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!...
Nick, I gave up using traditional oils because of the toxicity. That made me feel really guilty about the impact on wherever the waste chemicals go. I never knew what to do with it all, so I went to acrylic --just the cheap bottle in a matter finish. I love them, and most of my work has been done with them, but then I discovered water soluble oils and I LOVE them!!! You only need water to mix them, the colors are JUICY, and they dry a little faster. There's no real odor, so you won't need a mask. I'm getting back into watercolor and drawing again also. I have SO MANY MATERIALS!!!
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!
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!
Gee what an odd experience watching this. I wanted the pink square to be solid and the ... Pink line to stay!! Oh boy, i'll have to watch out for part 2. I have no control! 😮😂😂😍😍
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.
You are so easy to listen to and I have such a short attention span! One thing that would be helpful is to see the actual colors going into your mixing. You may be intentionally avoiding doing that but it would be very educational to see how you mix to get the color palette. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I've watched a lot of folk making abstract art and with many I like them in the beginning stages. But you guys seem to feel the need to keep going. And I'm not sure why. As that painting looks great as it is.
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.
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!
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!!!
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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. ❤🎨 🖌️
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
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
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🤓
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!
Thanx for great video. many times i have the dilemma "when to stop ?" cause many times when i start doing something i find cool, i want to do that all over... i knew if i stopped in time, it be a much better painting, but i guess thats practice
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!
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, RUclips channel
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 😮
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.
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
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.
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!!!
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 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!!
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
I thought I would want to paint very loose and not planned for anything just throw paint on the canvas you know the slop it around that kind of stuff has to be fast cause I don’t want to create mud. Would it be better if I just close my eyes to paint.?
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 😅👋
Thank you for such an enjoyable video. No music, just your quiet thoughts. Just delightful
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 do so enjoy listening to your thought processes while watching you work. Thank you for these videos. Can't wait for part 2.
You are a gem. Thank you for the step by step. Looking forward to part two. 😊❤️
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.!!!
Nick, I gave up using traditional oils because of the toxicity. That made me feel really guilty about the impact on wherever the waste chemicals go. I never knew what to do with it all, so I went to acrylic --just the cheap bottle in a matter finish. I love them, and most of my work has been done with them, but then I discovered water soluble oils and I LOVE them!!! You only need water to mix them, the colors are JUICY, and they dry a little faster. There's no real odor, so you won't need a mask. I'm getting back into watercolor and drawing again also. I have SO MANY MATERIALS!!!
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!
Great video again Nicholas! Love the painting already as it is now 👍🏼❤️
Omg I can't believe I never thought of wetting my canvas first. Duh, haha. Thank you Nick!!
I add a bit of Elmer’s glue to paint I want to thin
Beautiful creation 🥰👍
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!
excited to see the next steps!
Love the process of using big tools on the first layers and then 'fine-tuning' with smaller tools towards the middle and end stages!
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!
Fabulous! Much love and peace from Greenwich London UK 🇬🇧 🎉😊
Gee what an odd experience watching this. I wanted the pink square to be solid and the ... Pink line to stay!! Oh boy, i'll have to watch out for part 2. I have no control! 😮😂😂😍😍
Fun podcast! Loved seeing you tell us how you think when beginning a new painting. Your daughter will love this!
Love it!
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.
great start, thanks for the tips!!
I love this! Especially the paint roller trick! We always need extra lines!
Great to watch your process. Very exciting painting! Looking forward to watching the other parts❤
thanks - so much valuable information shared and the thinking, all I feel I can apply to what I do.
I love seeing the process!
Sooo valuable. Thanks Nick!!
You are so easy to listen to and I have such a short attention span! One thing that would be helpful is to see the actual colors going into your mixing. You may be intentionally avoiding doing that but it would be very educational to see how you mix to get the color palette.
Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I would not thought of getting canvas or using a spray bottle. This is excellent. Also really enjoyed freedom!
Very helpful!
Thank you! I can’t wait for the next one
Awesome!
I've watched a lot of folk making abstract art and with many I like them in the beginning stages. But you guys seem to feel the need to keep going. And I'm not sure why. As that painting looks great as it is.
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.
Merci beaucoup et un bonsoir de France
Vodka? Wow now that is an idea to try!
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!
Art 2 life is awesome and so is Nick! ❤
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!!!
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
Luv this session- great that you share Nick!
loved seeing this process! thank you.
Thank you Nicolas ~~ for sharing your process. Watching you changed me. I went on vacation!
I'm talking ur online course, first video I've watched, enjoying the dissection process💚
Well, that was a lot of fun! Thank you.
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.
Wonderful to see your process. From one artist to another- bravo!
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.
Nice painting, a great technic and understanding of mixing colours. Thanks, I apreciated so much. Best regards from Sweden.
Fantastic, thank you for your generous knowledge.👍
Thank you so much. I learn a lot just by looking at you work. As a bonus you share share your process and the tools you use. It amazes me.
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!
I soooo admire your talent & teaching methods . Thank you ‼️
It was interesting to watch the process and how you are using different tools. Thank you!
Thank you for another brilliant video Nick. So inspirational and helpful, especially the tip about wetting the canvas first 👍🏻
Thank you so much for all the new ideas you gave me❤
Such an interesting video. Listening to your thought processes and how they are moderared by the practice is so informative. Thank you for sharing.
I'm just seeing how you apply and then bring it home. Thx!❤
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.
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. ❤🎨 🖌️
So enjoyed watching . 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!!!!!!
This was so great nick ! Loved it 🫶🏼
So many interesting tools used so far. Surprised with some colors added randomly. Will remember to wet the canvas.
Beautiful.Thank you.
Love it .. thank you so so Much
Thanks Nick! Very useful!
Interesting to watch and listen to
Thank you, I’m getting some art made for a show in February and I never knew how to apply the water first! Marks bigger than me!
I see that you’re at peace. Your voice is very soothing.
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
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
You show us how you do this - creating- and we get to discover how to be ourselves.
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🤓
This was great, thank you so much. May we see the finished work? I feel so curious about it, even better if there was a part 2!!!
I'm liking your lines
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!
Thanx for great video. many times i have the dilemma "when to stop ?" cause many times when i start doing something i find cool, i want to do that all over... i knew if i stopped in time, it be a much better painting, but i guess thats practice
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!
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, RUclips channel
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.
Taut 😂
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 😮
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.
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
Can you do this on wood panel too?
I hope we get to see the final final.
When will part 2 come out? Can't wait to watch it!
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.
Love wetting the canvas thing...yeah, acrylics dry so fast
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!!!
You should start selling those bigger paint bottles in your store! Love those!
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 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!!
Hi! What exactly did you wet it with? Gesso??? Or water? Love the process ! Thank you
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
How do you hang your canvas on the wall to work on? Love the idea for the bigger canvas versus table top
What are you wetting it down with? Just water
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.
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.
That was really interesting. Thanks Nick. What did you mean by saying that oil painting is toxic?
Hi what body of paint are you using and are you adding water to your paint? Do you ship your paint to Canada?
The Art2Life paints are soft body and 😪 they don't ship to Canada.
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 water soluble oils?
How do you attach a framed canvas to the wall so you can work on it?
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.
Glad you mentioned this. I want to experiment with pastes and gels.
I thought I would want to paint very loose and not planned for anything just throw paint on the canvas you know the slop it around that kind of stuff has to be fast cause I don’t want to create mud. Would it be better if I just close my eyes to paint.?
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 😅👋