It's never too early or too late to
Immerse yourself in a new art-making adventure with Nicholas Wilton & Art2Life
SPARK 2021
SEPT 22 - OCT 14, 2021
21 DAYS - 100% ONLINE - FOR ANY ART-MAKER
OR CURIOUS CREATIVE WHO WANTS MORE...
Flex your creative muscles. Stretch your imagination.
Step boldly into your juicy, art-filled life.
To every right-brained,
left-of-field, art-obsessed,
outside-the-box-thinker…
To the experienced art
makers and the “still in the
closet” creators…
To ANYONE who wants to
make more, play more,
create more and rumble
with possibility...
THIS IS YOUR RALLY CRY:
Let’s pump up the volume on your creativity and make art that makes you feel alive
SPARK will show you how to:
SKIP PAST THE ROADBLOCKS
Learn how to get started or get unstuck -- and top-up your creative reserves when your mojo's gone M.I.A. Start trusting your intuition and fall in love with the journey of watching your art unfold.
SPARK will show you how to find your creative momentum, get your inner-critic out of the driver's seat and let your curiosity take center stage.
DITCH THE OLD STORIES
The creative life you crave is yours for the taking today. You have everything you need. And you don't have to wait years or even months before making art that feels good (like, really good).
Mistakes are invited to this art-making party… because when you know how to listen, each one gets you closer to what feels right.
SAY "YES" TO WHAT LIGHTS YOU UP
Like the perfect blue at twilight, the terracotta tiled roof on your dream Tuscan retreat, the crackle of brown-yellow leaves beneath your feet…
Discover a revolutionary approach to art-making that prioritizes exploration and play, every step of the way.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an
experienced artist or a budding creative…
When you’re ready to ignite your art, all you need is a SPARK.
Ready to re-ignite your inspiration, play with possibility, and expand your art-making horizons — together?
It’s time to pack your virtual backpack and embark on the ULTIMATE creative field-trip with…
A 21-day online creative field-trip for art-makers at any level who want to ignite their creativity and bring more of what they love to their art and their life.
LOVINGLY CRAFTED FOR:
New Artists - Experienced Artists - The Creatively Curious
- Simple Supplies - Works With Any Medium - Fits into Your Busy Life -
“I’ve freed myself up from perfection… 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
“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
No textbooks, "paint by numbers" or dry, boring lectures...
We’ll carve out your unique path to
making art in a way that feels utterly amazing, right from the start
You’ll spend 3 art-filled, deliciously creative weeks learning how to:
- Create your best art by playing, instead of judging or over-analyzing your work
- Expand your creative horizons and experiment with a combination of painting, collage and drawing
- Explore why you’re drawn to certain styles over others, and how to incorporate what you love into your work without replicating what others are doing
- Discover what makes your art and life inseparable from one another, and how to use the SPARK method to enhance both at the same time
- Understand your work and uncover the common thread of what lights you up, so you can go “all in” on what excites and you
Whenever you’re stuck, stalling, not sure how to finish or even how to start...
Your creativity is a 100% renewable resource — and you’ll bring it back to life with SPARK
AND IT ALL HAPPENS INSIDE YOUR PERSONAL SPARKBOOK
During our 3 weeks together, all of your learning, experimentation and art-making will take place inside your very own SparkBook. (And there’s nothing else like it!)
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 SparkBook is yours, and it’s like no one else’s.
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.
Your SparkBook 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.
“I enjoyed creating my own SparkBook 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 SparkBook 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-Munson
“Using the SparkBook 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 SparkBooks 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 SparkBook 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
Page by page, as we work together to complete your SparkBook, you’ll get closer to what excites you and inspires you
Have fun. Get in motion. Let go of the outcome. Discover what you love… And then get more of it — from your art, and your life..
- Even if you don’t think you’re creative, gifted or talented enough…
- Even if you’ve been making art for years and wonder if there’s anything left to learn…
- Even if you’re exploring making art for the very first time…
- Even if you’re not sure how to create an art-making habit you’ll finally be able to stick with...
- Even if you’re busy and don’t have hours each day to make, create and play…
If you want a life that puts creativity, exploration and art-making center stage, your SparkBook is how you’ll begin to find your way.
