeing what happens next - you’re a rockstar and I am deeply grateful

If you have a framed stretch canvas you can spray on the back of it with water for the first few thin layers. It keeps the canvas taught too.

@55camille

6 ай бұрын

Taut 😂

Nice this is the way I would like to paint to. Big canvas, light neutrals, complementing darker colors, some saturated accents, a bit of contrasting black. Maybe I would go for a few shades of the same color, like the green, to blu and to yellow. But you do you!!!

Well, that was a lot of fun! Thank you.

Art 2 life is awesome and so is Nick! ❤

Wonderful to see your process. From one artist to another- bravo!

Love wetting the canvas thing...yeah, acrylics dry so fast

I love that you use colour and shape the way you do and that you didn't want it to be beautiful so soon. My problem. I also like the way you use whatever tools you have on hand. I was in a super hardware store today, an old-time one, 3 stories high and it was heaven. I looked at all of it through the lenses of painting, sculpting and sewing. Loved it.

I soooo admire your talent & teaching methods . Thank you ‼️

I luv luv everything about this, and how you are so smooth and nonchalant about it,it’s fabulous, you are truly gifted!!!!!!

Fantastic, thank you for your generous knowledge.👍

Great to watch your process. Very exciting painting! Looking forward to watching the other parts❤

I loved all the tools you were using in different ways. That was like diving into cold water... and feeling your breath jump brrrrr. thanks for sharing your thoughts as you worked. It was very soulful.

Thank you for sharing 😊

listened to this on the way home from work today- realized I needed to watch it. :) This is how I use acrylic and latex for murals and scenic work- lots of water.

Beautiful.Thank you.

This is one of your best podcasts! Do you ever sell the shirts that are created when you are working on a large acrylic? I get some awesome work clothes! Always thinking outside the box

So many interesting tools used so far. Surprised with some colors added randomly. Will remember to wet the canvas.

Thanks Nick! Very useful!

Love it .. thank you so so Much

Thank you for another brilliant video Nick. So inspirational and helpful, especially the tip about wetting the canvas first 👍🏻

I'm talking ur online course, first video I've watched, enjoying the dissection process💚

Nice painting, a great technic and understanding of mixing colours. Thanks, I apreciated so much. Best regards from Sweden.

Such an interesting video. Listening to your thought processes and how they are moderared by the practice is so informative. Thank you for sharing.

This was very interesting! The way you explained your thought process and how you react to each step. I learned so much- and starting off with high contrast, filling the canvas, the strategy of starting off with a first layer that is the opposite of where you want to end up. This is my favorite of all of your podcast episodes so far!

Nick, this was fantastic! Thank you for sharing your process with acrylics. I learned a lot in this video and I’m looking forward to seeing the next installment!

Thank you so much. Looking forward to more of this. It's helpful to hear and watch the process. It inspired me. I have never wet my canvas down. Who knew. Can't wait to try it! Also i love to go BIG with my acrylics. 29:44 Your use of big brushes and tools helped too!! Thanks again!!!

I'm liking your lines

Another artist left a comment on Gaynor Pattle's YT channel to come check out your channel and so far, I'm impressed. I hope your daughter cherishes the painting you made her for her bday. (Yay November babies 🥳🎉) Thanks for sharing your passion. 💖 What I learned by listening that I didn't know: use water on the canvas first and then gesso and acrylic. Thanks again for sharing. ❤🎨 🖌️

Can you do this on wood panel too?

How do you keep your paint from not drying up in your buckets ? Do they all have tops? Do you just add water when you back to your work the next day ? I can't afford to waste my costly paint 😮

@joannwoodland4317

2 ай бұрын

Use tupperware type containers. Layer the bottom with newspaper layers wet with water put freezer paper shiny side up put paint on it and use a spray bottle to keep paints wet and before closing.

@joannwoodland4317

2 ай бұрын

Also if you can store in the fridge it will keep your paint longer. Even if you use yogurt container wet it with some sprayed water and stick in fridge

It amazes me how you paint over your already beautiful stuff! I believe I have a chronic fear that says, "This is it. It doesn't get any better. Don't wreck it!" Watching you do this, gives me courage. Thank you!

Luv luv your approach - yea so true - you need to keep the contrasts in beginning, creates so much visual excitement & pathways open - also - i do have to continually resist the urge to go too far too soon - anyway just luv how you impart your wonderful talent, thoughts, & skills etc

I love that red, is it a mix or is it one of your paint that you sell?? Love that first step with these great colours!! I will be a beautiful background! Can't wait for your workshop on March 4th! See you then!!

Wow it looks gray not green but love the contrast .

When will part 2 come out? Can't wait to watch it!

How do you hang your canvas on the wall to work on? Love the idea for the bigger canvas versus table top

I hope we get to see the final final.

This was fun and engaging thank you Nick! I am so stale and creatively spiritually blocked, I know following your processes will clear the cobwebs and brighten my spirit 🤍🎨 🕊️ PS I love the spontaneous colour creations… happy new sub🤓

You should start selling those bigger paint bottles in your store! Love those!

It is my dream to paint huge canvases sometime soon! Have you ever experienced someone giving you suggestion or critiquing your work? What do you do or say? Thank you for sharing your process.

I'll add a bit of Golden Open or a touch of retarder to the water I use to apply the base colours. It does slow down two to three times and allows some play. Acrylic pastes and gels are huge fun.

