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Nicholas Wilton’s CVP – is it worth it?

I knew I wanted to elevate my art practice, but I wasn’t sure what I needed… I had been looking at learning how to improve my website, or should I take an Instagram course? Instead I joined Nicholas Wilton’s CVP (Creative Visionary Programme) in March 2016 the first time he ran it. Why?

In my heart I knew what I wanted. I wanted to really spend my time on making my art better. The best it could be.

I had been reading and enjoying Nicholas’ weekly emails and something made me feel this would be a Good Move.

This programme has truly transformed the way I work and many of you have been asking about it, so here’s my honest review of CVP to help you decide if it’s the right thing for you, your life and your art. For two years in 2019 and 2020 I was a coach on the program so I know it well and have seen from the inside the results it brings for people.

What exactly is CVP?

CVP is a three-month programme that’s all about making your art stronger and unique to you. It’s not a join-and-watch-in-isolation course (although you can do it that way if you prefer!) There is a huge amount of personal interaction. You will be working alongside the other members (artists at all levels) on your own paintings and will be able to upload your work as it develops, see paintings adjusted so you can really see the principles in action. It’s run by Californian artist Nicholas Wilton, and a strong support team of other practising artists.

(Beforehand you can join the FREE Art2Life workshop for a small taster to introduce you to some key ideas to improve your art.) In 2023 this starts on 13th February and you can sign up HERE now.

Across 10 modules, CVP helps artists get clear on their own path – what really sets you alight – and moves on to the six Art2Life principles of Design, Value, Colour, Texture, Risk and Soul and finally Launch. This program provides a solid foundation to build a sustainable, enjoyable art practice and create a significant shift in your work. It’s not a business course – it’s about making the core of your art practice enjoyable and rewarding . It’s this sense of ease and exploration which felt such a release for me.

My 100% Honest Review of CVP

CVP came just at the right stage for me. I knew my work could be better, I just wasn’t quite sure how I was going to get it there. Working on my own perhaps made me more hesitant – it was easier to feel my way slowly in small steps and CVP gave me the approval that it was really OK to dive into what I really wanted to create. More importantly, it showed me just how to do that.

My feelings changed from frustration to excitement as I started working with a wider sense of freedom and exploration. When I enrolled in early 2016, I had a website and a small following. Since then I’ve seen my work take off. Other people seem more drawn to it ( and importantly now I have more understanding of why ) and perhaps my confidence has grown so that taking steps towards bringing it to a wider audience feels easier. Honestly, I feel sick if I think about not having taken the program…

So do you have to be a professional artist?

No – we are all creatives together and this course will include artists at all levels. Wherever you are on that journey (and wherever you want to take it) you will find these principles will help.

If you are just beginning, then having this understanding will take you forwards in larger leaps than figuring it out by yourself. The information is presented in easily understandable short chunks, with clear demonstrations and a practical way to put the ideas into practice and see the work reviewed.

If you are more experienced, this is an opportunity to refresh and invigorate your art. If your art is authentic and in alignment with what inspires you, it becomes more desirable and much easier to share with others and sell. The course helps clarify your artistic expression and reignite your creativity and excitement. It has given me a way to review and ‘crit’ my own work against a hierarchy of principles I decide to be important. That means I rarely get stuck, and waste less time – very precious when I’m working within a busy family life.

Is it for you? Well, it depends…

How cvp works.

The Art2Life CVP Program is a twelve week program, plus one rest week in the middle. You access the lessons each week with videos you can watch anytime and anywhere. Each week there are 7-10 short videos (about 2 hours total) plus time needed to do the exercises / continue your panels (about 2.5 hours) And however much time time you choose to spend within the group discussing what you are learning.

Every week there is a group call with Nicholas (about 1.5hrs) which you can join live to ask questions, or submit them in advance. These are recorded so you can watch them later. There will also be an extra coaching session during the week by the Art2Life team coaches which give extra support. You will probably find others asking the same questions – and seeing their problems resolved is often and easier way to ‘see’ how you can learn from the same issue.

This content needs to be heard and then re-heard, in some cases multiple times. If you really want to shift your art, it only can be accomplished by fully understanding the areas in art making that you were never taught.

It’s very practical – you learn as you create a series of paintings during the course. This practice is something you may be familiar with as a way of working, or something you later keep within your own process, but it’s designed to teach you by experience so you fully learn the content. You can then apply this understanding to your own process – whatever that is for you. NOTE: In 2022 CVP was redesigned to give an even better experience. I didn’t take part that year, but now in 2023 I’m re-doing CVP for the first time – as a student again – and I’m excited to be part of it again!

Who I think CVP is perfect for

CVP is perfect if you have the feeling you need something ‘more’ in your art. Maybe you’ve been working the same way for a while and you want to explore a new direction. Maybe you know you can make it better, but you’re not sure what to try or you don’t know where to push it – and where to relax.

If you are frustrated with your own progress, or want to learn with others. This is unlike anything I’ve ever taken. I didn’t quite believe it could work online – but it does because of the commitment of the team behind it. There is a depth of understanding and a genuine desire to help which really comes across.

Who I think CVP is not for

It’s not for you if you are wedded to your way of working and are not prepared to experiment in order to learn. There is a degree of trust involved – I remember wondering quite where it was all going to lead and feeling frustrated at times that it didn’t seem to be ‘coming together’. Like any new learning it can take time to integrate. You will have the support of the community .

I don’t paint abstracts – is it for me?

Nicholas’ work is abstract (but it hasn’t always been) and many, but not all, people taking part are here to explore that. But many of the examples in the weekly teaching calls are representational so you can see the principles at work. There will be plenty of people working this way too.

Whatever your style, the principles still apply. The practical element may feel a little unusual. But be prepared; this may bring a radical change – or show you the small differences which can really elevate your work.

What CVP won’t give you…

Clearly I’m a big fan of CVP as it had a huge impact on my own art practice, but this is not a step-by-step tutorial to make paintings that sell.

A fulfilling art practice (and career if you want that) takes time. It takes a lot of YOU, which is why it’s so helpful to have input and support from others who just ‘get’ exactly what you are talking about!

It’s not a business course. It won’t teach you the nuts and bolts of building your website, but I have found that the principles of what makes us attracted to things, knowing your own vision and understanding how things are viewed together has helped me with everything from how my Instagram feed looks to being bolder in my choices about my home and even travel ambitions. Weird, I know.

Frequently Asked Questions about CVP

Here are some questions you may still have. If you don’t see yours or are still wondering about your unique situation, feel free to email me ([email protected]) – or we can arrange a time to talk.

When does enrolment open?

The 2023 program will be open in late February, but first….

You get to join a free taster workshop HERE

How much is it? Is it expensive?

CVP is $2397 if paid in full. There is one time payment and extended payment options available.

Is that expensive? Compared to what? Only you can decide that. Considering the breadth of the program and how this can impact your work for years going forward, I think it’s great value. It did feel like a big investment (ok, huge) for me; but it made me up my game and I thought about how I could cover the cost with painting sales… I’m so glad I joined, but if you do and then decide it’s not for you – there is a 30 day guarantee.

What materials will I need?

You will need 12×12” wooden ply panels to work on and acrylic paint. A full list is supplied, but much of it you will already have to hand. This size is chosen so that you can cover the space on multiple pieces relatively quickly. The faster and more frequent the changes on your art, the faster and more efficient you will understand this new learning.

Do I have to work in acrylics?

The program suggests you work in acrylics. There is a reason for this – the speed of drying and ability to work in layers with both opaque and translucent paint keeps you moving and learning quickly. Nick’s larger paintings are in oils and the principles apply to all mediums, although some of the shared practical processes (primarily in the texture section) are more applicable to acrylics.

Working in watercolour or collage in my sketchbook has been helped by taking these principles on board – knowing what information I want to record or what will be most helpful or most of interest. It’s a way to filter all the visual knowledge you have. Even if you don’t want acrylic to be your main medium you will find these exercises will inform your main one.

Should I take this or get my website ready first?

Sharing your work with others (and helping others) is a key part of what Nicholas teaches. But having great work you are confident about is the first cornerstone of any of the more “business-like” elements of your work.

But I already know the theory of art – what will I gain from this?

I thought I knew colour theory too. But sometimes hearing things presented in a different way, means they really sink in. This isn’t dry theory, but a practical study which leads you through these principles. The Risk and Soul elements may not be as visibly strong, but it’s the combination of the whole approach which really make this quite unique and will bring you such a signifiant shift.

Many people say they learnt more on this program than years at art school.

I’m too busy – I’m not sure I have time

One of the first teaching modules in the program is about mindset – how to make your practice a relief from a busy life, not an additional burden. For the first 2-3 weeks there is very little painting – an intentional gentle start as we lay the foundations.    If you can allow 2-3 hours a week for painting that will be enough (although I admit I was just a little obsessed and probably spent longer!) Many people take the programme alongside a full time job.

During any long program most people have other family or work commitments, or holiday plans during the program (I missed 10 days right at the start) – you can catch up at anytime and go at your own pace. You will have access to the portal for a full year. Much of the content is also supplied as audio which you can download and listen while you are driving or working.

Can I join later this year instead?

The program only runs once a year – the next chance will be in spring 2024. Just think where your art could be by then!

Phew! I hope that helps…. If you want to ask more you can ask in the comments below which may help others, or email me [email protected] with your questions or we can find a time to talk

Thank you x

I had a friend just complete this and couldn’t say enough!! She loved the program. Will there be a payment plan for those 12 weeks? And when does 2021 class start ?Exciting

Hi Susan, the 2021 class is just completed – it will run again likely in February 2022

Hi! Your comments on CVP were most helpful. Are you having buddy group for 2021 and are you having people sign up through you rather directly? I couldn’t quite tell. Many thanks-

Hi Ally – yes – there is a page in the menu – FOR ARTISTS with all the details on. x

Hi Alice, I just hope you remember me – we met a good few years ago at Judit Morgan’s and then once I visited you just before you were preparing for your first exhibition (I think it was within the Artists at home or something similar community…) Then I kind of disapeared….. I came accross Nick’s Art2Life free 3 days course by chance and I truly enjoyed it, it made me work a lot this week. And I really enjoyed it. Your name poped up several times as someone he refers to as a success story so I am here now reading your review on CVP as I am considering signing up for the course. I mostly paint figurative and in oils (but would love to free this up and get towards some non-figurative, more expressive direction). Like the book by Joyn Seed – Disrupted realism…… Actually I don’t think, I need too much, just a little encouragement. Or I just wanted to get in touch and let you know about me… Also whether will you teach this year? Will you have the little group you mentioned above? And whether you get any comission if I book through you? Anita x

I am seriously considering taking part in CVP 2021 and would be very happy to be a part of your smaller group as mentioned above. I did FYJ this year and it was a very large group. It did feel quite daunting at first but I eased into it better than expected especially being fairly new to this. Louise’s grounding guidance probably had a lot to do with it. Also recently completed SPARK with Nicholas Wilton and I loved it. Also a very large group but a completely different vibe which felt right for me. I do think the idea of also having a small group as well as the larger community would be very helpful. Thanks.

Hi Belinda, It’s a great program. I won’t be coaching within it for 2021 and we haven’t worked out our “support bonus” yet, but yes a smaller group alongside has helped people in the past so do check back as anything we do will be for people who join via our special ‘Art Juice’ link.

Hello, I’m curious how many people are in the CVP course at one time.

It’s grown, with over 1000 people in 2020. But it’s an extensive programme with lessons and live support. There may be some changes for 2021, I won’t be coaching again as I wish to concentrate on my own work and support, but do check back nearer the time if you have any questions and I’m happy to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Was wondering if Nicholas works a lot with acrylics and how the course is taught mostly in acrylics when it seems like most of Nicholas’ work is done with oil. Even though the concepts extended to both mediums, I am curious to what extent some techniques (especially layering and drips) may be limited by the use of acrylic vs oil. Would love to hear / talk more about that if you have a moment. All the best!

Hi Henry, Yes Nick’s larger paintings are done using oil, but he uses acrylics for the smaller pieces he does – which is what the practical elements of the programme are based around as an easier way to work through the principles. It’s not so much about techniques (although some shared will be more applicable to acrylic) but about really getting an understanding of how you can use some key elements to direct the impact your work has. Acrylic is a great vehicle for this because it dries and allows you to re-visit, but the ideas translate through to other mediums too.

Hi Alice, I have just finished Louise’s free taster Find your Joy. i can’t tell you how much i got out of it, fantastic. I feel so stupid now because a few years ago i signed up for Nicholas’s free course, but i didn’t think it was anything i wanted , how stupid can one be. I think i have missed out on something really special. i can’t afford any of these paid courses, so to take advantage of free courses is fantastic . i came to art late in life, only once i retired and i love it. best wishes Jean

There are some wonderful things now available, so do take advantage of them!

Hi Alice, I’ve just enrolled in the 2020 CVP via your link and look forward to connecting with you and others during the program, and in your smaller group. It’s a significant investment in AUD and I’ll make the most of it. I enljoyed watching the video of you talking about your experience and becoming a mentor… so I looked you up.

Hi Jenny, I’m glad you found these things helpful in your decision. Yes, it is significant – and that’s partly why we all work so hard and you will see why when you are inside 🙂 xx

I am not sure any online course is worth 2,320.00 dollars. This particular course costs 2k but he charges around 350.00 to borrow from him for six months. He is a single inventor of this concept. The experience was way hyped out about his amazing ability to change artists. Too much bravado for my taste and most pedigree artists would seriously agree. The courses value is 50.00 on YouTube. And the fact you do not own this serious long winded content for 2,350.00 makes Me feel like a damn idiot for taking the Visionary Course.

Hi Valerie, I’m sorry you had this experience of the programme. As I mention, I agree it’s a serious consideration and that includes how you choose to pay for it. There is a 30 day refund period if you feel you don’t wish to continue. The considerable feedback from course participants who complete the programme show that most artists who take it feel the content is of huge value (over 95% believed the program was organized and effective and would recommend the program to a friend, over 90% felt it was priced fairly or good value) and I certainly wouldn’t share it if I hadn’t seen the changes it brought for people. You have access to all the materials, lessons, downloads and call recordings for a full year as there is a lot to watch and many people like to review as they continue to work on their own pieces throughout the following year at their own pace.

Hi Alice! I just found this! Sorry I didn’t know about the referral. It wasn’t that you referred it, its just that during one of your comments to a fellow artist on your website, you mentioned it. Then, it popped up on my Facebook page. probably because I had joined your facebook page. As you know, CVP2019 is in the last week, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have found it! My life and art have transformed and I can’t wait to continue! You were a fabulous coach and I liked your knowledge and strength of delivery!

I’m just glad you were part of it this year. You’ve really made the most of it and will continue too as well. It’s been a treat to watch. x

I’m considering this for 2020, but I hesitate because I paint in oils. I’ve used watercolour and acrylics but prefer oils I’m also hesitant about the price! If you have a minute would you glance at my Instagram site and see if you think I should do it!! ArtKDuffy. I’ll definitely give this a lot of thought. Thank you Karen x

I can’t decide for you… you have plenty of time to think before 2020 and will have a chance to see more about what it involves. The teaching is done using acrylic, just because of the drying time, but the ideas apply to all art.

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Become the artist you are meant to be.

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]

Enrollment ends: February 23 at 11:59 pm PST

Learn how to make the art that only you can create

The Creative Visionary Program offers a transformation of your art.

This 12-week, highly interactive online program will give you the essential ingredients you need to make art that is stronger and more like you — realistic, abstract or anywhere in between.

It is for artists of all levels, whether you’re an absolute beginner, returning to your art after an extended break, or an established career artist. 

