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That’s it. SPARK does one thing.
It will reignite who you are and who you are becoming, using art.
SEPTEMBER 19th – OCTOBER 10th, 2024
ENROLLMENT Ends In:
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
That’s the answer. But here’s the problem. And it happens to all of us.
We simply lose momentum. If you are an artist or trying to become one, the challenge is always staying in it. Keeping the fire going that started everything for you in the first place.
When this problem shows up, here’s what it looks like…
- You start second-guessing whether your art is any good.
- You start wondering if you’re lacking some special talent.
- Life feels a bit like your art. Kind of flat.
- Just getting into the studio feels heavy. Procrastination.
- And the worst one… It seems everyone else’s art is better than yours. Comparison.
First off, know this is normal.
Anyone who is interested in making anything will go through these kinds of rough patches.
Making something from nothing is challenging. And that’s probably why most people shy away from creativity.
BUT I KNOW YOU’RE NOT LIKE MOST PEOPLE. I’M NOT EITHER
The desire to create and make art is not going away. As hard as it is, the answer is not to stop making art.
And that actually doesn’t work. I’ve tried it. The tug of your soul to make your art in this lifetime will never let up. Ever.
BUT REGARDLESS, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.
So where is the answer?
I can tell you it’s NOT…
- It’s NOT found in more “how to” instruction.
- It’s NOT found in growing your number of Instagram followers.
- It’s NOT found in a gallery coming along to showcase your art.
- And it’s NOT found in a new style.
The answer is simple.
And you already know it.
You just forgot.
It is so, so simple. And it has been there all along, sitting in plain sight.
The answer is YOU.
This is where you have to return to.
This is where EVERYTHING that matters is waiting.
Your best art, your energy, your life force and actually your whole amazing, new life.
It’s about centering yourself. In a good way.
In a way that puts you smack dab in the middle of a curated world that brings you alive.
The colors, the places, the activities, the people—and yes, the art too.
Everything that brings you
alive, contributes to your
best, highest energy
version of yourself.
And when you make art from this place, with this awareness, it gets really, really good.
It becomes easier to make, stronger, more fun, more freeing and most importantly, more like you.
This is what SPARK does.
SPARK is a fiery, powerful wake-up call to reconnect with what brings you alive—and how to then use this to make your art and life a work of art.
Art by Jean Gonzalez Lomasto
“SPARK changed my life, literally.”
“SPARK changed my life, literally. It was the right thing at the right time. A simple thank you seems inadequate to describe my gratefulness for Nick and his team and for each one of you. SPARK… sparked me to life in so many ways. My vision board became a map of the steps I would take. I took CVP and now have doubled the size of my art studio. In the beginning, hope was the first to come back to me. Hope I could still do something with my life that was meaningful. I just turned 70. Hope was a lifeline I grabbed with both hands. You all became my tribe.”
Myryn Elizabeth Clark
“I’ve discovered my inner artist…”
“Before joining SPARK, I wanted to paint but had no idea how to start. SPARK exposed me to the basic principles so I could gain some skills, but of course being part of Art2Life has given me so much more than that. I have a new vocabulary, a new way to nurture my deep desire to make art, a new view of my personal art, and a focus more on process rather than the product. I have a daily art practice now, which includes play, experimentation, and exploration of materials. SPARK solidified my commitment to dive in deeper with confidence. It really does start at the beginning. It was such a great experiment to discover my inner artist and allow her to emerge and grow!“
Maria Rossi
Art by Kate Zimmer
Art by Charlene Negus
“SPARK has been life-changing!”
“SPARK showed me how to enjoy making art and stop fearing mistakes. What I walked away with far exceeded what I thought was possible for my art. I have more confidence than ever in my own skills and ideas. But what really changed for me was learning how to free myself up from perfection. My process is now more free-form and experimental. Learning how to overcome my fear and explore new possibilities for my art through SPARK has been life-changing! The brilliance of SPARK cannot be articulated in a few words, but rather experienced. I would recommend it to artists at any stage, from experts to hobbyists!”