SparkBook by Kate Zimmer
“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
SparkBook by Jilly Shapiro
“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
Here’s how this field-trip works…
SPARK is delivered to you completely online, and you can participate from anywhere in the world.
New content is released to you each week for 3 weeks, but you’ll have 12 months access to your SPARK material — which means you can follow along at a pace and time that works for you.
You'll receive access to:
DAILY VIDEO LESSONS
Short and to the point, each video inside SPARK (filmed with Nick in his California art studio) will get you thinking and practicing art in a whole new way.
ART PRACTICE LESSONS
There's no better way to learn than through creating. Watch over Nick's shoulder as he walks you through playful art practices you'll complete with your own art.
LIVE CALLS WITH NICHOLAS
Check in with Nick via a weekly "pit stop" group call to recharge your energy, recalibrate your compass and get unstuck before the next leg of your journey.
With each week, you’ll use your SparkBook as your personal creative sandbox to take notes, complete exercises, collage, paint, draw and collect pieces of what you love.
Start packing your virtual backpack…
here’s your SPARK itinerary:
ORIENTATION: Gathering our supplies + packing our bags
All great journeys begin with a plan.
Let’s make sure you’ve got the supplies you need, get connected with your fellow art explorers, and learn how to lighten your backpack by letting go of the things that will weigh you down.
Before we get started, you will…
- Gather the supplies you need to make the most of SPARK, with Nick’s favorite tools, supplies and art-making tips he’s learned over the past 25 years.
- Discover a simple approach for setting up your SPARK workspace, an introduction to acrylic paints if you’re just getting started, plus a handful of new strategies to simplify your art-making process.
- Complete a quick creative warm-up to let go of the limiting beliefs that will make your art practice feel heavy. This trip is all about keeping it light!
- Meet your SparkBook, connect with the private SPARK community, and get excited for the journey ahead!
DAYS 1-7
SPARKING YOU
Your path to art that feels amazing to make is… you!
Our guiding star for this journey will be the things you love. Best of all, you don’t have to go searching for these things… you just need to re-remember them!
In this part of our journey, we’ll play with paint and collage to find our way to what feels good.
You’ll gently push yourself to discover new colors and combinations, and even use your SPARKBook as a place to collect and remember all of the things you love.
As you fill each page of your SparkBook, we’ll explore...
- How to dive into artmaking without overthinking
- How to fearlessly make marks and play toward what feels amazing
- How to use mistakes as corrections that get you closer to what feels right instead
- How to infuse your art practice with more wonder, curiosity and fun
- How to approach your art with the liberating mindset of just going for it!
DAYS 7-10
DESIGN IN YOUR ART + LIFE
Owning what stays, what goes, and where you put it
In art, design is the total of what appears on the page. But have you ever thought of the design of your life?
What you let into your life and the composition of your day can either make you feel invigorated or bored (and your art will follow suit). You get to choose.
As you fill each page of your SparkBook, we’ll explore...
- How to see and understand the design of things in your art and in your life, so you can use it as a guidepost for what needs to change.
- How to practice rearranging shapes and cut paper in your art as an exercise in making decisions that either enhance your design or dull it down.
- How to stop shrinking back and wake up your art instead — by making the most of the space in front of you.
- How to make braver, more interesting decisions about where things should go in your art… and what this means for your life.
DAYS 10-14
YOUR VALUES, CENTER-STAGE
Using light and dark to create interesting art experiences
A rich and interesting life requires both light and dark. Without contrast, everything would feel the same, and this is true for your art as well.
The beauty of light and dark in your art is that you get to choose where it goes. Learning how to make these choices over time leads to an incredible level of clarity in your art.
As you fill each page of your SparkBook, we’ll explore...
- How to take your art from a “maybe” to a “YES” by harnessing the power of light, dark, and the differences between them.
- How to give yourself total creative control by learning to create areas of contrast that make your art feel more exciting and alive.
- Turn theory into an intuitive practice by creating your own value scale — and clarify what light and dark looks like in your own art.
- How to focus and simplify your art when it starts feeling too crowded by “toning down the chatter”... without losing the parts that are interesting.