What The Creative Visionary Program can do for you

Tom M., CVP Alumni

Tom now sees himself as a true artist  

"I hadn’t put paint on a brush for 35 years. I just didn’t know the first step or how to begin that transition.  

This program dismantled the mystery of art making into such simple, easy, understandable and practical bite-size pieces.  

I went from thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun to practice painting once in a while?” to actually seeing myself as an artist.  

This journey would have felt impossible before I started CVP. The transformation that has occurred for me is extraordinary."  

Today, Kate earns a full-time income from her art “I began as someone who practiced art periodically as a hobby to being full-time artist, bringing in 6 figures in only 2 years. I am so happy and fulfilled with this change. I’m creating more than ever before. CVP gave me permission and the guidance I needed to be the artist I always knew I was. My life has been transformed.”  

Kate S., CVP Alumni

Alice S., CVP Alumni

Alice’s art and career have never been better  

“I knew what I was making wasn’t what I was capable of. And it didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel like me. I was looking around for the answers.  

CVP gave me boundaries and structure to go back and check my work against. Having these benchmarks have revolutionized my work.  

My practice is much more fluid and I am stuck much less often.

This November was my best art sales ever and last year in total quadrupled on the previous year."  

The Creative Visionary Program provides the information, community and support you need to:

Strengthen Your Art

The Art2Life Framework transcends any specific technique or medium, giving you the keys to making truly arresting art.  

Discern What Works

Learn to read between the lines and identify what’s really happening when you’re stuck, and how to get back on track with a difficult piece.  

Refine (or Find) Your Voice

Make art that is truly, uniquely your own: an honest and compelling expression of who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going next.  

Show Up For Yourself and Your Art in Bold New Ways

What might you achieve if you could settle into a sustainable creative rhythm filled with exploration, joy… and a whole lot more fun? The Creative Visionary Program gives you the information, insight and support you need to make bold, exciting moves in your art — and in your life as well.  

My name is Nicholas Wilton.  

I am a fine artist, and the founder of Art2Life & The Creative Visionary Program.

I have been making art pretty much my entire life, and have taught it for over 25 years. (I held my first workshop in 1993!)

Early on I created art for book covers, including Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz… as well as US postage stamps and major publications.  

I then moved on to making art just for myself, selling and exhibiting my art through gallery shows and international art fairs both here and abroad.  

I am thriving as a fine artist today. I love the art I make and the life I get to lead. It is a life centered upon my own creative path.

But i am not inherently more gifted, talented or creative than you are. .

Making art has not always come easily to me.

For years, no matter how much time I spent, I would rarely end up with something I liked.  

I can’t tell you how many times I would just get stuck right in the middle of making my art and did not know what to do next. I would get nervous halfway through, worrying that I would ruin it!  

The irony is that my best art, and the art that I personally liked the most, was also the art that felt the most easy to make.  

It was often the art that sold. But most of my art took forever to make and it left me feeling discouraged and unmotivated. My unsold art just kept piling up. It got so bad that I would avoid going into the studio altogether.  

It was so frustrating not knowing how to consistently make strong art that felt like me.  

I had many, many challenges trying to make my art.

However, I discovered much later that I was not alone. Many artists, just like me, had many of the same issues. 

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

• Do you sometimes get stuck in the middle of making your art ? 
• Does making your art feel easy one day, and almost impossible the next?  
• Do you sometimes feel unconfident when making or sharing your art? 
• Do you procrastinate when it comes to making your art?  
• Does it seem like there is never enough time to make your art?  
• Do you look at art from others you admire… and wonder how they did it?  
• Do you sometimes feel alone in the struggle to make your art?  
• Is the stack of unsold art in your studio growing?  
• Have you almost given up on the possibility of having a joyful art practice?  
• Do you worry if you don’t make your art now, you never will?  

At one time or another I struggled with practically every one of these.

The answers, for me, came slowly through decades of struggle

In the beginning, out of sheer desperation, I started to take notes. I reflected on what was really going on when things were working, and what was happening when things were not. I’ve spent over twenty years searching for the crucial elements that would make my art work. What was missing? How could I be so good on Wednesday and so stuck on Thursday?  

I realized that most of my struggle, if not all, was because I was missing 3 things. 

It became clear to me that to really thrive as an artist, regardless of whether you make art on the side, as a career or are just starting out, you need these three things:  

All the Information 

It’s essential to have ALL the information. Understanding fundamental principles of art making such as design, value color, mindset, materials and technique (and how they all fit together) is key. If you don't have all of it, it's super, super hard to make art consistently… and even harder to correct course when you’re stuck. 

 A Bullet-Proof Art Practice

Having a sustainable art practice and a way of working that produces results for you is essential. Joy, efficiency and sustainability are the hallmarks of a solid art practice — one that will keep you going even when life gets busy or tough, and one that you will look forward to no matter what.

A community of like-minded people who support and inspire you is invaluable. Making art is often solitary, but it doesn’t have to be so lonely! With access to constructive feedback and a vibrant community of like-minded people, not only will your art dramatically improve… your quality of life will, too.  

And to pull all this off, artists need to understand one last but very important thing…  

 When you learn how to feel more alive, your art does too. 

When you begin paying attention to what fills you, what lights you up and the elements you need to nurture your unique creative self — that is when your art will truly come to life.  

In all of my attempts to improve what was happening on the 12x12 square in front of me, I had forgotten to pay attention to the most important thing of all: me!  

When I learned how to optimize my life to keep my creative fires burning, everyday, in small but meaningful ways, my art took on an entirely new quality. It became bigger and bolder, yet more subtle and nuanced... simply more alive than ever before.

It took me WAY too long to figure this out…  

Mostly because this information is not easily found.  

Successful artists often don’t tell.  

Artists who are successful, who know most of this information, are often not willing to share for fear of competition.

Art Schools and Institutions are not thorough or clear.  

Art taught in institutions is often done piecemeal with little regard for giving artists an overview and hierarchy of ALL the information needed in making art. There is a sequence of learning the information that if not used, results in overwhelm and confusion. This is why most students who graduate from art schools and even graduate programs often abandon art for another career choice. Art and the process of making it must be taught in a clear, doable way, over time — otherwise you will struggle to make sense of all the information you’ve learned and apply it in a meaningful way.  

Societal beliefs limit and undermine our creative potential.  

Many of us were discouraged to make our art because we were taught limiting beliefs. You are not talented enough, there is no money in art, you will starve as an artist, and making art is not practical are just a few.  

These ideas and beliefs are at the root of why many postpone and often never heed the call of their desire to make art.  

All of them are false, but many artists do not have the tools they need to shed these limiting beliefs… and their creative lives suffer greatly as a result.  

This is why I created The Creative Visionary Program  

CVP offers you a clear, sequential method for creating your best and most personal art yet.

You will learn how to:

• Elevate your art to a new level of depth, impact and meaning — even if you’re not sure what you want to say through your art just yet. 
• Overcome the feelings of self-doubt and paralysis that keep even the best artists stuck and playing small.
• Establish a creative rhythm that you can’t wait to dive into: one that feels inspiring, exciting and joyful. 
• See your work through to completion consistently , instead of getting stuck in frustrating creative dead ends.
• Integrate your art making and life in such a way that it feels like you’re living in full color… every day.

This 12-week, intensive online program provides you crucial art making information, a sustainable process of making your art as well as a supportive artistic community. I created this program after 25 years of making my own art, as well as helping other artists develop their own.  

CVP simply works and now I want to share it with you.

There is nothing even remotely close to this program online, or even offline. If you are willing to pay attention, show up and learn, this program can drastically transform your art.

Artwork: Patty Ripley

"This program is unlike anything else. Never have I had a team of coaches or instructor who has been as generous and authentic. The amount of information in this program is profound, with nothing left unturned." 

— Anne G., CVP Alumni

So what is the Creative Visionary Program?

The Creative Visionary Program is held over a 12-week period (but you’ll have access to the program materials for an entire year). It is taught completely online. Each training component is built around a clear, sequential process for improving your art:

The Art2Life Framework  

Re-imagined for 2022, there has never 

Been a better time to take cvp.

We have taught CVP to thousands of artists for 6 years and counting. While the results are jaw-dropping, we have noticed that there are places where artists are most likely to get stuck along the way — so we set out to create a CVP experience for 2022 that is more robust and supportive than anything we’ve ever offered before.

In addition to updating most of the video lessons, we’ve reorganized the content and allotted four weeks in an all new module called YOUR SERIES with over 20 new video lessons around the process of working in a series (including how to stay connected to your personal inspiration, how to get unstuck, and more). Our coaching calls will be geared towards representational and abstract painting — so no matter what kind of art you make, you’ll find the answers you’ve been looking for inside CVP.

Keep reading to see how your CVP journey will unfold with us over the next 12 weeks, and how we have updated the program to provide an unmatched learning experience for you in 2022!  

Risk & Soul (Your Fuel For Remarkable Art)

Our journey begins with you. Making art that is arresting, strong and one-of-a-kind requires you to be fully connected with what inspires you. But this is easier said than done — and many artists struggle to translate what inspires them in a way that truly moves the needle in their art (and life). In this stage, you will bridge the gap between what makes you feel alive and how to use it to make your art come alive. This is the bedrock for the evolution of your art!

I will guide you through…

• How to set up your unique conditions for breakout art
• How to better hear your soul's desire in your art and life.
• Strengthening discernment in all areas of your art and life.  
• Incorporating risk to push your art to exciting new places — and how to carry this attitude with you through every stage of your art-making.
• The essential nature of mistakes , and how they strengthen your art.   
• Becoming fearless and playful in your art making — and, ultimately, becoming more you. 

The time we spend exploring Risk & Soul may be the most luxurious experience of art-making you have ever had. Strengthening and clarifying your connection to your inspiration is the fuel for the incredible journey we’ll be embarking on together — and it will sustain your personal practice for years to come.

“Now I get up everyday excited to work in my studio. It’s my practice. I didn’t have that before.”

“I was worried that everyone else in the program would be amazing at painting and that I’d be completely lost. I’m still in the early stages of learning, but CVP has helped me see that if I keep going, the painting will resolve and I’ll be happy with it. It’s mind blowing. Everything is so much easier and enjoyable.

You don’t need “talent” to do this. It’s about digging deep, listening to that, and not being afraid to express that. CVP was that turning point for me. I look at what I’m making now and a year ago, there’s no way I could have made art like this. We all have that inside us.”

Dive Deep into Design & Value

There are no two more powerful art making principles than Value and Design. Although many artists know the importance of Value & Design, very few can truly harness these principles for stronger, more sophisticated art. Module 2 solves this problem.

In this module, you’ll discover:

• How to get unstuck in your art making and discern what your work needs at any given time
• How to use a “Value-first” approach to make more confident creative choices
• How to create powerful, authentic Design that speaks to your unique style
• How to properly edit your art as you go , without overthinking
• How to create a visual hierarchy in each piece of art that will make your art more impactful, exciting and engaging for those who encounter it!

In module 2, you will learn to see all the ways Value and Design show up in your art. Once learned, this will give you total ease and freedom in your art making - and the ability to course-correct you art at any stage.

16 paintings sold… I have gained more from CVP than I ever thought.

“Before CVP, I think I was intuitively aware of most of the content (design, value, color etc) but I don’t think I was ever really in tune to how it was working or not working in my art, and my work was always so hit and miss, even though I knew deep down that I had potential.

Even more than the practical side of the course, the emotional and mental content has transformed my practice. Today, I am painting without fear, without expectation and with freedom. Last week I had a solo show at a regional gallery and I am proud of the work that is uniquely mine. To date, I have sold 16 out of 22 paintings! I have gained more from CVP than I ever thought I would, on every level.”

Mastering Color in Your Art

Finally, once and for all, learn to create amazing color in your art! Learn strategies for making sophisticated, harmonious colors that are simply not shared in art school.

• The crucial relationship between value and color that simplifies any color decision
• How to use the principles of difference to enhance your color and create striking interest in your art
• How to get past the “muddy phase” to confidently mix and find your way to any color
• How to elevate your art with subtle, sophisticated color harmony
• Enhance your creative control with an easy, clear understanding of complements, temperature and saturation

So many artists simply were not given all the information about color, and if they were, it was not given in an understandable way. Module 3 will fill in the gaps and help you see and utilize color in your work in an entirely new way.

The impact CVP has had on my life is beyond extraordinary

“Before CVP I had been to some local art classes but the thought of making a ‘proper’ painting caused me to seize up. I resisted joining CVP at first because I didn’t believe it was OK to spend that kind of money on something just for me.

But when my husband asked me: “If not now, when?”... I didn’t have an answer. And so I joined. With each painting I made during CVP, I was delighted by the way my art was developing. Everything made so much sense.

Just 6 months after I completed my first board in CVP, I walked into the Brownsword Hepworth Gallery with my paintings in an Ikea bag… and walked out with an exhibition and gallery representation.

This is the stuff of fairy tales. Thank you for helping me to step more fully into what is possible to create mine.”

-Caroline Millar

Using Texture to Enhance Your Art

Understanding the importance of surface in our art making is crucial. In this module , we take a deep dive into the myriad of ways that paint, collage and mark-making can be applied to your art.

• How to create an irresistible sheen and surface on your art.
• How to use gels, trowels and wax to create a rich, deep surface.
• How to use a subtractive process to reveal underlying layers of color and texture.
• How to effectively use glazes to create depth .
• How to utilize image transfers to add complexity and interest to your art.

If you have ever felt "stuck" in a certain style of art-making, but don’t know how to shake things up, Module 4 will open up many exciting new possibilities and avenues for your art and how you make it.

“Way more than my money’s worth… a new direction and the keys to continue this journey”

“I have taught art as a profession, been to many workshops and intensive courses, and I have never experienced the level of quality and instruction and generous sharing that we have been given. I was questioning the cost of joining but got way more than my money’s worth.

When you have been working at something for so long, you think maybe there isn’t much to learn. Boy, was I wrong! I appreciate the generous sharing, the new direction I’ve found, and most importantly, the keys to continuing on the journey in a productive way.”

Your Series & The Evolution of Your Art

We will spend our final 4 weeks together working on your “series” of brand-new, unique pieces of art — and the culmination of all your work in CVP. Your series will reflect the insights you uncovered early on in the program about what makes you feel alive, and, paired with the Art2Life Framework & Principles we explored in weeks 4 through 8, it will serve as an exciting preview for where your art is headed next. 

The art you make during this module may well be the best you’ve ever made, but above all, you will discover a totally new process of art-making: one where you work on multiple pieces at once, and where each piece informs the other. This way of working is fast, fluid and unlike anything you have tried before. For many, it is the missing link for making bold strokes in your art and life — and it is grounded in what makes you come alive. Your art is about to become one-of-a-kind.

• How to set up and create your art in “series” to unlock new creative insights, stop-overthinking, and generate endless bodies of work in less time.
• How to reduce the pressure on any one piece of art and embrace a “life’s work” approach to your art that allows you to learn from each piece… in a way that makes the next one stronger and more like you.
• How to stay open in your process and maintain momentum , rather than getting too “attached” or paralyzed part-way through!
• How to identify if your art is “finished” (or what it might need during your final stages of refinement )
• How to develop, change and scale up your future art as you move forward (and what this means for how you will share your art with the world).

Prepare to totally rethink your process of making art and what is possible. You will walk away with a bulletproof process for arriving at creative insights faster, and a totally new series of work that surfaces your unique artistic voice: both clearer and more refined than it’s ever been before.

After learning this process, making art will become so fun that you won’t want to stop… and we’ll be here to guide you through it, every step of the way.