@pamzavada5269

6 ай бұрын

Glad you mentioned this. I want to experiment with pastes and gels.

hey Nic ! Was just wondering why you aren't using slow dri gel retarder by Liquitex ? I switched from oil to acrylic years ago ; because of the fumes and toxins.. It was like pulling teeth to begin with ; but I'll never go back. can't wait to see finished product.

You must have higher humidity in Sausalito than I have near San Jose. Everything dries so fast here.

Try using Interactive Acrylics by Atelier are the best as you are in control of how long they stay open or re-open them whenever you want… plus a roller works great to fill in a large area.

First time here I so appreciate your thought process sounds like me lol. I don’t think just do feel the colors and you get what you get. Lol. When you first begin, I started to see a face. I think I would’ve enhanced in that more, I begin to see faces or images and takeoff on that. Again, good job I’ll be looking forward to watching your, KZread channel

I just found you today while trying to look up abstract process. I have been painting for a couple of years and really struggle with the start. I really like how you explain your process, like and dislike, not getting attached. I am curious what type of medium you use. I am living in Cozumel, Mexico and the heat and humidity here, really make the paints dry quickly. I must say I can't be as generous as you are with the paint, as I have no where to replenish my supply. I generally purchase my supplied when I return home to Canada or when we are doing cycling races throughout the US. I am really enjoying this and it is a great start to the New Year. Thank you.

That was really interesting. Thanks Nick. What did you mean by saying that oil painting is toxic?

When do you reply to questions ? I covered my container with plastic wrap but the next day it was more dry . Should I add water, medium. Flowtrol ?

How to finish is the hardest....40 unfinished canvases.

@jdmosaics

6 ай бұрын

I have found that finishing is more about me, not the paintings.. once I figured out why I was not finishing the work…(everyone is different of course) …can be due lots of fear involved in finishing… self compassion really helps. Take care and take one step at a time. A great book to read is The Artist’s Way…by Julia Cameron……Believe in yourself. ❤

Very excited to watch your process.....this is the painting that was behind you in the last of cast? With the very sophisticated colors.... Thank You Nicolas

Are you using OPEN acrylics. The paints appear to be staying wet longer than I expected. I’ll definitely place water on gessoed canvas first. Thanks as always, Nick! 💕

I just want to say that i don't think oil paint is toxic. The mediums and mineral spirits are. If you don't use those things it is not toxic. Of course avoid cadmiums. Am I wrong about this? I love all of your work so much! You are awesome!!

My daughter was born on thanksgiving

My daughter birthday is November also 😀. She kicked me out the house for her party 🎈. Went to New York City to the Met .I saw , begging of Byzantium in Africa, Korean Art and Manet & Degas it was fun. Eat Korean food first time in my life, strange considering that I grow up in Asia ( Vietnam ) So you art is going to New York, life is full of coincidence . I was so tired of all that waking a now is Christmas preparation, could not put sentences together 😅👋

What are you wetting it down with? Just water

Have you ever used water soluble oils?

I really enjoyed watching you paint! I know this is boring but can you show how you clean up sometime? Acrylics dry on my metal tools, like the trowel and painters edge, etc and I’m not sure how to get the paint off

This was fantastic! So interesting and learned a lot. Nicholas, I was wondering have you ever tried putting a clear gesso over the first layer and then when you put down the second layer, it would make it easier to scrape down without losing the color on the bottom?

What scraper are you using ? Is it a squeegee ?

Hi what body of paint are you using and are you adding water to your paint? Do you ship your paint to Canada?

@db52

5 ай бұрын

The Art2Life paints are soft body and 😪 they don't ship to Canada.

Hi Nick… is this primed canvas that you spray water onto? The heat here dries paint really quickly, so this tip is great!

@bonnie_nelms

6 ай бұрын

He said he gessoed the canvas first

@michellegraven7786

6 ай бұрын

@@bonnie_nelms thanks Bonnie 🙌

Can you do drywall and taping? Lol. It takes a certain courage to free oneself from realism to do art like this. And good canvas is expensive. Good for you!

Where do you buy ART2LIFE acrylic paints?

I love what you were saying about it getting too beautiful, and how it makes you tighten up (not in the cool way ; )). I just have to have the nerve you have to boldly readjust things on the painting so I don't get stuck. Very useful to watch you be so bold. Thanks very much!

Where do I find the replay of Day 1, March 4

@markperry1112

2 ай бұрын

U know. Dnt alter a damn thing hehe.

What’s the name of the painting

What was the Reaktion of your doughter?

Nick thank you so much for today's sessions. I teach Yoga and cannot join live...and you made it feel live when I logged on. What a great opportunity to reach deep and enjoy!

Have you ever used retarder in your paints? Or alcohol?

@kristinclark3430

4 ай бұрын

He generally uses oils mixed with some cold wax on large pieces.

Literally anyone could do this. No talent needed, just tons of confidence.

@JudyJewel

4 ай бұрын

Have you tried it yourself? It is not as easy as it looks. There are many sudelties and nuances that only happen from experience. This is just basically the underpainting so it’s too soon to judge. If you don’t like it then just don’t watch it. No need to be rude. You have no idea how much work and courage it takes for someone to make a painting video.

@cliffdariff74

4 ай бұрын

Another genius declares "anyone could........."