DAYS 14- 17
THE ART OF SIMPLICITY
Simplify your way to art that speaks to who you are and what you want
Learning to focus your art and life around the parts that matter most is key to curating what you want.
It takes a little practice to hone your eye toward refining your art, but once you “see” the way, your art and life will never be the same.
As you fill each page of your SparkBook, we’ll explore...
- How to focus and simplify your art when it starts feeling too crowded by “toning down the chatter”... without losing the parts that are interesting.
- How to see objects, shapes and subjects in terms of their value — and use your new ability to “see” those differences to create art that feels more exciting and impactful.
- How to make your favorite colors work together by learning how to create the right balance of contrast in your art.
DAYS 17 - 21
JOURNEYING BACK TO YOU
An authentic approach to keep your creative fires burning
SPARKING your art will always be about following the path to what you love, and moving toward authenticity in your art and life.
As we conclude our journey together, we’ll take the most important step of all: looking back at where you’ve been and taking special note of the parts that light you up.
As we fill the final pages of your SparkBook, we’ll explore…
- How to create the cover of your SparkBook as a celebration of your journey so far and a guide for what lies ahead.
- Essential questions to ask yourself when you find yourself losing direction and motivation in your art, now and in the future.
- A look through your SparkBook together, taking note of the parts that make you want more.
- How to carry the intention of experimentation and joy forward in your art-making practice… and continue on this life-long journey of saying YES to what your Soul is asking for.
“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
“SPARK opened my eyes to a whole new way of approaching my art-making.”
Before SPARK, every painting I did took months to complete, since I was so particular about having it just so. Coming from an architecture background, I was too rigid about the process and the outcome.
I enjoyed and learned so much from SPARK — the demonstrations from Nicholas and the exercises.
After every lesson and exercise, there’s a follow-up session where Nick addresses questions and talks about some of the paintings shared in the group.
I always looked forward to seeing how creative everyone’s work was, and getting feedback from the community on my own work.
You won’t regret joining SPARK. It opened my eyes to a whole new way of approaching my art making.
I have since moved from California to Santa fe, and hope to be more involved in the thriving art scene here.
I have confidence that I can follow my dream of becoming an artist and have fun doing it!
Sudha Hajela
It’s time to dust off the creative cobwebs and infuse your art practice with more energy, momentum and joy
With each lesson, video and exercise, you’ll fill in the pages of your SparkBook (over 20 pages in total!).
Page by page, practice by practice, you’ll find yourself getting closer to what you love:
A sneak-peek of a few pages from Nick's personal SparkBook, filled with his art and ideas.
What will yours look like?
Find out when you say yes to sparking your art:
I’m Nicholas Wilton, and I’m so excited to invite you to join me inside SPARK
I’m a fine artist and the founder of Art2Life. For over 25 years I’ve shared everything I know about making art and living a creative life with thousands of artists and creatives, from all around the world.
Throughout my life, I’ve noticed that our creative expression doesn’t always grow in tandem with the rest of our lives.
In fact, you’ve likely found that as life gets busier and more complex, there seems to be less and less room for making art — though we need it now more than ever.
(Or perhaps your art practice has become a little tired, boring, predictable or downright frustrating… and you’re craving something new to help you get back in the groove!)
I created SPARK to help you discover a new approach to making art and self-expression
One that brings you closer to who you are, what you love, and knowing exactly how to prioritize what lights you up:
In art…
In your creative process…
And in every corner of your life.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just getting started or have been working as an artist even longer than I have… and you don’t need experience with any specific medium to participate.
Whether you take photos, sculpt, paint, collage, draw — whether you prefer abstract art, realistic or anything in between…
I invite you to expand your creative horizons with me inside SPARK. (It might just be your favorite experience of the entire year!)
SparkBook by Jan Kodis
“I’ve discovered my inner artist… and allowed her to emerge and grow!”
Before joining SPARK, I wanted to paint but had no idea how to start. I thought I had to be a born artist, but I didn’t have “talent” or any formal art education. I wondered: “Could I really do this? Can I really learn to paint at my age?”
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
“Nicholas & SPARK showed me that this is accessible to me.”
Before SPARK, I didn’t know what to paint. It was often from magazines or photos.