One thing’s for sure: you, your art, and the way you make it will never be the same.

Studio, sales, galleries and shows — just to name a few!

“I am thrilled to see what has transpired since taking CVP. I am represented by a gallery now, maintain a growing Instagram presence, set up my website, moved my studio and have a great functional space.

I’ve been accepted into The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (which is pretty tough to get into!), sold about $7000 worth of work and working toward a show in a wonderful space this summer.

These goals are such affirmations for me and I am sure are because of my expanded vision and determination fueled by CVP!”

The Creative Visionary Program is so much more than the sum of its parts!

Rich with examples, demonstrations and multiple opportunities to get your questions answered every week, CVP gives you everything you need to begin making art in an entirely new way.  

Whether you are an experienced student or totally new to the principles of art, this program demonstrates critical concepts in a way that will immediately make sense in the context of your art and life.  

Artwork: Janet Smedley

"I am so positively blown away by this course. It's unexpectedly informative, juicy, concise, easy to understand, hopeful and encouraging. It pushes without being pushy, hands out information when it's most impactful. I'm eager to learn and this is feeding my needs!" — Pamela R  

"Many other online courses cater only to beginners and are not as comprehensive. It’s technique oriented as well as philosophically oriented about the art life — what it is to be an artist, how to think about your work and how to approach it." — Shirley W., CVP Alumni  

How does the Creative Visionary Program support you?

The success of our members is directly related to how we efficiently deliver information in an accessible, easy to understand way.

There are 6 ways we answer your questions and offer solutions:

Within the CVP Portal I have meticulously created chronological lessons that clearly define, diagnose, and solve the common challenges that arise in art making. Each week a new class is available. Under each video in the Portal you may ask questions - and every question is answered.

The FAQ Bank We utilize an extensive FAQ Bank which is a vault of information, giving you access to written answers along with diagrams, and even video demonstrations, for solutions to specific art making challenges. This is available 24/7.  

Live Group Calls Every week, I will be hosting a live Group Call to deepen the learning of the week’s lessons and answer your questions live.  

Live Coaching Sessions Every week there will be live a coaching session. These will be conducted by the Art2Life Coaches. The sessions are all recorded so if you miss one, you can watch it later when it’s more convenient.  

Image Adjustment Videos Image Adjustment Videos are used to show artwork being modified and improved utilizing the principles. Seeing multiple examples of the principles at work make it that much easier to understand and apply them to your own art.  

The Private Facebook Group This is where we harness the power of our community. Not only are we teaching our members to problem solve their own art, but to help improve other’s art as well. The extraordinary results achieved in the Creative Visionary Program are in a large part due to the amazing community that forms during the program. 

How The Creative Visionary Program is structured

Watch a behind the scenes tour with Nicholas:

Know that my whole team and I will be here to support you.

Most of them are professional working artists, so we understand.

This year we have an outstanding line up of Art2life coaches. There will be live in studio demonstrations, bonus content with guest presenters and downloadable art guides. Our highly responsive technical and customer support team is also involved in the creative unfolding of the CVP 2022 experience. I can promise you that you will not find a more caring, supportive crew than the Art2life CVP Team. During the program you will get to know all of us!  

"I have never in my life been in such a well-organized program with such eloquent and articulate artists and staff who carry themselves in the most professional, heart-centered way — with a level of integrity that goes beyond what most people exude in their everyday work worlds. I sense that most of this was not work for all of you!" — Michelle B., CVP Alumni  

Make your art stronger, bolder and more like you — no matter where you are right now. 

The Creative Visionary Program can be accessed on your computer from anywhere in the world, and has been optimized for iPad as well as for your mobile device.  

All the training modules and live coaching sessions are recorded for you to watch at a time that suits you, at your own pace, as many times as you like.  

Downloads of video transcriptions, as well as MP3 audio files are available for each lesson. This makes learning the weekly content super convenient.  

The Creative Visionary Program gets real results 

Even though this program is only 12 weeks long, the knowledge, community, and progression of your art will continue for years into the future. 

In fact, the Art2life Process, once learned, can simply become your roadmap, your guide to your life’s creative path. It doesn’t matter what kind of art you make. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional. Over 1/3 of those who have taken CVP in the past have re-enrolled this year. As you deepen your practice, the Art2life Process will continue to inform and reveal the necessary learning to move to the next level for years to come. The Art2life Process meets you where you are. This is why we are seeing so many CVP Alumni re-enrolling, reinvesting in the program. This process works, not just once, but over and over again.  

We have more success stories than we can fit on this page!

But what is it worth?  

Spending $98,000 on a Masters program or an additional few hundred thousand dollars for an undergraduate art program might remedy some of the challenges an artist faces in making and building a life around their art... But that isn’t what I am seeing out there. The number of undergraduate and graduate degrees held by those who enroll in the Creative Visionary Program is surprisingly high. They simply were not given all the information. And of all those who earn graduate degrees from art schools, a scant 10% become full-time artists. I know we can do better.

It is not the cost, however... it is the time.

The greatest value of CVP is the time saved — years or decades — by being provided this essential information, instead of having to figure it out on your own.  

You can get there the hard way.

It is possible. I did it this way. But I had way too many decades of struggle. There is also no guarantee that going it alone will actually work out.  

But there is another way...and it comes with a guarantee.

The Creative Visionary Program not only has a track record of stunning accomplishments by its alumni, but it also comes with a zero-risk guarantee:

Today, your investment in The Creative Visionary Program is:  

  A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF  

$2397 USD  

(Save $345 by paying in full)

 6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF  

$457 USD  

Your enrollment in CVP includes:  

• The Complete Art2Life Framework
• The ArtLife FAQ Vault
• Weekly Live Group Calls
• Weekly Live Coaching Sessions 
• Bonus content with Guest Presenters 
• Downloadable Helpful Art Guides
• Extensive key word search of all CVP videos
• Membership in the private Facebook Community
• Bonus #1 A real-time documentation of my process making (and struggling with) a large canvas on panel oil painting. It is broken down into 30 minute sessions. In each session I discuss what is working, and what I am doing, and why I am doing it. This candid, behind the scene view will give you vital information you would never know by just looking at the finished painting.
• Bonus #2 The Art2Life Business Primer! This webinar and its detailed PDF download is all about how to get your new art out into the world. What are the daily or weekly simple things that are easy and effective to do to promote your artwork. The Business Primer will give you a clear, doable plan!
• Bonus #3 A two part video series on Time Management. Part one dives into all the time saving approaches I use in making art. These tips can make a huge difference in your art making ease and efficiency. Part two dives into the other area where time is often in short supply...your life. I will share with you ways to optimize your time, stay inspired and keep the creative fire burning when you are not in the studio.  
• Access to the entire CVP Portal including all the modules, video lessons, call recordings, audio files and transcriptions, for one full year from date of purchase.
• Finding Meaning in Play with speaker, author and workshop leader, Marney Makridakis
• Value & Design in Representational Work with realistic painters, Patrick Lee and Mitch Albala
• The Science of Manifestation with artist Brooke Armstrong
• Moving Between Mindsets with artist Kerry Shroeder
• Concerning Color with author, artist, teacher, David Hornung
• The Art of Letting Go with Susan Melrath and Kerry Schroeder

The NO Risk Guarantee: Try CVP for a full 30 days, 100% Risk Free 

If you feel you are not the right fit for this program, I will issue you a full refund!

No matter what the reason. Period. We are looking for home runs, and it has to be the right fit for you.  

Class begins on February 24, 2022!  

Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]  

 This is an investment in your art... and in yourself  

It’s an investment of time, energy and resources. As an artist, as well as the founder of this program, I take your financial investment seriously. I could not, would not, be able to offer this program to my community, if I was not 100% certain that there would be a significant return on your investment, and that is why I stand behind CVP with a 30-day Guarantee. The transformation of your art is no small feat. I am aware of this. However, the kind of changes I am pursuing for you are marked by changes in your life, as well as your art. Your art and your life are connected, and a transformation of your art often overflows with positive changes in your life.  

"This course is simply the very best thing I have ever done for myself, for my creativity, for my life, for my personal pleasure and joy, and for my confidence as an artist (as I am now learning to call myself!) — Liz W., CVP Alumni  

Enrollment closes on February 23!

The reason we close the promotional phase of the program is so my whole team and I can start working with the new community of artists in the program. The Creative Visionary Program (CVP) begins on February 24th!  

The enrollment period ends February 23, at 11:59pm PST. You must enroll before this time. There will be no exceptions.  

The BEST time to enroll in the Creative Visionary Program is right now!  

I urge you to listen, and ask your creative self if this is finally the time to invest in the artist within you.  

If you’re hesitating, these questions might be the reason why… 

Is the price of the creative visionary program worth it.

Lots of people have wondered about the price, but not after experiencing the program. The one consistent piece of feedback when we poll our alumni is that CVP is a great value. And this year is going to be even better.  

"The cost of the program was a big jump for me. It also came at a time when I thought I could work out my art for myself, but I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to get there. To have a program focused on making your art as strong as it can be appealed to me. I knew I just had to do this. The work I’m doing now is much, much stronger as a result." — Alice S., CVP Alumni

Can the Creative Visionary Program fit into my already busy life? 

The Creative Visionary Program can be done many different ways. Because you have access for a full year, you can go at a pace that is comfortable. All lessons and calls are recorded, so you may listen and learn wherever it is convenient.

Artwork: Jenny Fermor

"It appealed to me because I am a mother of a teenager and I’m busy. I wanted something I could do from home and it fit my needs perfectly. I could do it at my pace. Now I'm engaged with my art and entering shows—something I never considering doing it before. It really changed my life. My family is so happy for me because I found my passion." — Glenda G., CVP Alumni

Can I actually become an artist this time around? 

Dreams are often postponed. Most are never realized, especially those involved in getting around to making one's art. Through the successes of our alumni, CVP demonstrates what is possible when an artist sets an intention, learns essential information and is given support.

"Now my art is a practice. I show up and do it. I now have the confidence to put myself out there more. I’m getting press and solo shows. I have validation and confidence. I no longer have the pressure to make a perfect painting." — Julie S., CVP Alumni

Will this program help if I am already showing in galleries? 

The price of your art, the number of sales, and the caliber of your galleries, are all connected to the strength, originality and vibrancy of your art. Over time, your art should be steadily improving, and therefore increasing in sales and value. CVP will help ensure this process continues.

I’m a huge believer in continuing education and am always learning. CVP gave me the theory to combine with my own knowledge to push my work to the next level. I didn’t have to put my art career on hold in order to do this. I was able to do the program and still be able to produce art, show and sell it. Through the program I saw my work get stronger and the reaction to my work also got stronger. It was certainly worth every penny. — Karina B., CVP Alumni 

I am just a beginner. Is this program too advanced for me? 

The Creative Visionary Program is perfectly suited for the beginner with little or no prior experience. All that is required is the interest, and the passion to improve and learn. The community of artists, as well as the CVP Team, is incredibly supportive within the program. The CVP program gets amazing results no matter your stage of art making.  

"I always wanted to paint, but I was on my own and floundering. I didn’t know anything about materials or technical aspects. I didn’t know where to start and had no one to talk to. I was a beginner and I knew my work was not what I wanted it to be. Revealing that to people I didn’t know online was very intimidating. After CVP, I feel I am in the swing of it. I’ve changed my social media profiles and I’m getting into it. I have enough tools now to keep it going, keep it expanding, growing and learning." — Janet J., CVP Alumni

“The only art experience I had was my own experimenting with art and a couple of classes at a community college. That’s where my art path stopped. Going into CVP, I could have been intimidated by the artists who were more experienced. But the way the material was presented… it very quickly got us all on the same playing field. The process builds on itself in such a way that we were all still learning, even the artists who were much further along than me… as well as the artists who were even more of a beginner than I was. The #1 thing I got from the support that CVP offered was the confidence to just go for it and move forward. I still feel that support 2 years later. I talk to a CVP-er every day now.” –  Arron B., CVP Alumni

How will it feel to have so many artists at different levels in the program?

The material has complexity and nuances, and meets the student where they are in their art. Beginners will learn different things, compared to someone who has many years of experience. Last year, we had many beginners who are returning this year to deepen their learning. The mixed levels of participants is intentional, and adds to the richness of the program. Every artist, even the advanced, can learn from the questions asked by a beginner.  

"CVP is a broad base of artists at all levels, from super experienced to beginners who are just putting their toe in the water. That opened me up to a whole new way of thinking. I didn’t have to be in the box of “professional fine artist,” I could just be out there, in the Community. I loved the Community aspect of it, which I never had before. Being in a studio all day can be isolating. There is no social connection or peer group interaction. It’s so important for an artist to have that Community." — Shirley W., CVP Alumni

If I am a more advanced artist, what do I have to gain from CVP?

Many professional and working artists join CVP each year. Even if you have been exposed to principles like Design, Value, and Color through formal education like art school — or have taken several art classes before — many artists do not have all the information they need to translate their “head” knowledge into their practice in an intuitive, personal way. Many working artists struggle to continue evolving their work, and CVP offers a clearer, more efficient path to making your best art yet.

For this exact reason, CVP explores a range of art making principles with fresh perspectives that are simply not taught in even the best art schools. Our curriculum will fill in the gaps, enhance your practice, and help you tackle the mental and emotional hurdles to making stronger art and sharing it with the world.

“I can look at a painting and create that effect. I know my materials and techniques already. So why did my art get better, more complex? CVP shows you the techniques, everything is covered… but it is so much more than a painting workshop (even though I did learn a lot about painting in the course!). The way CVP opened my mind to all the limiting beliefs I had helped me loosen up in my work and enjoy it more — and this translates directly into how people experience my art. This is a roadmap for how to integrate life and art. If you’ve struggled for a few years with your art, trying to figure it out on your own, you will get so much from CVP.” ~ Roohi S., CVP Alumni

Can I use this program to change my present career into something creative? 

A big part of the Creative Visionary Program is identifying what brings you alive. What inspires you? If you have lost track of this thread in your career, staying in it for too long can be challenging. Changing careers is not easy, however doing something that brings you joy is a great motivator. 

"I was an illustrator and I watched the market go down. I thought it was really about the business decline aspect of it, but now that I’m where I am now, I realized I was just tired of that work—of all the things I was being asked to do. I saw that every time I was painting I knew that this was what I wanted to do. Moving into being an artist is somewhat daunting. With CVP I could feel the learning curve and the acceleration of learning more than any other educational thing I’ve ever done. The program took me back to my roots when I was young as a kid. I identify myself as a fine artist now. " — Gordon S., CVP Alumni

Can making my art feel joyful?

Yes! Paying attention to the way we make art and how we feel when we do, are two key components needed to revive a stale art practice. And if our art practice becomes joyful, then it will become sustainable. 

"I’m having the time of my life, really. It’s taken pressure off of me in that I don’t have to do something that really looks like something. It’s more about a feeling and reacting to shapes. My art is now a big party for myself. I’m happy there. I put music on. I really paint from my heart now. I'm not trying to reproduce or just do techniques. It’s the best thing I’ve done in years, honest to God." — Louise S., CVP Alumni  

What if I can't keep up and do all the work?

This program can be done at your own pace. Even though the program is 12 weeks, each member has access to the portal for one full year. You can do the program at a pace that is comfortable. Artist Stacy Phillips was busy preparing for a solo show when she enrolled. Stacy continued to work towards her show, and did not do any of the assignments, but only listened to the weekly class and found tremendous value.