Antonia Perdis
Meet the 2024 SPARK Creative Team
This year, SPARK is all about rebuilding your fire and recharging your soul. It is led by Nicholas and his Creative Team of coaches and guides, all showing you the way back to yourself.
Nicholas Wilton
Ann Artz
Noah Woods
Marji Thompson
Ellen Dieter
Tom Hlas
Nadine Johnson
will show you how to:
FIND YOU (AND FIND YOUR ART)
When you experience something new and different, It moves you. It stirs you back awake. This is because your SOUL craves it. To experience life more directly. To feel more. To make you feel more alive. To have you feel more and more like YOU. And then your Art will, too. And that is the secret to making extraordinary art. SPARK will teach you how.
REKINDLE YOUR CREATIVE FIRE
SPARK is an open invitation to awaken your creativity. To get clear of whatever creative deadzone you might be in. SPARK will get you ENERGIZED about art again, find new possibilities, embrace new techniques, and turn the creative flame within you into a firestorm of new ideas, dreams and possibilities.
Become Fully Self-expressed
SPARK is the path back to what you have always known and desired, but forgotten. Your true meaning and purpose. We connect you back to yourself, so you can become fully self-expressed. Side effects include: better health, wellbeing, and the feeling of being ALIVE. (And of course, better and better Art!)
It all starts with your SPARK Playbook…
You’ll begin SPARK with a blank sketchbook and a commitment to play.
During our 3 weeks together, all of your learning, experimentation and art-making will take place inside this sketchbook, and you’ll finish with a collection of your new favorite ideas, colors, shapes, textures, art-making insights and so much more.
You’ll use it to:
Paint. Draw.
Collage. Explore.
Reflect and take notes while you learn.
Mix your new favorite colors.
Jot down
insights +
exciting ideas.
Discover what’s working and what isn’t in your art.
Make space for the things you love.
This sketchbook is something you’ll treasure and return to for years to come.
Consider it your one-of-a-kind, indispensable reference guide to making art that lights you up…
Ready and waiting for you, whenever you need to re-ignite your creativity and find your way with your art.
Art by Gwynne Penny
“Using the sketchbook was a game-changer… a living, working guide that I can add to over time.”
“I’m rarely short of ideas and inspiration but didn’t know how to “go deeper”. SPARK gave me a new way to approach my work.
The way that SPARK unfolded, the exercises and specifically how we used our sketchbooks was a huge game-changer for me.
I’ve been able to use what we did in SPARK to help me explore my subject more thoroughly, to experiment, and document the things I’m working with in a way that makes them easy to refer back to.
I continue to use my sketchbook to explore ideas, practice color mixing and just play. It’s a living, working guide that I can keep adding to over time.
SPARK has a great balance of guidance and flexibility. It’s totally accessible, regardless of how experienced you are.”
Gwynne Penny
“I enjoyed creating my own sketchbook and still look at it for inspiration.”
“SPARK shook up my priorities. Focusing on what you love instead of external motivation (galleries, collectors, what other people think) really is the answer.
(And it’s high time for my days to be filled with as much fun as possible, in my art and otherwise!)
I enjoyed creating my own sketchbook and I still look at it often for inspiration.
I am shifting and expanding my work, in ways I’ve thought of for years, and opportunities are opening up. I have even piqued the interest of my current galleries.
If you’re thinking about jumping in, do it!
SPARK is engaging, thoughtful, non-threatening… It gives all artists, from beginner to professional, lots to think about.”
Deborah Quinn-Maunson
Art by Jilly Shapiro
Program Features
Full Year of Access
Access the 3-week SPARK program for the entire year
Art Practices
Create inside your SPARK Playbook alongside each lesson!
Art Tutorials
Exclusive "Over The Shoulder" art tutorials from Nicholas and his coaches.
Live Weekly Calls
Join Nicholas and his coaches and get fired up again your your art and your life.
