What makes a great shape?

[@JillianCooper]

I had just given birth to my first baby, a boy. I was bought a cup of tea and it was the best tea I remember. He’s 33 now. I’ve never had a cup of tea quite like it, even after my daughter!!!

[@judykonopka9029]

My friend who had 5 boys living at home told me "You want to go on vacation? Come to my house and then go home - you'll feel like you went on vacation".

[@debbieotto131]

Your teaching style is profoundly simple! I did your 5 day free. I’m a late in life beginner. I’m grateful for your knowledge. 🙏

[@catholictortillas777]

Thank you for explaining everything so grateful for you. I have been doing my art for only almost 2 years. Having found art later in life as an empty nester. It has become irreplaceable to my heart now. I love learning and being busy. Thank you again!

[@mimimccallum3848]

WOW!! You have presented it so clearly!!!!! I think I will draw those 3 examples and hang on wall of my studio. Simplifying back the work is something I struggle with. This helps so much!! Thank you!!!

[@rebeccasanders7151]

Found you recently on KZbin. Spent hours watching your videos. Have learned so much. You are amazing.

[@joancollier4488]

It does make sense! You've hit a nail on the head for me and a light bulb went on! I came in from a long walk in the hot sun and felt the contrast of coming into a cool stone house.

[@Fidelabstractfineart]

I now understand better what you mean when you say that when our art changes our personal life changes as well, or vice versa. I never correlated one with the other: the artist in me had little or nothing to do with me in my personal life. Your example of the marathon and the relation of shapes to each other is perfect. It also reminded me to keep it simple.

[@susanrosen5828]

I had a similar experience while out cruising on our sailboat with my family years ago. Coming out of Narraganset Bay the fog came in and we could hardly see the bow of the boat! After many hours with only charts and a depth sounder to find our way we made it into the Point Judith harbor of refuge and dropped our anchor. I went below and opened a can of Sloppy Joe’s.....heated it up and threw it over stale hamburger buns. It tasted like the best steak dinner possible! Amazing!😀

[@joykumar7332]

You are the best subtle teacher I have come across 😊

[@jrccdowning500]

Shapes are wonderful! Who knew they had so much power!

[@tonyandrea7613]

You are awesome. A gifted artist and teacher.

[@berniceseigel6482]

Great video. It is helping me start my adventure to abstract art. Thanks

[@sunnyseacat6857]

So Earth is the canvass, a stationary plane, and the runner is like the paint brush moving across the plane. Fantastic. Now to apply this lesson ...

[@JimmHugheyM.S.]

As a runner for 35 years I can so relate to the dynamic you of contrast & analogy you present here. Thank you

[@annbenshalom1882]

Amazing lesson! You really got me looking at those simple shapes and marks on the paper in a new way! Thankyou!

[@randomdm]

Yes, me too. Fantastic lesson

[@farwat3481]

Your analogy was incredible and perfect!! Thankyou for this video

[@karenwhite6140]

This video is really interesting! Your concepts apply to any kind of painting, whether abstract or representational. Thanks for sharing your - valuable ideas!

[@lesagray6270]

I'm in CVP and trying desperately to GET values to work effectively. On my travels I climbed to Mt Kala Pathar in Everest (equal elevation to base camp) with very little training and only my more experienced partner to guide me. I understand the enjoyment of sitting down. I'm hoping I can draw (haha) on this for inspiration in values. Thank you for all your helpful information shared!

[@nigelbanksart]

Outrageously relatable - thankyou so much, Nicholas 🔆

[@Trissa.33]

I had a similar, albeit very mini, experience just now with lunch! I went longer than I usually do to eat lunch and my body said loudly "mmmmm' as it was extra delicious due to that. This is a great video, Nicholas, many thanks.. it was so obvious from your demonstration of the relationship between each mark we make.

[@mydearRita]

Your point is right on.

[@LaurelDale]

I paint angels and this video just hit me. I have reduced my angels down into shapes. Looking to make my angels more interesting by working more with the shapes. Looking forward to more of your videos for the classes. Thank you!

[@cynthiathomas262]

what fabulous concepts!! thank you.

[@susiedeVille]

I don’t know what I liked better...the incredible artistic insights you shared or your laugh in telling your story. Bravo!

[@edwardstanley4987]

you all probably dont give a shit but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly forgot my login password. I would appreciate any help you can give me!

[@kenzorowen2048]

@Edward Stanley Instablaster ;)

[@edwardstanley4987]

@Kenzo Rowen thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@edwardstanley4987]

@Kenzo Rowen it worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much you saved my account!

[@kenzorowen2048]

@Edward Stanley No problem :)

[@Sheila.F]

It makes a LOT of sense. Thank you for sharing.

[@ZillaD2]

Thank you so much for sharing---this is a powerful analogy that applies to many aspect of life to day---including art...thank you

[@isabellekramer6533]

What an insight! Fabulous!!! Thank you so much 🙏

[@karylmorton5385]

Love the art behind you.