"I had a solo show approaching. I chose to participate only in the Portal and on the Facebook page where it was comfortable for me. At night I would come home after a day in the studio and sit and watch the videos on my time, at my own pace. I could stop them, rewind them, watch them again. I could pick and choose what worked for me. For me the program was like going back to home base. It’s helping my sculpture and my painting. It doesn’t matter what the medium is. I’m still referencing what I learned today and will be referencing it for years to come." — Stacy P., CVP Alumni 

The Creative Visionary Program might not be for you if...

You are thinking that success in art comes from mimicking someone else’s art.  

I am not teaching a particular style of art that looks like mine, or anyone else’s. I am only interested in helping you discover your own, unique art...the kind of art that makes you feel alive.

You are not willing to help someone who is not as far along as you.

The growing Art2life Community is centered upon sharing information and inspiration, and helping each other. We are all on the same creative path. There are some ahead of us, and always some behind. Helping each other is how those in the Art2life Community have been able to make such incredible progress. This rising tide we create together, lifts all ships. 

You're not ready to let go of the belief that some people are talented, others are not.

Many believe art is only available for the select few who possess some kind of rare talent. Holding on to this limiting belief about creative capacity will undermine your progress. It limits you, and those around you. It is simply not true. Everyone has the capacity to make authentic, amazing art if they are interested.

And this might not be the year for you...

I realize this opportunity just appeared this week! And I know for many artists, this opportunity has presented itself at an inconvenient time. 

But, what is the cost of doing nothing?

Here is the issue. Change is never convenient. It is also rarely easy. It takes effort to create a change.  

However, there are also costs associated with doing nothing.  

Will your art continue to go the way it has been all these years?  

For those just beginning, where and how will you get all the information, the support, and the community needed to really get your art going?  

Going it alone can take decades of struggle...it did for me.  

Are the holes in your knowledge holding you back? Again it is very difficult to make powerful, authentic art without all the essential information.  

Procrastinating, and losing confidence and motivation, creates huge blank spaces in your art progress, and for many, can lead to giving up all together.

Getting stuck in the middle of making your art again, and again, adds endless hours of struggle to your art process.  

Will your art continue to sell only occasionally, or maybe not at all? The relationship between sales, and strength and originality, is real. Lackluster sales will only continue until your art becomes exceptional.  

Need help or have questions? Email us at [email protected]

Everything becomes easier when your art becomes outstanding.

This is the path towards significantly improving not just your art, but also the way you make it. My goal for every member of the Creative Visionary Program is to leave with a sustainable art practice that allows you to problem solve your own art, regain your confidence and inspiration, and if desired, increase the sales of your art. However, transformation is not easy. I need to be honest with you here, and say this will take some degree of effort. I will be with you every step of the way, but I also need to work with artists that are ready to show up.  

Program FAQs and Details:

When are the dates of the program? The program begins on February 24, 2022 and ends on May 31, 2022. It is a 12-week program, but we include a Rest Week from April 18 2022 - April 24, 2022. 

How much experience do I need to do the program? This program is designed for the absolute beginner as well as those who are much further along. Making powerful, authentic art is available to anyone with the interest. All you need is a passion - a strong desire to discover and clarify your own creative voice.  

How good at technology do I have to be to do the program? This is an online course, and basic Facebook and computer skills are needed. We give basic instruction to get you started, but you will need to take some time to watch our instructional videos and if needed, watch some Facebook tutorial videos on your own just so you can navigate and do basic things in Facebook. Understanding how to leave a comment, take a picture of your art, and post an image to your own Facebook album are the primary skills you will need. It is not mandatory that those taking CVP participate in the Facebook Group but it is recommended, as this also is a place to find inspiration and additional learning from the CVP community. 

How much time do I need per week to adequately do the program? If you can free up 3-5 hours per week you will learn a great deal and get a tremendous amount from the program. Some will spend more than this because they become increasingly excited about their art as the program continues. It is, however, a choice.  

Do I need to be an abstract or representational artist? You can be any kind of artist you want! The principles and ideas in this program relate to all kinds of art. It doesn’t matter whether your art is realistic, landscape painting, collage, sculpture, minimal color-field paintings, abstract, or even photography...it all relates to the overarching principles I teach in CVP. 

Is realism covered in CVP? Whether you paint realistically or abstractly does not matter. The CVP principles apply to all art, creative endeavors, and any style of painting, including landscapes and still lifes. This topic is covered in the weekly video classes, as well as several of the Live Group Calls.

Is this program right for me if I don’t have a defined “style”? Yes! We spend several weeks on what we call RISK & SOUL. This is all about finding your own artistic voice. This is how we get your art stronger… we help you re-align with whatever brings you joy and inspiration. Having a style or look to your work is a natural outcome of making art you love... and figuring that out is what making art is all about. It is about you. The process of discovering and sharing your own unique expression with the world is an extremely meaningful, worthwhile pursuit.  

I am an artist but not a painter. Is this program suitable for me? The art principles apply to any kind of art making. It takes some time and practice to learn them, but once you do, it will allow you to strengthen any kind of art. In the CVP Program we use acrylic paint, as it is the simplest and fastest medium to learn the principles. We have a detailed materials list and can help you get what you need if wish to work in acrylics. At the end of twelve weeks, you will have proficiency in this medium. Many artists transfer the learning to their own kind of art, during and after the program.

Your work could be photography, collage or even sculpture. For the first three weeks of the program, we are working on clarifying your creative path. We ask what inspires you and what you desire. We need to do this first, so that we can help you to get where you want to go in your art. We have had photographers, collage artists and even sculptors enroll in the Creative Visionary Program.  

What are the materials I will need for the program? We use 12” x 12” wood birch 1/4” panels and acrylic paint in the program. You will need 18 panels during the program. We use small rounds and flats for brushes. Many artists already have a wide assortment of brushes and even acrylic colors. Over the course of the program we will be using different sandpapers, trowels and other kinds of mark-making tools. We provide an extensive materials list for the program, but much of it you may already have.  

Can I use oil or another kind of material to do the program? Yes, although it is not recommended. We use acrylic because it is fast drying and makes it possible to build up extensive layering of paint. The learning is accelerated because the actual painting size of 12” x 12” is relatively small, and can be changed quickly. The faster and more frequent the changes to an artist’s art, the faster and more efficient the learning. These two material choices support our learning strategy.  

Do you offer any monthly payment plan? Yes! You may choose to pay for the program in 6 monthly payments of $457.  

Still have questions? Please email us at [email protected] and our team will be happy to assist you.

This can be the year your art comes alive

How would it feel to make your art a bigger part of your life?

How would it feel to make art you love with relative ease?

And what could happen if the world loved it as much as you do?

The Creative Visionary Program begins on February 24, 2022.

  will this be your year.

Choose the option that works for you:

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee | Secure Checkout

Your enrollment includes:

• Weekly Live Coaching Sessions
• Bonus Content with Guest Presenters 
• Downloadable Art Helpful Guides
• Bonus #1 : Real time video documentation of my process
• Bonus #2 : The Art2Life Business Primer
• Bonus #3 : The Art and Life Time Management video series. 
• Access to the entire CVP Portal including all the modules, video lessons, call recordings, audio files and transcriptions, for one full year from date of purchase. 
• PLUS the CVP “On Demand” library! Includes 6 interviews with esteemed artists diving deeper into color, mindset, realistic and representational art, and so much more

What dream do you have for yourself and your art? 

To show up for yourself consistently, like Terry Tsu?

To feel more spaciousness and joy, like Janet Smedley?

To evolve your work and embark on new challenges, like Chad Little?

To create with more confidence, like Judy Shreve?

To find the courage to pursue a bold new path, like Mary GrandPre?

To create seductive, stunning art that sells, like Jennifer Daily?

It's possible.

"This course opens onto the world. Now I see the principles at work all around me. I hear them in music, notice them as I walk through my neighborhood, read them in the plots of good books, and even taste them in favorite foods. Thank you so very much Nicholas & the team, and all my fellow Art2Life adventurers for helping to shred my doubts and remake the world as a brighter, more liquid place where feeling is paramount, and mistakes coveted. Though merely saying Thank You seems too small, sky-writing wouldn't be large enough. I'm anxious to move forward with all that I've gathered here. With the sincere belief that we've only just started down the path, wishing everyone the best luck in their next steps."  

— Lisa M., CVP Alumni

Need help or have questions?

Please email us at [email protected] and our team will be happy to assist you.

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You can trust us!

HELEN CONWAY - Artist & Coach

Is the Art2Life CVP course worth it?

What is the art2life cvp course.

CVP ( Creative Visionary Programme)   is an intensive, twelve-week art course run once a year by  Nick Wilton  and his team at Art2Life. It begins with a free taster beginning this year on February 13th . That freebie course has some good information in it and is fun, although I actually think it doesn’t go anywhere near showing how good the whole course is!) . There is a short sign up period leading into the full course.  The full course consists of several teaching videos released on a Monday. During each week there is a live group call, a coaching call with different artists and a pop up call for Q and A with Nick. Everything is available on replay for a full year.  In addition there are added recorded bonus inspirational videos and technique resources.  It is about to run again and I thought I might be helpful to people considering it to tell you about the good and bad experiences I had of it.

Why it did it and where I was as an artist

I had made sold and exhibited art for over ten years by the time I signed up. However I was a textile artist and was very new indeed to painting. I wanted to get a good foundation in this new medium. Also, I had gone through a burnout and had taken an early retirement from law to concentrate on a creative life. I wanted to set myself up with a foundation and a community. I was able to dedicate as much time as I needed to it as I was only working part time as a coach and freelance trainer at the time. In reality, however that changed drastically as I explain below.

Before I signed up, I asked a lot of alumni whether it was worth the cost and what I might expect from it. That information helped me make a good decision so I thought I would pay it forward in this post.

The great parts of CVP

• The buzz and excitement as the group opened was energising and not exaggerated. There were alumni who had done the class before and who came back excited for more which took away some of the concern for me about whether the class would be worth the money.
• There is a vast amount of material. The course builds so at first it is not so obvious but there is really a massive amount and it’s well worth the money.
• The teaching videos are all  Nick Wilton  but although they were very good, the coaching calls with other artists in his team were actually the best part of the course for me. They brought a range of artistic styles, personalities and outlooks and very practical technical information
• Unlike some courses online this is not a course run by someone wanting to use teaching to establish themselves as an artist. These are already well-established gallery-selling artists sharing a wealth of heard-earned lived experience. Other artist who have art degrees have said this course taught them material they did not get on degree courses. I don’t have an art degree so I cannot comment on that but I can say that I was thinking of doing one and having done  CVP  I no longer feel that ‘lack’ in myself that was making me consider it.
• The class is not just about art technique, it is about being an artist. You will go away with knowledge, yes, but also new outlooks and thinking patterns which for me was the most valuable thing.
• It starts by helping and encouraging you to understand what you want to make art about and what inspires you and what you want from life. That’s not fluff. It’s really key material. Exercises included making ‘boards’ of images and I had to do those digitally because my Mother-in-law died and I had to travel to N Ireland first to be with her in her last days and then for the funeral. I used Canva to make my boards and combined images of snippets that I liked from my own art with the art that I wished I could make. I realised that put together I couldn’t really tell a difference. It was hugely important to me in narrowing a perceived gap between what I was creating and what I admired in others. That gave me a real belief that I could be a painter!
• I learned really useful information about the paints themselves, about techniques and about the painting life.
• A fundamental way they teach is to do image adjustments where they take a piece of art and adjust it in photoshop to show the impact of different options. It is a visual and impactful way to show you how choices can make a work better or just different depending on your intent.
• Following the course there is the option to pay more to enter an Academy which is a monthly offering of group calls, inspirational interviews and technique classes. That reduces the sudden feeling of being alone after such a supportive experience.

The downsides of CVP

• I don’t think the  free taster course  really gives a realistic impression of how deep, detailed and empowering the full course is.
• I found Nick repetitive especially at first but that did get better. At around the one month mark – the time after which you can get your money back- I was still deciding if I could put up with him! Probably had I not had the assurance from other alumni I would have pulled out. But just after the course really ramped up. I realised they were making sure that no one got left behind. Plus I figured out that as he speaks slowly, if you play his videos at 1.5 x speed or higher you can still tell what he is saying perfectly well and it saves time! Overall, I was extremely happy with the course and glad I had not lost my patience with it!
• I watched a lot of the classes away from home as not only did we lose my MiL but my husband had an accident when we were at her home and I was stranded in N Ireland with him in hospital for three weeks and had no access to my studio! I felt a little left behind but was able to catch up and finished only a few weeks later. I did still feel part of the class as I could watch the videos on my i-pad and do the  exercises later but some of the energy of doing it at the same time as others was lost. There were many people who could not keep up and along the way sub -Facebook groups were created by members who were able to support each other to continue at their own pace.
• I wanted to blog and journal more about my experience of the course as I went along but for all the reasons I’ve mentioned that didn’t happen although I did make very detailed notes from each video. I was probably realistic about how much extra I could do alongside the course which is a fairly typical flaw of mine! I have written a separate post about how to manage  CVP  and your time based on my experience.
• The demonstration videos each week are very focused on Nick Wilton’s style of painting. I saw comments that realistic painters struggled with translating the principles to their work. However, Susan Melrath one of the other artists on the weekly calls is excellent at sharing her realistic work and process and I understand that they are going to give even more focus this time to realistic painters.
• The class is huge and the Facebook group very busy. Some people found it hard to post in there, but it was very supportive. It would be easy to get distracted by it and not put limited available time to the art. As it was, for me it was a godsend while I was sitting in the in hospital or alone in my hotel room later to have all those artists to talk art to! I am still in touch with many of them in a separate Zoom based co-working group we created.
• The course is expensive. It’s well worth it but if you don’t have the money available without incurring debt remember that it will be available next year. I would endorse making the investment even if it feels a bit brave to spend so much on yourself and your art. I would not suggest paying the price just out of fear if missing out this year as a result of all the publicity Art2Life generate each year. Save up and wait if you need to.
• There is a short sign up for the Academy after the course and the details not made clear until the end of CVP. You can only sign up at that one point in the year although once you have done  CVP  you can join in subsequent years when it opens up. I think the money is worth what they offer, but the sale process felt a little pressurised especially after such a big investment in  CVP  for the first time and I would have preferred to know about it up front (which I why I am telling you!) I don’t know the 2023 cost but, from memory, it was in the region of £400 in 2022

The results

I started this course in February and had a solo show at  Gallery 1889  to complete by July. My intention had been to continue doing textile art for the show and learn the new medium alongside it. When the life events happened, that plan looked like a disaster! In fact, the show had over pieces in and 52 of them were new and painted as I went through the course starting with the  free taster.  That alone helped me complete a series to standard worthy of showing.. I sold work that were created in direct response to the CVP exercises including the one illustrating this post. If you had told me, I would be selling painted work just weeks after this course I would have said you were deluded!

The conclusion

I will be doing the class again in 2023 as an Alumni.  You can read this post about my intentions for my 2023 attendance and why you might want to do the course more than once. It has so much in it there is real merit on going though again at a different level applying for the work in different ways. Plus, for me I have really benefitted from meeting the other artist and I’m looking forward to getting to know new people and revisiting with last year’s people. Nick likes Alumni in the class to encourage and support new members, something I’m really looking forward to being able to do and we get a reduced rate to attend the second time.

Nick Wilton is as good a businessman as he is an artist. He has an alumni affiliate link programme. If you sign up to the free taster course as linked below through my link, I don”t get any reward. However if you go on to sign up for the full course, you pay no extra, but I get a reward to help fund my attendance this year. This scheme has affected the timing of this post but not the content in any way.

If you have enjoyed this post you may like my post How to Make CVP work for you

helen Conway

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Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]

Enrollment ends: May 8th at 11:59 pm PDT

Learn how to make the art that only you can create

The Creative Visionary Program offers a transformation of your art.