The Community
Jump into a pool of fired up creatives who have said YES! to making art a bigger part of their lives.
New content will be released to you each week for three weeks, but you’ll have access to all materials for the full year—which means you can follow along at a pace and time that works for you.
With each week, you’ll use your sketchbook as your personal creative sandbox to take notes, complete exercises, collage, paint, draw and collect pieces of what you love.
You’ll also receive...
Bonus #1
Using paint to play more and control less
This bonus lesson details one of the essential truths about making personal, memorable engaging art. Believe it or not, making your best art sometimes involves trying less hard and with less control. Learn to create spontaneous, beautiful but unplanned richness in your Art with Nicholas as he shows you how in the pages of your sketchbook.
Bonus #2
“Failing forward” in your art-making
Join Nicholas as he works in real time from start to finish on a “free page” in his sketchbook. This demonstration shows how to use mistakes and play to make art you love.
It is all about enjoying the process and noticing what feels good along the way. Watching the twists and turns of this art as it unfolds, from the early stages right through to the final detail stages.
Bonus #3
And as an extra thank you for taking the step to join us in SPARK 2024, you will also receive a special edition Art2Life Hat sent right to your doorstep.
The adventure begins on September 17th.
Enrollment Ends In:
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
one-time payment
$495
(or choose to pay in installments at checkout!)
Pay In Full
$495
(Best Value!)
Payment Plan
$185
(For 3 months)
I’m Nicholas Wilton. I am an Artist and founder of Art2Life.
I have made art and coached artists my entire life.
I’ve lived through the ups and downs of life as an artist. The rollercoaster. The high highs and the low lows.
It took me a long time to figure out the solution. Way too long. But once I did, I knew I had to share it with the world.
It’s ultimately about YOU. About reconnecting with yourself. Figuring out what lights you up. Making art that is uniquely YOU.
It’s not difficult to do… But it can be difficult to start. Especially on your own. Sometimes, you just need a little SPARK.
This is the wake-up call I wish I had in my early years as an artist. And it’s the one you’ve been secretly looking for.
It’s no coincidence that you’re here right now.
It’s time to take your art back, get your juices flowing, and start learning how to make the kind of art that only you can make.
You need it. And I believe, now more than ever before, the world needs it.
SPARK 2024
Let’s go.
Art by Jan Kodis
“The lid to my creative life has blown right off.”
“Before SPARK, I was avoiding and procrastinating making art. I had “art school injuries” left over from my 20s around not feeling good enough, loose enough, just BEING enough. I felt like a closeted artist.
In 21 days, SPARK showed me how to play and rediscover excitement in the process of creating. And I’m out of hiding!
The lid to my creative life has blown right off. I have an almost daily practice filled with curiosity and exploration.
I feel drenched in possibility. SPARK was the beginning of the rest-of-my-life deep dive into art, relationships, and re-discovering my personal approach to living.
Get ready to have a blast!”
Beth Gullickson
“I’m clearer, painting more boldly… SPARK has helped me clarify how I want to live.”
“I was hesitant about the time I would need for SPARK. But it was such fun that I wanted to paint more and more.
SPARK helped me explore my creativity in ways that expanded my thinking and painting. And it left me with paths to explore further.
SPARK helped me become more clear and paint more boldly. Simultaneously, SPARK flowed into my life choices and helped me to discern and clarify where and how I want to live.
Nick is a brilliant artist and a fantastic teacher. He engaged me, encouraged me and challenged me to take one more creative step.
To the creatively curious: do it. You won’t be sorry.”
Ellen Schippert
Art by Anni Bretschneider
Art by Michelle de Montille
“I’m developing my style, becoming more confident… it’s all about making it your own.”
“Before SPARK, I found I had become stale and could not find the motivation to work.
I joined SPARK with a background in textiles but very little experience painting of any sort. I wanted to learn how to use paint and be freer in my work.