I needed permission: to do what I feared I might be criticized or ridiculed for doing. Permission to devote time each day to the practice of painting. Permission to invest in pursuing this.
Learning from Nicholas gave me the euphoric realization that this was accessible to me. SPARK helped me find out more about myself and what I wanted to paint.
My favorite thing about SPARK was Nick’s generosity of spirit, his demonstrations and his philosophy.
Right from the beginning, SPARK encourages you to find who you are and do it your way, instead of copying.
I am now painting regularly, have a community, and painting has become the center of my life.
Jean Gonzalez Lomasto
SparkBook by Michelle de Montille
"SPARK got me out of a boring art-making routine… now it brings me joy again!”
I joined SPARK as a full-time working artist. But I wasn’t feeling creative or joyful when I entered my studio. I needed something to get me out of a boring routine.
Having taken CVP a few times before, I wasn’t sure if SPARK would have any new content or if it would help me.
But SPARK was the perfect name for this program. My art-making brings me joy again. I continue to make art that engages me. I am in my studio daily… inspired and curious… and I have new gallery representation!
SPARK reminded me of what I love, what my inspirations are, how to play, and the principles of good art making.
My SparkBook is now almost full, but I will get a new one to continue the spark that began with Nick and this course.
SPARK is perfect for a new artist or a full time one. The perfect amount of information in a fun format, and Art2Life creates a community like no other!
- Judy Shreve
Tuck these bonus goodies into your backpack before you go...
Just in case you get a little lost along the way, it’s essential to keep a few helpful tips in your back pocket from people who have walked the path before.
That’s why when you say yes to SPARK, you 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. Join Nicholas for this delicious demonstration of the how and why of play, wonder and experimentation.
It is all about letting go and Nicholas will show you how in the pages of your SparkBook.
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 SparkBook. 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, will open your eyes to the wondrous possibilities for your own art and creative potential.
And because every adventure is better with company…
PRIVATE SPARK COMMUNITY
Between our weekly calls, you'll get connected with art explorers from around the world inside our private “SPARKers only” Facebook community.
Share your progress, wins and art-making reflections from our journey in a safe and supportive space.
“There was a caring about the SPARK community… of sharing and giving back to others.”
SPARK reminded me that I was not alone. Or a loser. Being in the community, seeing other artists struggle with these feelings, helped me get up and do the work.
There was a caring about the SPARK community — in most groups, people just showcase their artwork. In SPARK, there was the principle of sharing and also giving back to others. I didn’t feel alone while I was creating. I felt part of the group.
This was something I needed in my life. Though I am still working in my SparkBook, the encouragement from others in the group helped me keep moving onward.
You won’t just learn art, but a little bit more about who you are — in a caring and nurturing environment to creativity.
Syria Low
“The SPARK community was informative, supportive and non-judgmental.”
SPARK has given me the confidence to take the next step. My art always came last or not all at — but now, it is part of my routine.
The course was comprehensive and informative, while giving space for self-discovery at my own pace, in a positive community.
The most special part of SPARK was the community. It was informative, supportive and non-judgmental.
I enjoyed seeing the progress of other’s work, and I learned a lot from how they interpreted the assignments and materials.
No matter the time of day or night, there were SPARKers online to share with, from anywhere in the world. How cool is that!?
Sheilagh Cooper
WHAT TREASURES & NEW ADVENTURES
WILL YOU EXPLORE WITH YOUR SPARKBOOK THIS YEAR?
Your 2021 SPARK Experience includes:
- 1 year’s access to the 3-week SPARK program to re-ignite your art practice (or ignite it for the very first time!)
- Art practices alongside each lesson, to get you in motion and creating inside your very own SparkBook… over 20+ fun-filled pages!
- “Over the shoulder” art tutorials for each SPARK practice, recorded in Nicholas’ art studio to guide you through each exercise and prevent overthinking before it happens
- Private “SPARKers only” Facebook Community to get connected, stay inspired and find support on this incredible journey!
- Weekly live Calls with Nicholas to recap key ideas and troubleshoot places you might be stuck
- BONUS 1: Using Paint to Play More and Control Less: a delicious demonstration of the how and why of play, wonder and experimentation, all in the pages of your SparkBook!