This 12-week, highly interactive online program will give you the essential ingredients you need to make art that is stronger and more like you — realistic, abstract or anywhere in between.

It is for artists of all levels, whether you’re an absolute beginner, returning to your art after an extended break, or an established career artist. 

What The Creative Visionary Program can do for you

Tom Miller, CVP Alumni

Tom now sees himself as a true artist  

"I hadn’t put paint on a brush for 35 years. I just didn’t know the first step or how to begin that transition.  

This program dismantled the mystery of art making into such simple, easy, understandable and practical bite-size pieces.  

I went from thinking, “Wouldn’t it be fun to practice painting once in a while?” to actually seeing myself as an artist.  

This journey would have felt impossible before I started CVP. The transformation that has occurred for me is extraordinary."  

Today, Kate earns a full-time income from her art “I began as someone who practiced art periodically as a hobby to being full-time artist, bringing in 6 figures in only 2 years. I am so happy and fulfilled with this change. I’m creating more than ever before. CVP gave me permission and the guidance I needed to be the artist I always knew I was. My life has been transformed.”  

Kate Soady, CVP Alumni

Alice Sheridan, CVP Alumni

Alice’s art and career have never been better  

“I knew what I was making wasn’t what I was capable of. And it didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel like me. I was looking around for the answers.  

CVP gave me boundaries and structure to go back and check my work against. Having these benchmarks have revolutionized my work.  

My practice is much more fluid and I am stuck much less often.

This November was my best art sales ever and last year in total quadrupled on the previous year."  

The Creative Visionary Program provides the information, community and support you need to:

Strengthen Your Art The Art2Life Framework transcends any specific or technique or medium, giving you the keys to making truly arresting art.  

Discern What Works Learn to read between the lines and identify what’s really happening when you’re stuck, and how to get back on track with a difficult piece.  

Refine (or Find) Your Voice Make art that is truly, uniquely your own: an honest and compelling expression of who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going next.  

Show Up For Yourself and Your Art in Bold New Ways What might you achieve if you could settle into a sustainable creative rhythm filled with exploration, joy… and a whole lot more fun? The Creative Visionary Program gives you the information, insight and support you need to make bold, exciting moves in your art — and in your life as well.  

My name is Nicholas Wilton.  

I am a fine artist, and the founder of Art2Life & The Creative Visionary Program.

I have been making art pretty much my entire life, and have taught it for over 25 years. (I held my first workshop in 1993!)

Early on I created art for book covers, including Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz… as well as US postage stamps and major publications.  

I then moved on to making art just for myself, selling and exhibiting my art through gallery shows and international art fairs both here and abroad.  

I am thriving as a fine artist today. I love the art I make and the life I get to lead. It is a life centered upon my own creative path.

But i am not inherently more gifted, talented or creative than you are. .

Making art has not always come easily to me.

For years, no matter how much time I spent, I would rarely end up with something I liked.  

I can’t tell you how many times I would just get stuck right in the middle of making my art and did not know what to do next. I would get nervous halfway through, worrying that I would ruin it!  

The irony is that my best art, and the art that I personally liked the most, was also the art that felt the most easy to make.  

It was often the art that sold. But most of my art took forever to make and it left me feeling discouraged and unmotivated. My unsold art just kept piling up. It got so bad that I would avoid going into the studio altogether.  

It was so frustrating not knowing how to consistently make strong art that felt like me.  

I had many, many challenges trying to make my art.

However, I discovered much later that I was not alone. Many artists, just like me, had many of the same issues. 

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

• Do you sometimes get stuck in the middle of making your art ? 
• Does making your art feel easy one day, and almost impossible the next?  
• Do you sometimes feel unconfident when making or sharing your art? 
• Do you procrastinate when it comes to making your art?  
• Does it seem like there is never enough time to make your art?  
• Do you look at art from others you admire… and wonder how they did it?  
• Do you sometimes feel alone in the struggle to make your art?  
• Is the stack of unsold art in your studio growing?  
• Have you almost given up on the possibility of having a joyful art practice?  
• Do you worry if you don’t make your art now, you never will?  

At one time or another I struggled with practically every one of these.

The answers, for me, came slowly through decades of struggle

In the beginning, out of sheer desperation, I started to take notes. I reflected on what was really going on when things were working, and what was happening when things were not. I’ve spent over twenty years searching for the crucial elements that would make my art work. What was missing? How could I be so good on Wednesday and so stuck on Thursday?  

I realized that most of my struggle, if not all, was because I was missing 3 things. 

It became clear to me that to really thrive as an artist, regardless of whether you make art on the side, as a career or are just starting out, you need these three things:  

All the Information 

It’s essential to have ALL the information. Understanding fundamental principles of art making such as design, value color, mindset, materials and technique (and how they all fit together) is key. If you don't have all of it, it's super, super hard to make art consistently… and even harder to correct course when you’re stuck. 

 A Bullet-Proof Art Practice

Having a sustainable art practice and a way of working that produces results for you is essential. Joy, efficiency and sustainability are the hallmarks of a solid art practice — one that will keep you going even when life gets busy or tough, and one that you will look forward to no matter what.

A community of like-minded people who support and inspire you is invaluable. Making art is often solitary, but it doesn’t have to be so lonely! With access to constructive feedback and a vibrant community of like-minded people, not only will your art dramatically improve… your quality of life will, too.  

And to pull all this off, artists need to understand one last but very important thing…  

 When you learn how to feel more alive, your art does too. 

When you begin paying attention to what fills you, what lights you up and the elements you need to nurture your unique creative self — that is when your art will truly come to life.  

In all of my attempts to improve what was happening on the 12x12 square in front of me, I had forgotten to pay attention to the most important thing of all: me!  

When I learned how to optimize my life to keep my creative fires burning, everyday, in small but meaningful ways, my art took on an entirely new quality. It became bigger and bolder, yet more subtle and nuanced... simply more alive than ever before.

It took me WAY too long to figure this out…  

Mostly because this information is not easily found.  

Successful artists often don’t tell.  

Artists who are successful, who know most of this information, are often not willing to share for fear of competition.

Art Schools and Institutions are not thorough or clear.  

Art taught in institutions is often done piecemeal with little regard for giving artists an overview and hierarchy of ALL the information needed in making art. There is a sequence of learning the information that if not used, results in overwhelm and confusion. This is why most students who graduate from art schools and even graduate programs often abandon art for another career choice. Art and the process of making it must be taught in a clear, doable way, over time — otherwise you will struggle to make sense of all the information you’ve learned and apply it in a meaningful way.  

Societal beliefs limit and undermine our creative potential.  

Many of us were discouraged to make our art because we were taught limiting beliefs. You are not talented enough, there is no money in art, you will starve as an artist, and making art is not practical are just a few.  

These ideas and beliefs are at the root of why many postpone and often never heed the call of their desire to make art.  

All of them are false, but many artists do not have the tools they need to shed these limiting beliefs… and their creative lives suffer greatly as a result.  

This is why I created The Creative Visionary Program  

CVP offers you a clear, sequential method for creating your best and most personal art yet.

You will learn how to:

• Elevate your art to a new level of depth, impact and meaning — even if you’re not sure what you want to say through your art just yet. 
• Overcome the feelings of self-doubt and paralysis that keep even the best artists stuck and playing small.
• Establish a creative rhythm that you can’t wait to dive into: one that feels inspiring, exciting and joyful. 
• See your work through to completion consistently , instead of getting stuck in frustrating creative dead ends.
• Integrate your art making and life in such a way that it feels like you’re living in full color… every day.

This 12-week, intensive online program provides you crucial art making information, a sustainable process of making your art as well as a supportive artistic community. I created this program after 25 years of making my own art, as well as helping other artists develop their own.  

CVP simply works and now I want to share it with you.

There is nothing even remotely close to this program online, or even offline. If you are willing to pay attention, show up and learn, this program can drastically transform your art.

Image Credit: Patty Ripley

"This program is unlike anything else. Never have I had a team of coaches or instructor who has been as generous and authentic. The amount of information in this program is profound, with nothing left unturned." 

— Anne G., CVP Alumni

So what is the Creative Visionary Program?

The Creative Visionary Program is held over a 12-week period (but you’ll have access to the program materials for an entire year). It is taught completely online. Each training component is built around a clear, sequential process for improving your art:

The Art2Life Framework  

Clarifying Your Creative Path and Process

The answers to many of our creative challenges lie in the reasons behind we were originally drawn to make art.

In this stage, you’ll discover…

• What brings you alive… not just in your art, but in your life too.
• What brings you joy and how to make your art process feel more spacious, easy and fun. 
• How to glimpse the future path of your art by looking back at where you’ve been. 
• How to establish your own bullet-proof art practice that ignites your art. 
• How to stay motivated, even when making art feels difficult or overwhelming.

In Stage 1, you’ll work towards creating a solid process that inspires you, and a sustainable approach to making art that is uniquely yours.

Strengthening Your Art With Value and Design

There are no two more powerful art principles than Value and Design. These principles alone can shift your art from simply good to truly great. 

In this stage, you’ll discover… 

• How to get unstuck in your art making and discern what your work needs at any given time. 
• How to see Value first, above all else. 
• How to create powerful, irresistible Design. 
• How to properly edit your art as you go. 
• How to get past the fear of making mistakes and experiment more freely with your art.  

In Stage 2, you will learn to see all the ways Value and Design show up in your art. Once learned, this will give you total ease and freedom in your art making.  

Mastering Color in Your Art

Finally, once and for all, learn to create amazing color in your art! Learn strategies for making sophisticated, harmonious colors that are simply not shared in art school.

In this stage you'll discover...

• The crucial relationship between value and color. 
• How to use the principles of difference to enhance your color.
• How to confidently mix and find your way to any color.
• How to create color harmony in your art. 
• An easy, clear understanding of complements, temperature and saturation.  

So many artists simply were not given all the information about color, and if they were, it was not given in an understandable way. Stage 3 will fill in the gaps and help you see and utilize color in your work in an entirely new way.

Using Texture to Enhance Your Art  

Understanding the importance of surface in our art making is crucial. In this stage, we take a deep dive into the myriad of ways that paint, collage and mark-making can be applied to your art. 

In this stage, I will walk you through...

• How to create an irresistible sheen and surface on your art. 
• How to use gels, trowels and wax to create a rich, deep surface. 
• How to use a subtractive process to reveal underlying layers of color and texture. 
• How to effectively use glazes to create depth.
• How to utilize image transfers to add complexity and interest to your art. 

If you have ever felt "stuck" in a certain style of art-making, but haven't know how to shake things up, Stage 4 will open up many exciting new possibilities and avenues for your art and how you make it.

Using Intuition, Risk and Soul to Become Fearless in Your Art Making

Trusting your intuition and the innate wisdom within you is a game changer for your art. In this stage we integrate the idea of experimentation, curiosity and play. 

I will guide you through…

• The necessity of risk to alleviate boredom in your art making. 
• The essential nature of mistakes, and how they strengthen your art.  
• Becoming fearless in your art making.
• How to better hear your soul's desire in your art and life. 
• Strengthening discernment in all areas of your art and life.  

Looking within instead of outside of ourselves, clarifies our unique creative directions. Concerns about style and originality will drop away in this stage. This stage explores the essential, but often overlooked areas of intuition, risk and soul.

Launching Your Art Into the World

It’s one thing to develop and create art in the relative privacy of your studio. It’s another, to allow your art to be seen by the world. For most of us, we have played way, way, too small. 

I will show you...

• How to effectively scale your art from small to large. 
• The importance and value of the sharing mindset. 
• When and when not to step up to a larger studio.
• How to know your art is finished.  
• How to apply the art making principes to build your social platform.  

Whether you are planning on making your art into a career, or you just want to create art that has a potency and vibrancy that is not easily overlooked online or offline, this stage will help take your art to a much higher level.

The Creative Visionary Program is so much more than the sum of its parts!

Rich with examples, demonstrations and multiple opportunities to get your questions answered every week, CVP gives you everything you need to begin making art in an entirely new way.  

Whether you are an experienced student or totally new to the principles of art, this program demonstrates critical concepts in a way that will immediately make sense in the context of your art and life.  

Image credit: Janet Smedley

"I am so positively blown away by this course. It's unexpectedly informative, juicy, concise, easy to understand, hopeful and encouraging. It pushes without being pushy, hands out information when it's most impactful. I'm eager to learn and this is feeding my needs!" — Pamela R  

"Many other online courses cater only to beginners and are not as comprehensive. It’s technique oriented as well as philosophically oriented about the art life — what it is to be an artist, how to think about your work and how to approach it." — Shirley W  

How does the Creative Visionary Program support you?

The success of our members is directly related to how we efficiently deliver information in an accessible, easy to understand way.

There are 6 ways we answer your questions and offer solutions:

Within the CVP Portal I have meticulously created chronological lessons that clearly define, diagnose, and solve the common challenges that arise in art making. Under each video in the Portal you may ask questions. Each week a new class is available.

The FAQ Bank We utilize an extensive FAQ Bank which is a vault of information, giving you access to written answers along with diagrams, and even video demonstrations, for solutions to specific art making challenges. This is available 24/7.  

Live Group Calls Every week, I will be hosting a live Group Call to deepen the learning of the week’s lessons and answer your questions live.  

Live Coaching Sessions Multiple times a week there will be live coaching sessions conducted by myself and my coaches. These are all recorded, so if you are not there to hear and see your question answered, you can watch when it’s more convenient.  

Image Adjustment Videos Image Adjustment Videos are used to show artwork being modified and improved utilizing the principles. Seeing multiple examples of the principles at work make it that much easier to understand and apply them to your own art.  

The Private Facebook Group This is where we harness the power of our community. Not only are we teaching our members to problem solve their own art, but to help improve other’s art as well. The extraordinary results achieved in the Creative Visionary Program are in a large part due to the amazing community that forms during the program. 

How The Creative Visionary Program is structured

Watch a behind the scenes tour with Nicholas:

Know that my whole team and I will be here to support you.

Most of them are professional working artists, so we understand.

From the coaches, to member and technical support and those involved in the creative unfolding of the CVP 2019 experience, I can promise you that you will not find a more caring, supportive crew than the Art2life CVP Team. During the program you will get to know all of us! Meet my team who are going to be supporting you!  

Susan Melrath, CVP Coach

Brandon Cates, CVP Tech & Member Support

Ferris Martinez, CVP Tech & Member Support

Terri Froelich, CVP Experience Management

Libby Orquia, CVP Support

Alice Sheridan, CVP Coach 

Michael Davis, A2L Store/Studio Manager

Laura Crouch, CVP Social Media Management

AJ Busta, CVP Tech & Member Support

Gabriel Lipper CVP Coach,

"I have never in my life been in such a well-organized program with such eloquent and articulate artists and staff who carry themselves in the most professional, heart-centered way — with a level of integrity that goes beyond what most people exude in their everyday work worlds. I sense that most of this was not work for all of you!" — Michelle B., CVP Alumni  

Make your art stronger, bolder and more like you — no matter where you are right now. 

The Creative Visionary Program can be accessed on your computer from anywhere in the world, and has been optimized for iPad as well as for your mobile device. All the training modules and live coaching sessions are recorded for you to watch at a time that suits you, at your own pace, as many times as you like. Downloads of video transcriptions, as well as MP3 audio files are available for each lesson. This makes learning the weekly content super convenient, and you’ll be able to ask questions and get feedback online.  

The Creative Visionary Program gets real results 

Even though this program is only 12 weeks long, the knowledge, community, and progression of your art will continue for years into the future. 

