Finding My Creative Vision: A Journey With Art2Life CVP 2024
Woman in Orange, acrylic on paper
You know, I've taken a fair share of art classes in my time. I actually have a bachelors degree in studio painting. Not to mention, the countless workshops with "famous" artists I eagerly signed up for, hoping to soak up their genius by watching them paint. But if I'm being honest, most of those classes left me feeling...well, a bit underwhelmed. Sure, they were fun, and I picked up more than a trick or two, but did they teach me how to paint like myself? No.
Enter Nicholas Wilton's Creative Visionary Program (CVP). This online class was a game-changer. Yes, it was expensive. Yes, I hesitated before taking the plunge. But hands down, it really was the best art class I've ever taken and worth every damned penny for the therapeutic value alone. And, it was 12 weeks long which actually made it a bargain.
In Nick’s class, I discovered something profound: making art is about more than just following rules and mastering techniques. It's about loving what you create simply because you created it. It's about abandoning perfectionism and digging deep to find what you truly love, rather than trying to do it the "right way." Which actually means, “someone else’s way.”
I've been so critical of myself and my work for so long, it's a wonder I'm still painting at all. Constantly comparing myself to the greats and always coming up short, I didn't realize I was slowly killing my own creative spirit in a futile, if unconscious, quest to be someone else—usually someone long gone. It was quite painful, but not anymore.
Thanks to CVP, I've learned to let go. I probably won't ever end up famous or be taught about in art history classes, but that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if I ever sell another painting. What matters is that I'm actually enjoying the act of making art, as opposed to "working on a painting." What matters is the pure joy born of the surprises that come when you put paint to canvas or paper. It's a way of creating and living that has truly changed my life.
So, if you're an artist feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain lost, I can't recommend Nicholas Wilton's CVP class enough. It might just be the best investment you ever make in yourself and your art.
P.S.: This is not a paid or solicited endorsement.
Image: Today's sketchbook page, one of the main tenets of the program is to paint everyday, even if it's only for 15 minutes, in your sketchbook. This one took 45 minutes. I often start with a continuous line drawing to keep my perfectionistic tendencies in check and allow myself to be more expressive.