- BONUS 2: Unedited “Failing Forward” Free Page Demonstration with Nicholas: see how a professional artist navigates choice, play, experimentation and mistakes from start to finish!
PAY IN FULL
$495
Best value!
PAYMENT PLAN
$185/mo
for 3 months
Making art can and should feel amazing…
And that’s a guarantee:
Because living a rich, vibrant, creative life — and making art that makes you feel alive — necessitates that we feel good along the way.
(And whoever came up with the idea that we’re supposed to suffer for our art definitely hadn’t heard of SPARK.)
That is why we offer an unconditional 10-day money-back guarantee when you join SPARK.
SPARK will show you how to:
- Be more courageous, get in motion with your art, and stop letting confidence get in the way of your creativity
- Connect more deeply with what you love: in art, in life, and how to enhance both in a way that feels light, exciting and fun
- Experiment with different mediums, ideas, and insights that galvanize your creative practice
- Stop overthinking and bring a sense of joy, wonder and fun to your art — whether you’re experienced, intermediate, or just beginning to make art for the very first time
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 your purchase and we will refund your money in full.
You'll ♥️ SPARK if you...
FEEL STUCK OR UNINSPIRED BY YOUR ART
If you become overwhelmed, critical, or disillusioned with your art more than you'd like, SPARK will show you how to bring a more experimental attitude to your practice.
You'll find that your best art happens when you lower the stakes and learn how to play!
WISH MAKING ART COULD FLOW BETTER + FEEL FUN
Making art doesn't have to feel like drudgery. Your creative process should be centered around what you love, right from the very start.
SPARK will show you how to tap into your unique perspectives, experiences and preferences… and turn them into a creative expression that just feels good.
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO REVIEW + IMPROVE YOUR ART
SPARK won't just show you how to feel total flow and ease in your art making process...
You'll also learn to strengthen your critical (but compassionate) lens to look more deeply at what's working and what isn't in your art, so that you can keep improving and refining your work.
CRAVE A NEW + EXCITING CREATIVE ADVENTURE!
Maybe you don't quite fit in one of the boxes above, but you've been craving a sense of variety, freshness and newness in your life and art...
If that's you, you'll be so glad you said yes to SPARK!
SparkBook by Jules Nelson-Gal
“SPARK isn’t about making magnificent art. It’s about learning to enjoy making it.”
I didn’t do art for years. Drawing in my head, procrastinating, jealous of others who were practicing art.
I wanted it so much I was frozen. I joined SPARK to make a start and hopefully turn it into a habit.
When I started SPARK, it was like taking therapy for my head. All my jealousy went away.
I learned to go easy on myself and enjoy the play. I started taking photos, sketching, and I’m using this material in my art today.
I’m happier than I’ve been in years. It’s a great start for anyone who wants to be creative, but doesn’t know where to start. SPARK isn’t about making magnificent pieces. It’s about learning to enjoy making art for yourself — art that makes you happy.
SPARK will make you look deeper at yourself and art than any painting course.
- Patricia McSweeney
“SPARK has rubbed off in all areas of my life.”
Before SPARK, my biggest enjoyment was making art, but as a work-aholic, I only painted briefly during an annual holiday.
I joined SPARK with the hope that it would get me going… and put that spark back in my life.
Since joining, I’ve rediscovered the things in life that excite and inspire me. SPARK gave me the fulfillment of learning to authentically express myself in my art — and the same thrill and creative boldness in the workplace has shown up too.
I was afraid that the program would interfere with my work schedule, but SPARK has rubbed off in all areas of my life. The more I paint, the more properties I sell, the happier my family is, the healthier I am.
I have learned to be free and spontaneous — with all the tricks and tips and tweaks to keep me going forever.
Charlene Negus
SparkBook by Anni Bretschneider
“You will learn so much, not only about art… but about yourself.”
Before joining SPARK I really had no idea where I was at with my art. I knew I was an artist, specifically a painter, but I have struggled for years to settle on anything to paint, with little excitement. I had rare moments of flow but then it was gone, and I was back to asking myself: “What now?”
SPARK gave me a structure and helped me realize the action of painting and exploring possibilities, while listening to my inner voice, is what can drive my art forward. It was refreshing, full of great ways to generate my art, and helped me become comfortable with just experimenting. I loved it.