In fact, the Art2life Process, once learned, can simply become your roadmap, your guide to your life’s creative path. It doesn’t matter what kind of art you make. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional. Over 1/3 of those who have taken CVP in the past have re-enrolled this year. As you deepen your practice, the Art2life Process will continue to inform and reveal the necessary learning to move to the next level for years to come. The Art2life Process meets you where you are. This is why we are seeing so many CVP Alumni re-enrolling, reinvesting in the program. This process works, not just once, but over and over again.  

We have more success stories than we can fit on this page!

But what is it worth?  

Spending $98,000 on a Masters program or an additional few hundred thousand dollars for an undergraduate art program might remedy some of the challenges an artist faces in making and building a life around their art... But that isn’t what I am seeing out there. The number of undergraduate and graduate degrees held by those who enroll in the Creative Visionary Program is surprisingly high. They simply were not given all the information. And of all those who earn graduate degrees from art schools, a scant 10% become full-time artists. I know we can do better.

It is not the cost, however... it is the time.

The greatest value of CVP is the time saved — years or decades — by being provided this essential information, instead of having to figure it out on your own.  

You can get there the hard way.

It is possible. I did it this way. But I had way too many decades of struggle. There is also no guarantee that going it alone will actually work out.  

But there is another way...and it comes with a guarantee.

The Creative Visionary Program not only has a track record of stunning accomplishments by its alumni, but it also comes with a zero-risk guarantee:

Today, your investment in The Creative Visionary Program is:  

  A ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF  

$1997 USD  

 6 MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF  

$387 USD  

Your enrollment in CVP includes:  

• The Complete Art2Life Framework
• The ArtLife FAQ Vault
• 13 Live Group Calls
• Weekly Live Coaching Sessions
• Membership in the private Facebook Community
• Bonus #1 A 8-15 hour documentation video series in real time of my process making (and struggling with) a large canvas on panel oil painting. It is broken down into 30 minute sessions. In each session I discuss what is working, and what I am doing, and why I am doing it. This candid, behind the scene view will give you vital information you would never know by just looking at the finished painting.
• Bonus #2 The Art2Life Business Primer! This webinar and its detailed PDF download is all about how to get your new art out into the world. What are the daily or weekly simple things that are easy and effective to do to promote your artwork. The Business Primer will give you a clear, doable plan!
• Bonus #3 A Live Stream Class on Color! Color mixing is one of the most requested subjects we get asked about. So much so that this year I decided to do this super deep dive into the world of color mixing. I am going to be covering how I find and duplicate colors, how to set up your palette and a ton more. This deep dive will come out once we dive into the Color Module in CVP.
• Access to the entire CVP Portal including all the modules, video lessons, call recordings, audio files and transcriptions, for one full year from date of purchase.  

The NO Risk Guarantee: Try CVP for a full 30 days, 100% Risk Free 

If you feel you are not the right fit for this program, I will issue you a full refund!

No matter what the reason. Period. We are looking for home runs, and it has to be the right fit for you.  

Class begins on May 9, 2019! Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]  

 This is an investment in your art... and in yourself  

It’s an investment of time, energy and resources. As an artist, as well as the founder of this program, I take your financial investment seriously. I could not, would not, be able to offer this program to my community, if I was not 100% certain that there would be a significant return on your investment, and that is why I stand behind CVP with a 30-day Guarantee. The transformation of your art is no small feat. I am aware of this. However, the kind of changes I am pursuing for you are marked by changes in your life, as well as your art. Your art and your life are connected, and a transformation of your art often overflows with positive changes in your life.  

"This course is simply the very best thing I have ever done for myself, for my creativity, for my life, for my personal pleasure and joy, and for my confidence as an artist (as I am now learning to call myself!) — Liz W., CVP Alumni  

Enrollment closes on May 8th!

The reason we close the promotional phase of the program is so my whole team and I can start working with the new community of artists in the program. The enrollment period ends May 8th at 11:59pm PST. You must enroll before this time. There will be no exceptions. The BEST time to enroll in the Creative Visionary Program is right now! I urge you to listen, and ask your creative self if this is finally the time to invest in the artist within you.  

If you’re hesitating, these questions might be the reason why… 

Is the price of the creative visionary program worth it.

Lots of people have wondered about the price, but not after experiencing the program. The one consistent piece of feedback when we poll our alumni is that CVP is a great value. And this year is going to be even better.  

"The cost of the program was a big jump for me. It also came at a time when I thought I could work out my art for myself, but I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to get there. To have a program focused on making your art as strong as it can be appealed to me. I knew I just had to do this. The work I’m doing now is much, much stronger as a result." — Alice S., CVP Alumni

Can the Creative Visionary Program fit into my already busy life? 

The Creative Visionary Program can be done many different ways. Because you have access for a full year, you can go at a pace that is comfortable. All lessons and calls are recorded, so you may listen and learn wherever it is convenient.

Image credit: Brakeman Livezey

"It appealed to me because I am a mother of a teenager and I’m busy. I wanted something I could do from home and it fit my needs perfectly. I could do it at my pace. Now I'm engaged with my art and entering shows—something I never considering doing it before. It really changed my life. My family is so happy for me because I found my passion." — Glenda G., CVP Alumni

Can I actually become an artist this time around? 

Dreams are often postponed. Most are never realized, especially those involved in getting around to making one's art. Through the successes of our alumni, CVP demonstrates what is possible when an artist sets an intention, learns essential information and is given support.

"Now my art is a practice. I show up and do it. I now have the confidence to put myself out there more. I’m getting press and solo shows. I have validation and confidence. I no longer have the pressure to make a perfect painting." — Julie S., CVP Alumni

Will this program help if I am already showing in galleries? 

The price of your art, the number of sales, and the caliber of your galleries, are all connected to the strength, originality and vibrancy of your art. Over time, your art should be steadily improving, and therefore increasing in sales and value. CVP will help ensure this process continues.

I’m a huge believer in continuing education and am always learning. CVP gave me the theory to combine with my own knowledge to push my work to the next level. I didn’t have to put my art career on hold in order to do this. I was able to do the program and still be able to produce art, show and sell it. Through the program I saw my work get stronger and the reaction to my work also got stronger. It was certainly worth every penny. — Karina B., CVP Alumni 

I am just a beginner. Is this program too advanced for me? 

The Creative Visionary Program is perfectly suited for the beginner with little or no prior experience. All that is required is the interest, and the passion to improve and learn. The community of artists, as well as the CVP Team, is incredibly supportive within the program. The CVP program gets amazing results no matter your stage of art making.  

"I always wanted to paint, but I was on my own and floundering. I didn’t know anything about materials or technical aspects. I didn’t know where to start and had no one to talk to. I was a beginner and I knew my work was not what I wanted it to be. Revealing that to people I didn’t know online was very intimidating. After CVP, I feel I am in the swing of it. I’ve changed my social media profiles and I’m getting into it. I have enough tools now to keep it going, keep it expanding, growing and learning." — Janet J., CVP Alumni

If I am a more advanced artist, how will it feel to have so many artists at different levels in the program?

The material has complexity and nuances, and meets the student where they are in their art. Beginners will learn different things, compared to someone who has many years of experience. Last year, we had many beginners who are returning this year to deepen their learning. The mixed levels of participants is intentional, and adds to the richness of the program. Every artist, even the advanced, can learn from the questions asked by a beginner.  

"CVP is a broad base of artists at all levels, from super experienced to beginners who are just putting their toe in the water. That opened me up to a whole new way of thinking. I didn’t have to be in the box of “professional fine artist,” I could just be out there, in the Community. I loved the Community aspect of it, which I never had before. Being in a studio all day can be isolating. There is no social connection or peer group interaction. It’s so important for an artist to have that Community." — Shirley W., CVP Alumni

Can I use this program to change my present career into something creative? 

A big part of the Creative Visionary Program is identifying what brings you alive. What inspires you? If you have lost track of this thread in your career, staying in it for too long can be challenging. Changing careers is not easy, however doing something that brings you joy is a great motivator. 

"I was an illustrator and I watched the market go down. I thought it was really about the business decline aspect of it, but now that I’m where I am now, I realized I was just tired of that work—of all the things I was being asked to do. I saw that every time I was painting I knew that this was what I wanted to do. Moving into being an artist is somewhat daunting. With CVP I could feel the learning curve and the acceleration of learning more than any other educational thing I’ve ever done. The program took me back to my roots when I was young as a kid. I identify myself as a fine artist now. " — Gordon S., CVP Alumni

Can making my art feel joyful?

Yes! Paying attention to the way we make art and how we feel when we do, are two key components needed to revive a stale art practice. And if our art practice becomes joyful, then it will become sustainable. 

"I’m having the time of my life, really. It’s taken pressure off of me in that I don’t have to do something that really looks like something. It’s more about a feeling and reacting to shapes. My art is now a big party for myself. I’m happy there. I put music on. I really paint from my heart now. I'm not trying to reproduce or just do techniques. It’s the best thing I’ve done in years, honest to God." — Louise S., CVP Alumni  

What if I can't keep up and do all the work?

This program can be done at your own pace. Even though the program is 12 weeks, each member has access to the portal for one full year. You can do the program at a pace that is comfortable. Last year, artist Stacy Phillips was busy preparing for a solo show when she enrolled. Stacy continued to work towards her show, and did not do any of the assignments, but only listened to the weekly class and found tremendous value.

"I had a solo show approaching. I chose to participate only in the Portal and on the Facebook page where it was comfortable for me. At night I would come home after a day in the studio and sit and watch the videos on my time, at my own pace. I could stop them, rewind them, watch them again. I could pick and choose what worked for me. For me the program was like going back to home base. It’s helping my sculpture and my painting. It doesn’t matter what the medium is. I’m still referencing what I learned today and will be referencing it for years to come." — Stacy P., CVP Alumni 

The Creative Visionary Program might not be for you if...

You are thinking that success in art comes from mimicking someone else’s art.  

I am not teaching a particular style of art that looks like mine, or anyone else’s. I am only interested in helping you discover your own, unique art...the kind of art that makes you feel alive.

You are not willing to help someone who is not as far along as you.

The growing Art2life Community is centered upon sharing information and inspiration, and helping each other. We are all on the same creative path. There are some ahead of us, and always some behind. Helping each other is how those in the Art2life Community have been able to make such incredible progress. This rising tide we create together, lifts all ships. 

You're not ready to let go of the belief that some people are talented, others are not.

Many believe art is only available for the select few who possess some kind of rare talent. Holding on to this limiting belief about creative capacity will undermine your progress. It limits you, and those around you. It is simply not true. Everyone has the capacity to make authentic, amazing art if they are interested.

And this might not be the year for you...

I realize this opportunity just appeared this week! And I know for many artists, this opportunity has presented itself at an inconvenient time. 

But, what is the cost of doing nothing?

Here is the issue. Change is never convenient. It is also rarely easy. It takes effort to create a change.  

However, there are also costs associated with doing nothing.  

Will your art continue to go the way it has been all these years?  

For those just beginning, where and how will you get all the information, the support, and the community needed to really get your art going?  

Going it alone can take decades of struggle...it did for me.  

Are the holes in your knowledge holding you back? Again it is very difficult to make powerful, authentic art without all the essential information.  

Procrastinating, and losing confidence and motivation, creates huge blank spaces in your art progress, and for many, can lead to giving up all together.  

Getting stuck in the middle of making your art again, and again, adds endless hours of struggle to your art process.  

Will your art continue to sell only occasionally, or maybe not at all? The relationship between sales, and strength and originality, is real. Lackluster sales will only continue until your art becomes exceptional.  

Need help or have questions? Email us at [email protected]

Everything becomes easier when your art becomes outstanding.

This is the path towards significantly improving not just your art, but also the way you make it. My goal for every member of the Creative Visionary Program is to leave with a sustainable art practice that allows you to problem solve your own art, regain your confidence and inspiration, and if desired, increase the sales of your art. However, transformation is not easy. I need to be honest with you here, and say this will take some degree of effort. I will be with you every step of the way, but I also need to work with artists that are ready to show up.  

Program FAQs and details:

When are the dates of the program? The program begins on May 9, 2019 and ends on August 8, 2019. It is a 12-week program, but we include a Rest Week from July 5, 2019 - July 11, 2019. 

How much experience do I need to do the program? This program is designed for the absolute beginner as well as those who are much further along. Making powerful, authentic art is available to anyone with the interest. All you need is a passion - a strong desire to discover and clarify your own creative voice.  

How good at technology do I have to be to do the program? This is an online course, and basic Facebook and computer skills are needed. We give basic instruction to get you started, but you will need to take some time to watch our instructional videos and if needed, watch some Facebook tutorial videos on your own just so you can navigate and do basic things in Facebook. Understanding how to leave a comment, take a picture of your art, and post an image to your own Facebook album are the primary skills you will need. It is not mandatory that those taking CVP participate in the Facebook Group but it is recommended, as this also is a place to find inspiration and additional learning from the CVP community. 

How much time do I need per week to adequately do the program? If you can free up 3-5 hours per week you will learn a great deal. Most artists end up getting more involved with their art, however, spending more and more time on it as the program continues. This however, is a choice.  

Are realist principles covered in CVP? Whether you paint realistically or abstractly does not matter. The CVP principles apply to all art, creative endeavors, and any style of painting, including landscapes and still lifes. Gabriel, one of my coaches, and I are well versed in realistic and figurative painting styles. This topic is covered in depth in the weekly video classes, as well as several of the Live Group Calls.  

Do I need to be an abstract or representational artist? You can be any kind of artist you want! The principles and ideas in this program relate to all kinds of art. It doesn’t matter whether your art is realistic, landscape painting, collage, sculpture, minimal color-field paintings, abstract, or even photography...it all relates to the overarching principles I teach in CVP. 

Is this program right for me if I don’t have a defined “style”? Yes! We spend several weeks on what we call PATH. This is all about finding your own artistic voice. This is how we get your art stronger… we help you re-align with whatever brings you joy and inspiration. Having a style or look to your work is a natural outcome of making art you love... and figuring that out is what making art is all about. It is about you. The process of discovering and sharing your own unique expression with the world is an extremely meaningful, worthwhile pursuit.  

I am an artist but not a painter. Is this program suitable for me? The art principles apply to any kind of art making. It takes some time and practice to learn them, but once you do, it will allow you to strengthen any kind of art. In the CVP Program we use acrylic paint, as it is the simplest and fastest medium to learn the principles. We have a detailed materials list and can help you get what you need if wish to work in acrylics. At the end of twelve weeks, you will have proficiency in this medium. Many artists transfer the learning to their own kind of art, during and after the program.  

Your work could be photography, collage or even sculpture. For the first three weeks of the program, we are working on clarifying your creative path. We ask what inspires you and what you desire. We need to do this first, so that we can help you to get where you want to go in your art. We have had photographers, collage artists and even sculptors enroll in the Creative Visionary Program.  

What are the materials I will need for the program? We use 12” x 12” wood birch ⅛” panels and acrylic paint in the program. You will need about 15 panels during the program. We use small rounds and flats for brushes. Many artists already have a wide assortment of brushes and even acrylic colors. Over the course of the program we will be using different sandpapers, trowels and other kinds of mark-making tools. We provide an extensive materials list for the program, but much of it you may already have.  

Can I use oil or another kind of material to do the program? Yes, although it is not recommended. We use acrylic because it is fast drying and makes it possible to build up extensive layering of paint. The learning is accelerated because the actual painting size of 12” x 12” is relatively small, and can be changed quickly. The faster and more frequent the changes to an artist’s art, the faster and more efficient the learning. These two material choices support our learning strategy.  

Do you offer any monthly payment plan? Yes! You may choose to pay for the program in 6 monthly payments of $387.  