[@rainazichterman2537]

Thank you for your insights Nicholas. It reminds me of how productive I become because of the breaks I take.

[@michellegreenfineart]

Thank you for the insights, love your content!

[@sheripalmer3192]

Nice analogy. ❤

[@lorraineerickson4311]

Very good! It helps a lot very good, very helpful! I always try to add more. Thanks for helping me to see how to make my art better!

[@paintingzoneart4026]

Thank you. That’s helpful. It’s complex trying to arrange the many shapes in a composition to create the kind of comparisons needed for aliveness.

[@KittehNow]

This makes so much sense and it's powerful😊

[@debbieotto131]

I remember when we had a hurricane and lost power. I’m a vegetarian now but at the time was not. We salvaged some food in a cooler and had to use it asap. We had a bologna sandwich and it was the best sandwich. Remember we had no power for like 10 days. 😊

[@mwaz47]

Your instruction is so helpful and clarifies a problem I’ve been struggling with. Thanks so much.

[@nancycloonan4646]

Love this analogy! So perfect to compare your race break with shape making. It’s all related, which makes me happy 😊

[@janemorrow6672]

Your comment is so poetic!

[@ritazwicker3426]

Loved this explanation !

[@nirvanashotsphotography3486]

I just love the way you explain things. :)

[@louiseneville8640]

Wow! This was so helpful!!!!!!!!!

[@sherrystone3307]

I just Love your art2 life videos ! I've been watching and learning from you for a few years. Hope to be able to take your next workshop ! keep up the great work !

[@marysmith6223]

You’re a great instructor ❤

[@howlingwind1937]

It does make sense! Cheers!

[@MJ-iv8ww]

Thank you Nicholas!

[@reynaldocastaneda4712]

Always an inspiration.

[@cathybyrne9444]

It makes me think of Albert Einstein’s “I think 99 times and find nothing. I stop thinking, swim in silence, and the truth comes to me."

[@partycat414]

Inspirational!

[@marymccann-scott8690]

I'm learnings so much. Excellent.

[@saraservant]

Good principles. Love the link w running. Wondering if you got out of the chair and continued to finish WS100 ?

[@sandywilson2522]

It's like needing to use the bathroom. It doesn't matter as long as you hold it in. The relief is inexplicable as the pain and fear of letting go, is released in seconds. I sigh. I cannot thank nick enough for giving me insight into my own predicament in life. A people pleaser whole life. Looking for feed back to justify my existence. I am doing art...I have no materials but a kind friend has offered to buy them for me as I have helped him in the past. He's the most illiterate art person I know. But he believes in me. My thoughts are black...he wants me to paint. I am after being inspired by so many people who are afraid to reveal their inner self. I have no ego but somehow, free from chains of conformity and walking in shattered glass. I wish I could afford to attend a class. So in awe of nick. 💐🎈

[@sunnyseacat6857]

Lots of free videos online from which to learn and also videos to admire the works of others. The phenomenal composer Haydn was kicked out of music school because his voice changed from a boy's to a deeper register when he became a teen. Later on, he was pretty much an indentured servant for 29 years of making music until he was freed. Unbelievable but true. Ian Roberts has terrific videos online about oil painting as well - all free.

[@KS-wr4vv]

I really enjoyed your analogy. Nick I have a question about differences creating interest. I have always heard that shapes, colors etc should be repeated to create unity or a cohesive piece ? Are you saying throw that out the window and try this idea instead ? It might be what I have been doing wrong. I was just a little confused in how to use this in my work without it feeling completely disjointed.? Thanks your videos are really helping me translate what’s in my head to the canvas the way I imagine it. Finally

[@bonnieacurl]

Thank you!

[@cliffdariff74]

Squaw Valley to Auburn... you are crazy...

[@dexefx7757]

Literally looking at this issue with one of my paintings, and couldn't see what the problem was. If you name it you can tame it, thanks so much :)

[@monicastella9149]

I learn so much from you

[@PatriseHenkel]

The shapes are having a conversation!

[@sigurjonhauksson6542]

Simple and very interesting.

[@lenmey1]

I get it but then I work and it’s so hard to simplify and paint over the things you like..but if they all stay it doesn’t work!

[@anitajulaniya1959]

Wowwwwww...

[@richrogers2157]

K.I.S.S. Keep it simple Stanley. And just keep going, and size & tone & position matter and juxtaposition and playfulness and whimsy but not to much …make the ordinary seem extrordinary .

[@Izabela-ek5nh]

A Superman or what? 100 miles on the hills?? I can run 1 mile!! I like a lesson a lot (as usual) :)

[@joannavandeneijnden5437]

Great

[@ms181]

Understand the concepts you presented, but find having to do all that left-brained THINKING really slows me down and interferes with my enjoyment of simply making EXPRESSIVE marks. 🙁

[@abstractbybrian]

I can’t help but think of Serge Polikoff (spelling?)

[@AngelDebstar316]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Young_(athlete) You have to read this its AMAZING!