I now describe myself as an intuitive painter. The structure of SPARK allowed my intellect to understand what I was doing, how I could improve, and laying the groundwork for possibilities… all with the freedom of play as it was done in my own SparkBook.
You will learn so much, not only about painting, but about yourself. It’s not necessary to have any prior knowledge, but even though I have an art degree, this was so much more practical.
Angela Vaughan
Frequently Asked Questions
about SPARK
SPARK is a 21-day online program that you can join from anywhere in the world. It is for beginning artists and experienced artists who want to introduce or return joy, playfulness, and ease to their art making process.
We'll work primarily on filling over 20 pages of a sketchbook -- called your SparkBook -- to get closer to what you love in your art and most importantly, get in motion and feel good while you do it. Your SparkBook won't look like anyone else's.
You'll access the program from a private dashboard with a login you'll receive after you join. You can watch the program content any time you like for a whole year, and any live calls are recorded for you to watch later if you can't attend live.
SPARK videos and tutorials shot over my shoulder, from my art studio -- so I'll be right there with you each step of the way.
You're in the right place. SPARK is for art-makers at any level who want to discover a new approach to making art that is centered around exploration and play.
If you're just getting started, we show you how to use acrylic paints for the first time and how to set up your workspace in the "orientation week" module. Every exercise and activity in SPARK comes with a video where you'll watch over my shoulder as I work -- so you'll never have to guess how to get started.
If you've thought for years about making art -- but have struggled to start because you're overwhelmed (that is: you don't have the time, supplies, skills, or guidance you need)… SPARK will show you just how fun and rewarding art-making can be. Better yet? You might just walk away with a regular creative practice that fills the art-shaped hole in your life.
No matter where you are in your journey, SPARK is all about getting in touch with what excites you -- in your life and in art. We all need this… and we never stop needing it.
Your best art, at every stage, will always come from stepping up as the most free, playful and authentic version of yourself. Sometimes we need help remembering this along the way. And that is what SPARK is for.
If your practice has become stale, if you find that you are painting more for others than for yourself, or you're wondering what new possibilities might exist for your art on the other side of a new experience and some fresh perspectives… SPARK is where you will begin to find your answers.
SPARK is flexible and works with what you have, although there are some essential supplies you will need if you don't already have them. At minimum, you'll need a sketchbook or some loose paper, about 8 or so different colors of acrylic paint, and a handful of brushes.
We will provide a full list of recommended supplies in the program, with advice on what you can skip if you are just getting started.
We will primarily be working with acrylic paints and simple collage, but you can bring any medium you like to your SparkBook. The great thing about SPARK is that you get to make whatever lights you up.
The lessons and practices are structured enough that you'll know how to start… but loose enough to let you make whatever kind of shapes and marks you're called to.
After all, art making is the process of becoming yourself. You're in total control here!
SPARK is designed to fit into busy lives, and the exercises can be completed in less than 30 minutes a day. You can follow along at your own pace -- do the exercises when you can, watch the recordings when you can, and take your time.
Plus, your SparkBook is portable and your SPARK supplies will be minimal -- which means you can take SPARK "on tour" and access the course from anywhere with an internet connection!
Several SPARKers who joined the previous round decided to take their SparkBook with them on their travels. Like them, you might find that taking part in SPARK is a wonderful (and portable!) way to infuse creativity into your travels and capture a snapshot of this time in your life
When you join, you'll have access to the program for an entire year, so even if you know you'll be busy over the next few weeks, consider joining now.
The content will be ready for you when life slows down again. We don't know when we will re-open the doors to SPARK in 2022.
Yes. If you decide SPARK is not for you, you may cancel and receive a full refund, no questions asked, during our 10 day money back guarantee period.
Should you wish to receive a refund, just send your cancellation request to info@art2life.com within during the 10 day money back guarantee period.
Sure! When you join SPARK, you receive...
- 1 year's access to the 3-week SPARK program to re-ignite your art practice (or ignite it for the very first time!)
- Art practices alongside each lesson, to get you in motion and creating inside your very own SparkBook… over 20+ fun-filled pages!