In SPARK, you are shown the materials and the thought processes, but it’s all about making it your own. I loved the freedom I was allowed.
Since finishing SPARK, I have worked constantly. I’m developing my style and gaining confidence in my decisions.
If you’re curious about SPARK, give it a go. And enjoy it!”
Moraq Quilliam
“The assignments never felt like work… I was free to develop my own style.”
“My biggest art struggle has been fear of making a mistake or ruining a piece after the first layer.
Before SPARK, I’d wanted to get back into making art for many years, but motivation and skill-wise, I was lost.
I was also relying on just a paintbrush. There were techniques I had never employed: sanding, mark-making, layering, collage… WOW! Have I been missing out!
I loved the progression of the lessons and the way I learned important principles, yet I was still free to develop my own style. Other classes have taught me to paint like them without helping me understand the elements that make art great.
I’ve taken plenty of art classes but NEVER did they teach or inspire me the way Nick and his team have. The assignments never felt like work.
After SPARK, I am making art almost daily—with the confidence that I can create good, even great art, by taking chances. Being fearless. Making mistakes. And having fun!”
Diane Diamond
Art by Saliha Khanum
SPARK is lovingly crafted for…
NEW ARTISTS.
EXPERIENCED ARTISTS.
THE CREATIVELY CURIOUS.
And works with...
SIMPLE SUPPLIES.
ANY MEDIUM.
YOUR BUSY LIFE.
Even if...
- You don’t think you’re creative, gifted or talented enough…
- You’ve been making art for years and wonder if there’s anything left to learn…
- You’re exploring making art for the very first time…
- You’re not sure how to create an art-making habit you’ll finally be able to stick with...
- You’re busy and don’t have hours each day to make, create and play…
SPARK will help you find your way
back to yourself.
To a life that puts creativity, exploration and art-making center stage.
To more energy, confidence, motivation, fulfillment, and excitement.
To the feeling of being more ALIVE than ever before.
Our Guarantee
If you join SPARK and feel you are not a right fit for this program, for any reason, just let us know within 10 days of the start of the program, September 19, 2024, and we will refund your money in full. That’s right. No questions asked, just an unconditional 10-day money-back guarantee.
One-time payment
$495
(or choose to pay in installments at checkout!)
Pay In Full
$495
(Best Value!)
Payment Plan
$185
(For 3 months)
Still have questions? We’re here to help.
Send us an email at spark@art2life.com
Frequently Asked Questions...
SPARK is a 21-day online art field trip designed to ignite or re-ignite your art practice. You’ll learn internal tools for getting unstuck and topping off your creative reserves. It is a 3-week online course that runs from September 19th to October 10th, 2024. It includes exercises, activities, group sessions, and video tutorials. When you enroll in SPARK, you’ll gain access to an online portal where you will access all of the program’s contents and be able to connect with your fellow SPARK members.
Here’s some info on the schedule:
-Pre-recorded Lessons will be released on Mondays and Thursdays during SPARK at 6am PDT.
-For the Live Calls: the first SparkCall is on Thursday 9/19, but the following 3 live calls are on Thursdays – all at 12pm PDT.
-Everything is recorded and available for a year so you can go at your own pace.
Every artist finds themselves in a rut from time-to-time, judging or over-analyzing their work. SPARK will show you how to rediscover your creative momentum, get unstuck, and fall in love again with the journey of watching your art unfold.
If you are currently making art, you may have most of the supplies. The main thing you will need is a sketchbook with heavy weight paper—we recommend 140lb paper, and acrylic paint.
If you are new to art, here is a list of some items you will need:
Acrylic paint – about 8 of your favorite colors
Sketchbook (we recommend 140lb paper)
Pad of paper for making collage papers
Plastic cafeteria tray for a palette
A small variety of inexpensive brushes
Paper towels
A pad of tracing paper
Scissors
Pencils and assorted mark making tools
12” – 15” ruler or straight edge for painting straight lines and edges
#100 Grit Sandpaper
A few sheets of parchment or wax paper
Acrylic gloss medium
And here are a few optional supplies:
Spectra Art tissue paper
A stack of things you could use for collaging: magazine pages, receipts, notes, painted papers, old cards, envelopes, etc.