Still have questions? Please email us at [email protected] and our team will be happy to assist you.

This can be the year your art comes alive

How would it feel to make your art a bigger part of your life?

How would it feel to make art you love with relative ease?

And what could happen if the world loved it as much as you do?

The Creative Visionary Program begins on May 9, 2019.

  will this be your year.

Choose the option that works for you:

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee | Secure Checkout

Your enrollment includes:

• Bonus #1 : Real time video documentation of my process
• Bonus #2 : The Art2Life Business Primer
• Bonus #3 : Live Stream Class on Color
• Access to the entire CVP Portal including all the modules, video lessons, call recordings, audio files and transcriptions, for one full year from date of purchase. 

What dream do you have for yourself and your art? 

To show up for yourself consistently, like Terry Tsu?

To feel more spaciousness and joy, like Janet Smedley?

To evolve your work and embark on new challenges, like Chad Little?

To create with more confidence, like Judy Shreve?

To find the courage to pursue a bold new path, like Mary GrandPre?

To create seductive, stunning art that sells, like Jennifer Daily?

It's possible.

"This course opens onto the world. Now I see the principles at work all around me. I hear them in music, notice them as I walk through my neighborhood, read them in the plots of good books, and even taste them in favorite foods. Thank you so very much Nicholas & the team, and all my fellow Art2Life adventurers for helping to shred my doubts and remake the world as a brighter, more liquid place where feeling is paramount, and mistakes coveted. Though merely saying Thank You seems too small, sky-writing wouldn't be large enough. I'm anxious to move forward with all that I've gathered here. With the sincere belief that we've only just started down the path, wishing everyone the best luck in their next steps."  

— Lisa Muller

Need help or have questions?

Please email us at [email protected] and our team will be happy to assist you.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

No questions asked!

You can trust us!

Enrollment for CVP 2024 has ended. Want to learn more about CVP 2025? Just click the button below to sign up for our notification list! If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to us at  [email protected] .

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Pauline Jans Art

Abstract art - a unique creative expression, take your art to the next level with cvp.

The  Creative Visionary Program is a 12-week, comprehensive and intensive online art program developed & offered by Nicholas Wilton. 

Significantly shift and improve your art in a relatively short time frame. 

Click below to find out more and/or Sign Up.

Starts February 24 - Ends May 31, 2022.

Become The Artist You Are Meant To Be

The creative visionary program.

We've all felt stuck or wanted to know the secrets that other artists use to thrive. The Creative Visionary Program is a commitment to your creative self.

The Creative Visionary program is a 3 month, intensive online program that Nicholas has developed to offer you a clear, sequential method for creating your best and most personal art yet.  In essence? This is about becoming the artist you are meant to be. 

CVP provides you with crucial art making information, a sustainable process of making your art as well as a supportive artistic community.  It will change the way you see art and give you a means of making your best art work.

In addition to the weekly lessons which are chockablock full of information, you'll also be supported with 2 live weekly coaching sessions. You have access to all the content for a  full year and are also given downloadables with each lesson.  

I've been to both Art & Design school and to be perfectly honest, CVP offers far more concise & helpful information than those 5 years of education put together. And, now I make art the way that best expresses me.

CVP is great for all levels of artists, … from beginners, right through to established artists. Ready to shift your work? Join the CVP 2022. You won't regret it. 

If you have more questions, please join my Live Q&A Interview with Nick Wilton Saturday Feb. 19. 10 PST. 

Details for the interview & more below.

Interview with Nick Wilton - CVP - Ignite Your Art & Life

Wow, that was fun. I truly enjoyed chatting with Nick today. This conversation is honest, real and helpful. Listen in. A super conversation about something I really believe in,… moving into being the creative artist and being you are truly meant to be.

Facts about cvp - The Creative Visionary Program

What you can expect from cvp.

• a proven process for creating your unique art
• a system for quickly analyzing and fixing any painting
• weekly Live calls with Nick
• weekly Live sessions with the CVP team
• answers to your questions within a special portal
• an amazing community of supportive artists
• the fundamental art making principles and information to bring your art truly to life.
• a comprehensive and hands-on sequence of lessons over 12 weeks
• access to ALL the content for a full year 
• downloads with the lessons
• new content added just this year
• a new confidence building within you

The Art2Life programs that changed my Art Trajectory…

My art journey after the free art2life workshop & cvp 2019.

Sign Up deadline is February 24, 2022  11:59pm PST

My art journey with a bit of background.

Feel free to reach out: [email protected]

I love my Art Journey

My art life transformed. so appreciate art2life & cvp.

In just a few years both my Art and my Life changed incredibly.

I started exploring abstract painting in 2014 . My first abstract paintings exhibited in 2016 .

In 2018 I did the Free Art2Life Workshop. That same year I created 2 series of 20+ paintings for each and exhibited in a large local Art Fair and was also invited to exhibit for the next 2 years at a local winery. My art sales tripled in 2018 since 2016. 

In 2019 I did CVP. I began coaching artists at the start of 2020 . My 2020 art sales doubled from 2018. 

In 2020 we closed our vacation suite business and moved, quadrupling the size of my studio and allowing me the time and space to embrace my desire to help others.

In 2021 I launched & ran my online IC course twice & launched 2 artist mentoring groups. 

What has 2022 in store? We shall see.

I am absolutely astonished at how my art and life has change. I think alongside all the amazing content I received and what I learned from Art2Life & CVP, the greatest asset of all is believing in myself. When you trust yourself and use the information you have, you can do greatness.

A Conversation with Nick in 2021 about my transformation

Art & Life - They are connected. I love that as my art changes so does my life, and as my life changes, so does my art.

Join the ART2LIFE Creative Visionary Program

The Creative Visionary Program offers a transformation of your art.

Learn how to make art that only you can create & move it to the next level. The Creative Visionary Program is a 12 week Art2Life program that helped change my art trajectory and significantly improve my art work & practice.

This year I am a partner for the program which means that should you decide to enrol in CVP with my links, I will receive a commission which allows me to offer you additional support from my free  Facebook group. Use the Link below to let me know you signed up for CVP using my or if you have any questions, please ask.

Did you know…

See abstract'd art collective.

I'm a member of an amazing group, the Abstract'd Art Collective . It's such a fantastic & richly talented group, founded by several Canadian Calgary artists, now including many fantastic international artists as well. If you're local, Abstract'd Art Collective is putting on a on a one day show you'd absolutely enjoy!

Copyright © 2024 Pauline Jans Art - All Rights Reserved.

Creativity - it's yours to explore!

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• THE ART2LIFE ACADEMY

How is this different from the Creative Visionary Program?

The Creative Visionary Program is a 12-week, intensive, highly comprehensive online art program. It is designed for artists who are interested in dramatically improving their art in a relatively short time frame. After experiencing such a significant shift in their art-making with the Creative Visionary Program, many members naturally ask the question, "What comes next?" The Art2life Academy is our answer. It builds upon the foundation of the-Art2Life Principles by offering instruction and guidance to improve your art and art process gradually. Now that our artists have identified what inspires them and know how to harness this to make powerful and authentic art, the Academy provides weekly inspirational and educational content to support them moving forward on their creative path. One of the most helpful aspects of the Academy includes the feedback that you can receive from other members and the Art2Life Coaches as well as the interaction with the vast international artist community who are motivated and excited about making art. The Academy’s mission is to keep artists connected, engaged, inspired, and improving over time at a rate that fits in with your life and your schedule.

What brings you alive?

by Nicholas Wilton | Mar 10, 2024 | 0 comments

I’m here making art with my friend and Art2Life Coach, Noah Woods. We talked a lot about finding clarity in our art and lives. It truly is a process of becoming yourself!

The Art of Your Life Workshop was an awesome beginning; what a fun week we had! The momentum continues with the Art2Life Creative Visionary Program . The Creative Visionary Program is a personal inquiry and discovery into what brings you alive in your art and life. We have an incredible group of teachers and coaches to lead us on this journey — it will be an amazing year!

Watch here…

Whether or not you join CVP , know that clarity comes with making art. The answers are within–and only come when you pick up a brush and get in motion. Even with 20 minutes a day, you discover what’s in and out, what you like and don’t like, and begin to unlock what matters to you. This pursuit of clarity is powerful. I cannot think of anything better to do for yourself!

Let me know in the comments if this resonates with you.

Coming this Wednesday on the Art2Life Podcast, we feature one of the teachers in the Creative Visionary Program, Chérie Healey. Chérie is an executive coach, brand strategist, and founder of SIREN, an imagination studio that supports women in finding their calling by helping them see themselves. Chérie understands that, at our core, we are all creative beings. Our discussion focuses on what it means to be truly alive. Our purpose is to know, cultivate, and express our fire and joy through art, music, or whatever work moves us.

Join us for this intimate conversation. Be sure to listen wherever you stream podcasts . Remember that you can also watch the whole episode on our YouTube Channel !

Thanks so much for being here and I hope to see many of you in CVP!

Again, I really hope to see you in this year’s Creative Visionary Program. We close doors to enrollment on Wednesday, March 13th at 11:59pm PDT.

Have questions about CVP? Bring them today to a special live call at 12pm PDT all about intuition and intellect. It is not just a little tip… It is THE way forward to making the Art of Your Life. If you’re reading this, it just might mean you need to learn this. Join me on our Facebook Page or YouTube Channel for this call.

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Fully Funded MFA Programs in Creative Writing

As part of our series  How to Fully Fund Your Master’s Degree , here is a list of universities that have fully funded MFA programs in creative writing. A Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing can lead to a career as a professional writer, in academia, and more.

Fully funded MFA programs in Creative Writing offer a financial aid package for full-time students that includes full tuition remission as well as an annual stipend or salary during the entire program, which for Master’s degrees is usually 1-2 years. Funding usually comes with the expectation that students will teach or complete research in their field of study. Not all universities fully fund their Master’s students, which is why researching the financial aid offerings of many different programs, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad, is essential.

In addition to listing fully funded Master’s and PhD programs, the ProFellow fellowships database also includes external funding opportunities for graduate school, including fellowships for dissertation research, fieldwork, language study, study abroad, summer work experiences, and professional development.

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Here is the list of 53 universities that offer fully-funded MFA programs (Master’s of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing.

University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL): Students admitted to the MFA Program are guaranteed full financial support for up to 4-years. Assistantships include a stipend paid over nine months (currently $14,125), and full payment of up to 15 credit hours of graduate tuition.

University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ): All accepted MFA students receive full funding through a graduate teaching assistantship for 3 years. This package includes tuition remission, health insurance, and a modest stipend (in 2018 it was about $16,100 per academic year).

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ): 3-year program. All students admitted to the MFA program who submit a complete and approved teaching assistantship application are awarded a TA by the Department of English. Each assistantship carries a three-course per year load and includes a tuition waiver and health insurance in addition to the TA stipend ($18,564 per year). In addition, students have diverse opportunities for additional financial and professional support.

University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR): Four-year program. Teaching assistantships currently carry an annual stipend of $13,500 for students with a BA. TAs also receive a waiver of all tuition costs and teach two courses each semester. Nearly all of our accepted students receive TAs. Additionally, the students compete each year for several fellowships.

Boise State University (Boise, Idaho): 3-year fully funded MFA program dedicated to poetry and fiction. All students receive a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a Teaching Assistantship with a stipend of $11,450 per year.

Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH): 2-year program, graduate assistantships (including stipend and scholarship) are available for all eligible face-to-face students. 100% tuition scholarship. Graduate stipend (the 2020-21 stipend is $11,500).

Brown University (Providence, RI): All incoming MFA students received full funding. All graduate students receive a fellowship that pays a monthly stipend and provides tuition remission, the health fee, and health insurance. The stipend for the 2020-2021 academic year is $29,926. Also, students in good standing receive a summer stipend of $2,993.

Boston University (Boston, MA): Tuition costs will be covered for every admitted student for the MFA degree in the BU Creative Writing Program. In addition, admitted students will receive university health insurance while they are enrolled, and all admitted students will receive stipend support of roughly $16,000 for the academic year.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): All MFA degree candidates are guaranteed 2 years of funding (including a stipend, a full-tuition fellowship, and student health insurance).

University of California Irvine (Irvine, CA): 3-year program. The Department is committed to providing 3 full years of financial support to all domestic students in the MFA Programs in Writing. Financial support for MFA students is given in the form of Teaching Assistantships providing full tuition coverage as well as University health insurance. Students will earn an estimated $22,569 for the academic year.

University of California San Diego (La Jolla, CA): MFA in Writing students are eligible for financial support if they study full-time, maintain good academic standing and make timely progress toward the degree. All students are eligible for full funding, including international students provided they meet the English language certification requirement for teaching assistants.

University of California Riverside (Riverside, CA): All incoming students are granted a full fellowship and stipend for their first year. After the first year, students receive full tuition and a salary through teaching assistantships.

Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL): 3-year program. All of the MFA students qualify for a position as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. The GTA position comes with a tuition waiver and a stipend. The standard stipend is $9,000, but some enhanced stipends are available. The Graduate College offers several fellowships for current graduate students.

Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL): The majority of students receive support in the form of a teaching assistantship and are provided with a stipend, a tuition waiver, and a health-insurance subsidy. MFA students receive a three-year assistantship. For 2022-23, MA/MFA stipends will be $16,400, and typically these amounts go up each year. Also, The FSU Graduate School offers several fellowships and awards.

Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville, GA): The MFA Program offers workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and students take cross-genre workshops. All students admitted to the MFA program receive a Graduate Assistantship for all 3 years that includes a stipend and tuition remission.

University of Houston (Houston, TX): MFA students can receive a teaching assistantship for 3 years. Starting salary for MFAs is $17,935/9 months. Students in the Creative. As part of the assistantship, students are awarded either a Graduate Tuition Fellowship, which remits tuition, or a Creative Writing Program Fellowship, which covers the cost of tuition.

University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho): All English Teaching Assistants (TA’s) are offered full tuition waivers. Teaching Assistants are given a stipend of $14,000 per year. Also offers three scholarships and three outstanding fellowships to support qualified MFA, graduate students.

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, IL): Three-year MFA program. Students accepted into the MFA program will receive full tuition waivers, guaranteed teaching assistantships.

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN): M.F.A. programs offer a generous teaching package to creative writing students. All applicants receive consideration for appropriate fellowships that will carry a stipend of about $19,000, plus tuition and fee-remission that covers roughly 90% of the cost of enrollment.

Iowa State University (Ames, IA): 3-year MFA program. Starting half-time 20 hours per week teaching assistantships for MFA students total $19,250 over 10 months and also receive a full-tuition waiver scholarship (approximate value $10,140) and health insurance coverage. The department has several resources available through which to offer fellowships and scholarships to qualifying new students.

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): 2-year residency program. Financial assistance is available for all students enrolled in the program, in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Most fellowships and assistantships provide either tuition scholarships or full tuition remission.

John Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD): 2-year program. All students receive full tuition, health insurance, and a generous teaching fellowship, currently set at $30,500 per year. Some students work as assistant editors on The Hopkins Review. They often win prizes such as Stegner Fellowships or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.

University of Maryland (College Park, MD): This 3-year program accepts 8 applicants who are fully funded by Teaching Assistantships for up to three years of graduate study. Our aid packages include a stipend of about $20,000 per academic year and 60 credit hours of tuition remission.

Miami University (Oxford, OH): All students admitted to the MFA program in Creative Writing hold generous Graduate Assistantships (which include a summer stipend). Non-teaching assistantships may also be available.

University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL): An intensive two-year study with a third year option. The James Michener Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships support all our graduate students. Awards include a full tuition waiver and annual stipend of $18,915.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): All MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $23,000/yearly as well as $5,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits. Additionally, various fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students.