- "Over the shoulder" art tutorials for each SPARK practice, recorded in Nicholas' art studio to guide you through each exercise and prevent overthinking before it happens
- Private "SPARKers only" Facebook Community to get connected, stay inspired and find support on this incredible journey!
- Weekly live Calls with Nicholas to recap key ideas and troubleshoot places you might be stuck
- BONUS 1: Using Paint to Play More and Control Less: a delicious demonstration of the how and why of play, wonder and experimentation, all in the pages of your SparkBook!
- BONUS 2: Unedited "Failing Forward" Free Page Demonstration with Nicholas: see how a professional artist navigates choice, play, experimentation and mistakes from start to finish!
Still have questions? We’re here to help.
Send us an email at spark@art2life.com with your Q’s
and we’ll help you decide if SPARK is right for you.
In art, and in life… all great things begin with a courageous choice:
If reconnecting to your creativity matters to you, then you have what it takes to make it happen.
In all my life, I’ve never met a person who didn’t have the capacity to make cool, creative art… but I’ve certainly met a lot of people who were too afraid to try.
Embarking on a new creative journey will always require some bravery. But most importantly of all, it involves betting on you.
Fortunately, SPARK makes this easier to do than ever before:
- It doesn't require you to be great just yet, or even good. There’s a place for you here whether you’re a working artist, a curious beginner, or anywhere in between.
- You don’t need to feel inspired, or confident, or sure about where you’re going for now. The best parts about being lost are the things you discover while you’re finding your way.
- It doesn’t matter if you’ve already started, stopped, tried and failed so many times you’ve lost count… because there’s a new, more playful approach to making art. And it’s one you won’t be able to resist.
Sparking your art is about being brave enough to strike the match and see what happens →
It’s about saying YES to the part of your Soul that’s craving more creativity, play, and connection to the beauty of art and your life.
It’s about giving yourself the gift of a small but powerful art practice that captures and celebrates all the different facets of who you are...
Page by page…
Mark by mark…
One mistake, one shape, one brave and playful leap after the other…
We’ll make it happen together inside SPARK.
For now, there’s just one thing left to do:
Strike the match. And let’s go.
I can’t wait to take this journey with you.
Nicholas Wilton
Founder of Art2Life and SPARK
WHAT TREASURES & NEW ADVENTURES
WILL YOU EXPLORE WITH YOUR SPARKBOOK THIS YEAR?
Your 2021 SPARK Experience includes:
- 1 year’s access to the 3-week SPARK program to re-ignite your art practice (or ignite it for the very first time!)
- Art practices alongside each lesson, to get you in motion and creating inside your very own SparkBook… over 20+ fun-filled pages!
- “Over the shoulder” art tutorials for each SPARK practice, recorded in Nicholas’ art studio to guide you through each exercise and prevent overthinking before it happens
- Private “SPARKers only” Facebook Community to get connected, stay inspired and find support on this incredible journey!
- Weekly live Calls with Nicholas to recap key ideas and troubleshoot places you might be stuck
- BONUS 1: Using Paint to Play More and Control Less: a delicious demonstration of the how and why of play, wonder and experimentation, all in the pages of your SparkBook!
- BONUS 2: Unedited “Failing Forward” Free Page Demonstration with Nicholas: see how a professional artist navigates choice, play, experimentation and mistakes from start to finish!
PAY IN FULL
$495
Best value!
PAYMENT PLAN
$185/mo
for 3 months
SparkBook by Saliha Khanum
“I’ve discovered another way of seeing my world… it has been truly life-changing."
SPARK reminded me that there is joy in the journey, especially if I focus less on the results of what I make. I have taken other art classes online, but so much of the content was about technique, not the process or how art affects all parts of my life.
SPARK is the perfect intro program if you’re just getting started, and if you’re further along, it’s the best possible way to jump-start your art practice again. I now have the daily art practice I’ve always wanted.
There’s also a level of enthusiasm and energy for my art that I’ve never had before. Nick’s excitement about the work in the lessons and on live calls is contagious. And I met people inside the program who I’m sure will be lifelong friends for me.
It is a wonderful way to connect with your art, re-engage in the creative process, and make art a bigger part of your life. You will love what it reveals to you about yourself.”
Pam Orren