Fine steel wool (000 or 0000)
We also offer an Art2Life SPARK Kit, which is a packaged kit that contains most of the materials suggested here, including paint. It is available on art2life.com/shop. *This is only available in the United States and while limited supplies last.*
We recommend Sketchbook Canson Watercolor 11”x14”, 140lb, spiral bound which you can find on the Art2Life Shop. This sketchbook can also be found in many other stores. If you can not find this specific one, here are some alternatives:
Any spiral bound sketchbook. Get as thick of paper as you can. We recommend 70lb paper as the minimum thickness but prefer 140lb. 11”x14” is the preferred size but you can work with any size you like.
40 individual sheets of 70 – 140lb cut paper
The short answer is that’s entirely up to you! The long answer is that SPARK will provide you with information that will work for any art style and any materials, although we are primarily teaching the lessons in acrylic paint and various other mixed media. During our 3 weeks together, all of your learning, experimentation and art-making will happen inside your very own SPARK sketchbook. You’ll begin SPARK with a blank sketchbook and a commitment to play…
And you’ll finish with a collection of your new favorite ideas, colors, shapes, textures, art-making insights and so much more. Your journal sketchbook is something you’ll treasure and return to for years to come. Consider it your one-of-a-kind, indispensable reference guide to making art that lights you up.
The Lessons and Art Practice take 2-3 hours each week. There is also a one hour live SparkCall weekly. It’s always recorded, so you can watch it at any time. And you have a full year to access the program.
We understand that things come up in life. Just do the best you can. This program is designed to be fun, with little to no pressure. Just pick back up as soon as you can – and remember, you have access to everything for a full year.
SPARK is a 21-day program for discovering a new approach to making art. The program focuses on returning joy, playfulness, and ease back into making art. SPARK is designed for beginning artists and any artist interested in the rejuvenation of their art.
CVP (The Creative Visionary Program) is a 3-month intensive for artists who are looking for a transformation of their art. It is a multi-layered program that provides a powerful understanding of the 6 Art2Life Principles of Value, Design, Color, Texture Risk, and Soul.
CVP offers extensive artmaking information, a process for making art more efficiently and consistently, and a supportive community. Most who enroll in CVP have had some art experience. Art2Life only offers CVP once a year and the next enrollment begins in early 2025.
Last year, some people started with SPARK, and went on to join CVP a few months later. Others joined SPARK and continued on their own path. And many artists who had previously joined us for CVP decided to shake up their art with SPARK!
Bottom line? SPARK is designed to be a perfect complement to CVP, and each enhances the other.
Yes! SPARK is a 21-day online art field trip designed to ignite or re-ignite your art practice. You’ll learn internal tools for getting unstuck and topping off your creative reserves. SPARK is designed to be a perfect complement to CVP, and each enhances the other.
We offer a 10-day money back guarantee. This applies to everyone who enrolls, regardless of the enrollment plan. If you feel the program is not a good fit for you, please email us at spark@art2life.com. If you paid in full, we will refund you the entire amount. If you are on a payment plan, we will refund the amount of money you have paid toward the program and you will not be responsible for any future payments. Refund requests must be submitted by September 28th at 11:59pm PDT.
Sure! Here’s the full list of what’s included in SPARK 2024:
Pre-recorded Lessons (released on Mondays and Thursdays at 6am PDT)
4 Live calls (we call these SparkCalls!)
Art-Making Exercises
Access to our community portal and member directory to connect with your fellow artists
BONUS #1 Video Lesson: Using Pain to Play More and Control Less
BONUS #2 Video Lesson: “Failing Forward” In Your Art-Making
You will have access to all the materials for the entire year, so you’ll be able to work through everything at your own pace or revisit throughout the year as often as you’d like!