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN): All admitted MFAs receive full funding, in the form of teaching assistantships or fellowships. Teaching assistantships carry a full tuition waiver, health benefits, and a stipend of about $18,600. Also, a variety of fellowships are available for graduate students.

University of Mississippi (University, MS): All of our students are fully funded.  We offer two main sources of funding, the Grisham Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships.

University of Nevada Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV): 3-year program. All MFA students admitted to the Creative Writing International program at UNLV are offered Graduate Assistantship funding of $15,000 per year (which includes in-state tuition and provisions for health insurance).

Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Funding is provided for 3 full years, summers included. Tuition is covered by a tuition scholarship during any quarter in which you are receiving a stipend.

University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN): Every student admitted to the MFA receives a full-tuition scholarship, a fellowship that carries a full stipend of $16,000 per year and access to a 100% health insurance subsidy.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC): A two-year, fully-funded program, They accept only about a dozen students each year and offer full funding in the form of a graduate teaching assistantship to all eligible admitted applicants.

Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): All admitted students are fully funded for our 3-year MFA program in Creative Writing. In addition, all students receive either a graduate teaching associateship, a Graduate School fellowship or a combination of the two. For graduate teaching associateships, the student receives a stipend of at least $17,000 for the nine-month academic year.

University of Oregon (Eugene OR): A two-year residency MFA program. All incoming MFA students funded with a teaching appointment. Student instructors receive tuition remission, monthly stipends of approximately $18,000.

Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR): All students admitted to the MFA program will automatically receive a standard teaching Graduate Teaching Assistantship contract, which provides full tuition remission and stipend of approximately $12,800 per year to cover living expenses. In addition to tuition remission, all graduate students have the option to receive 89% coverage of health insurance costs for themselves and their dependents.

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): 3-year MFA program. All students admitted to the program will receive Teaching Assistantships for two or three years. All Teaching Assistantships include salary, medical benefits, and tuition remission.

Rutgers University–Newark (Newark, NJ): Each full-time incoming student receives in-state Tuition Remission and a Chancellor’s Stipend of 15K per year. Students are also eligible for Teaching Assistantships, and Part-Time Lectureships teaching Comp or Creative Writing. Teaching Assistantships are $25,969 (approximate) plus health benefits.

University of South Florida (Tampa, FL): 3-year program. MFA students receive a tuition waiver, a teaching assistantship that comes with a stipend, and enrollment in group health insurance.

Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL): Almost all MFA students hold graduate assistantships, which provide stipends for the academic year and full remission of tuition. The annual stipend, which comes with tuition remission, ranges from $13,000 to $14,500.

Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Three-Year M.F.A. in Creative Writing. All students are fully funded. Each student admitted receives a full-tuition scholarship in addition to an annual stipend of $17,500.

University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC): 3-year MFA program. The MFA at Carolina is pleased to provide fellowship and/or assistantship funding to all accepted students, earning our program the designation of “fully funded” from Poets and Writers.

University of Tennessee — Knoxville (Knoxville, TN): There is no cost to apply to the MFA program. All of our PhD candidates and MFA students are fully funded, with generous opportunities for additional financial support.

University of Texas in Austin (Austin, TX): All students in the New Writers Project receive three years of full funding through a combination of teaching assistantships (TA), assistant instructorships (AI), and fellowship support. The complete package includes full tuition remission, health insurance, and a salary.

University of Texas James Michener Center (Austin, TX): A three-year, fully funded residency MFA program that provides full and equal funding to every writer. All admitted students receive a fellowship of $29,500 per academic year, plus total coverage of tuition.

Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN): Each year a small, select class of talented writers of fiction and poetry enroll in Vanderbilt’s three-year, fully-funded MFA Program in Creative Writing. The University Fellowship provides full-tuition benefits, health insurance, and a stipend of $30,000/yearly. In 2nd year and third-year students have the opportunity to teach for one semester.

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): Three-year MFA program. Students will receive fellowship support and/or teaching income in the amount of $20,000 each academic year, as well as full funding of your tuition, enrollment fees, and the health insurance premium for single-person coverage through the university.

Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA): Three-year MFA degree offers tracks in Poetry and Fiction, and all students are fully and equally funded via GTA-ships of more than $20,000 per year.

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO): Because of selectivity and size they are able to offer all the new students full and equal financial aid for both years in the program in the form of a University Fellowship, which provides a complete tuition waiver plus a stipend sufficient for students to live comfortably in our relatively inexpensive city. All MFA students receive health insurance through Washington University.

Western Kentucky University (Bowling Green, KY): Three-year, fully-funded, residential MFA program in creative writing offering generous assistantships, which will allow MFA students to gain valuable experience tutoring and teaching.

West Virginia University (Morgantown, WV): A three-year program. All Master of Fine Arts students receive a full tuition waiver and an assistantship, which includes a stipend valued at $16,750.

Wichita State University (Wichita, Kansas): Most of the MFA students are GTAs who teach two composition classes each semester. They pay no tuition, receive $4,250 each semester and may buy discounted health insurance. The MFA program also awards two $12,500 fellowships each year.

University of Wisconsin–Madison (Madison, WI): All accepted MFA candidates receive tuition remissions, teaching assistantships, generous health insurance, and other financial support. In addition to the approximately $14,680 paid to each MFA annually in exchange for teaching, every MFA candidate will receive another $9,320 in scholarships each year.

University of Wyoming (Laramie, WY): All of our full-time MFA students are fully funded with two-year graduate assistantships. Currently, assistantships include a stipend of $12,330 per academic year, a tuition and fees waiver, and student health insurance. Students also receive summer stipends of up to $2,000 for the summer.

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Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:51pm

Do you want to create written work that ignites a reader’s imagination and even changes their worldview? With a master’s in creative writing, you can develop strong storytelling and character development skills, equipping you to achieve your writing goals.

If you’re ready to strengthen your writing chops and you enjoy writing original works to inspire others, tell interesting stories and share valuable information, earning a master’s in creative writing may be the next step on your career journey.

The skills learned in a creative writing master’s program qualify you to write your own literary works, teach others creative writing principles or pursue various other careers.

This article explores master’s degrees in creative writing, including common courses and concentrations, admission requirements and careers that use creative writing skills. Read on to learn more about earning a master’s degree in creative writing.

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What Is a Master’s in Creative Writing?

A master’s in creative writing is an advanced degree that helps you develop the skills to write your own novel, poetry, screenplay or nonfiction book. This degree can also prepare you for a career in business, publishing, education, marketing or communications.

In a creative writing master’s degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class workshops and peer critiques, and write your own original work.

Creative writing master’s programs usually require a thesis project, which should be well-written, polished and ready to publish. Typical examples of thesis projects include poetry collections, memoirs, essay collections, short story collections and novels.

A master’s in creative writing typically requires about 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Credit requirements and timelines vary by program, so you may be able to finish your degree quicker.

Specializations for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are a few common concentrations for creative writing master’s programs. These vary by school, so your program’s offerings may look different.

This concentration helps you develop fiction writing skills, such as plot development, character creation and world-building. A fiction concentration is a good option if you plan to write short stories, novels or other types of fiction.

A nonfiction concentration focuses on the mechanics of writing nonfiction narratives. If you plan to write memoirs, travel pieces, magazine articles, technical documents or nonfiction books, this concentration may suit you.

Explore the imagery, tone, rhythm and structure of poetry with a poetry concentration. With this concentration, you can expect to develop your poetry writing skills and learn to curate poetry for journals and magazines.

Screenwriting

Screenwriting is an excellent concentration to explore if you enjoy creating characters and telling stories to make them come alive for television or film. This specialization covers how to write shorts, episodic serials, documentaries and feature-length film scripts.

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are some typical admission requirements for master’s in creative writing degree programs. These requirements vary, so check with your program to ensure you’ve met the appropriate requirements.

• Application for admission
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Transcripts from previous education
• Writing samples
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement or essay

Common Courses in a Master’s in Creative Writing

Story and concept.

This course focuses on conceptualizing, planning and developing stories on a structural level. Learners study how to generate ideas, develop interesting plots, create outlines, draft plot arcs, engage in world-building and create well-rounded characters who move their stories forward.

Graduate Studies in English Literature

Understanding literature is essential to building a career in creative writing. This course prepares you to teach, study literature or write professionally. Expect to discuss topics such as phonology, semantics, dialects, syntax and the history of the English language.

Workshop in Creative Nonfiction

You’ll study classic and contemporary creative nonfiction in this course. Workshops in creative nonfiction explore how different genres have emerged throughout history and how previous works influence new works. In some programs, this course focuses on a specific theme.

Foundations in Fiction

In this course, you’ll explore how the novel has developed throughout literary history and how the short story emerged as an art form. Coursework includes reading classic and contemporary works, writing response essays and crafting critical analyses.

MA in Creative Writing vs. MFA in Creative Writing: What’s the Difference?

While the degrees are similar, a master of arts in creative writing is different from a master of fine arts in creative writing. An MA in creative writing teaches creative writing competencies, building analytical skills through studying literature, literary theory and related topics. This lets you explore storytelling along with a more profound knowledge of literature and literary theory.

If you want your education to take a more academic perspective so you can build a career in one of many fields related to writing, an MA in creative writing may be right for you.

An MFA prepares you to work as a professional writer or novelist. MFA students graduate with a completed manuscript that is ready for publishing. Coursework highlights subjects related to the business of writing, such as digital publishing, the importance of building a platform on social media , marketing, freelancing and teaching. An MA in creative writing also takes less time and requires fewer credits than an MFA.

If you want to understand the business of writing and work as a professional author or novelist, earning an MFA in creative writing might be your best option.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Below are several careers you can pursue with a master’s in creative writing. We sourced salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher

Median Annual Salary: $74,280 Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master’s degree may be accepted at some schools and community colleges Job Overview: Postsecondary teachers, also known as professors or faculty, teach students at the college level. They plan lessons, advise students, serve on committees, conduct research, publish original research, supervise graduate teaching assistants, apply for grants for their research and teach subjects in their areas of expertise.

Median Annual Salary: $73,080 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors plan, revise and edit written materials for publication. They work for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, media networks, and motion picture and video production companies. Editors work closely with writers to ensure their written work is accurate, grammatically correct and written in the appropriate style for the medium.

Median Annual Salary: $55,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Journalists research and write stories about local, regional, national and global current events and other newsworthy subjects. Journalists need strong interviewing, editing, analytical and writing skills. Some journalists specialize in a subject, such as sports or politics, and some are generalists. They work for news organizations, magazines and online publications, and some work as freelancers.

Writer or Author

Median Annual Salary: $73,150 Minimum Required Education: None; bachelor’s degree in creative writing or a related field sometimes preferred Job Overview: Writers and authors write fiction or nonfiction content for magazines, plays, blogs, books, television scripts and other forms of media. Novelists, biographers, copywriters, screenwriters and playwrights all fall into this job classification. Writers may work for advertising agencies, news platforms, book publishers and other organizations; some work as freelancers.

Technical Writer

Median Annual Salary: $79,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers craft technical documents, such as training manuals and how-to guides. They are adept at simplifying technical information so lay people can easily understand it. Technical writers may work with technical staff, graphic designers, computer support specialists and software developers to create user-friendly finished pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Master's in Creative Writing

Is a master’s in creative writing useful.

If your goal is to launch a career as a writer, then yes, a master’s in creative writing is useful. An MA in creative writing is a versatile degree that prepares you for various jobs requiring excellent writing skills.

Is an MFA better than an MA for creative writing?

One is not better than the other; you should choose the one that best equips you for the career you want. An MFA prepares you to build a career as a professional writer or novelist. An MA prepares you for various jobs demanding high-level writing skills.

What kind of jobs can you get with a creative writing degree?

A creative writing degree prepares you for many types of writing jobs. It helps you build your skills and gain expertise to work as an editor, writer, author, technical writer or journalist. This degree is also essential if you plan to teach writing classes at the college level.

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Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, and she received her teacher certification training through Bethel University’s Transition to Teaching program.

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Department of English

M.f.a. creative writing.

English Department

Physical Address: 200 Brink Hall

Mailing Address: English Department University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, Idaho 83844-1102

Phone: 208-885-6156

Email: [email protected]

Web: English

Thank you for your interest in the Creative Writing MFA Program at the University of Idaho: the premier fully funded, three-year MFA program in the Northwest. Situated in the panhandle of Northern Idaho in the foothills of Moscow Mountain, we offer the time and support to train in the traditions, techniques, and practice of nonfiction, poetry, and fiction. Each student graduates as the author of a manuscript of publishable quality after undertaking a rigorous process of thesis preparation and a public defense. Spring in Moscow has come to mean cherry blossoms, snowmelt in Paradise Creek, and the head-turning accomplishments of our thesis-year students. Ours is a faculty of active, working writers who relish teaching and mentorship. We invite you in the following pages to learn about us, our curriculum, our community, and the town of Moscow. If the prospect of giving yourself three years with us to develop as a writer, teacher, and editor is appealing, we look forward to reading your application.

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Ancestral Recognition

The region surrounding the University of Idaho is the ancestral land of both the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce peoples, and its campus in Moscow sits on unceded lands guaranteed to the Nez Perce people in the 1855 Treaty with the Nez Perce. As a land grant university, the University of Idaho also benefits from endowment lands that are the ancestral homes to many of the West’s Native peoples. The Department of English and Creative Writing Program acknowledge this history and share in the communal effort to ensure that the complexities and atrocities of the past remain in our discourse and are never lost to time. We invite you to think of the traditional “land acknowledgment” statement through our MFA alum CMarie Fuhrman’s words .

Degree Requirements

Three years to write.

Regardless of where you are in your artistic career, there is nothing more precious than time. A three-year program gives you time to generate, refine, and edit a body of original work. Typically, students have a light third year, which allows for dedicated time to complete and revise the Creative Thesis. (48 manuscript pages for those working in poetry, 100 pages for those working in prose.)

Our degree requirements are designed to reflect the real-world interests of a writer. Students are encouraged to focus their studies in ways that best reflect their artistic obsessions as well as their lines of intellectual and critical inquiry. In effect, students may be as genre-focused or as multi-genre as they please. Students must remain in-residence during their degrees. Typically, one class earns you 3 credits. The MFA requires a total of 54 earned credits in the following categories.

12 Credits : Graduate-level Workshop courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction. 9 Credits: Techniques and Traditions courses in Fiction, Poetry, and/or Nonfiction 3 Credits : Internships: Fugue, Confluence Lab, and/or Pedagogy 9 Credits: Literature courses 12 Credits: Elective courses 10 Credits: Thesis

Flexible Degree Path

Students are admitted to our program in one of three genres, Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction. By design, our degree path offers ample opportunity to take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses in any genre. Our faculty work and publish in multiple genres and value the slipperiness of categorization. We encourage students to write in as broad or focused a manner as they see fit. We are not at all interested in making writers “stay in their lanes,” and we encourage students to shape their degree paths in accordance with their passions. 

What You Study

During your degree, you will take Workshop, Techniques, Traditions, and Literature courses.

Our workshop classes are small by design (typically twelve students or fewer) and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. No two workshop experiences look alike, but what they share are faculty members committed to the artistic and intellectual passions of their workshop participants.

Techniques studios are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These popular courses are dedicated to the granular aspects of writing, from deep study of the poetic image to the cultivation of independent inquiry in nonfiction to the raptures of research in fiction. Such courses are heavy on generative writing and experimentation, offering students a dedicated space to hone their craft in a way that is complementary to their primary work.

Traditions seminars are developed and taught by core and visiting MFA faculty. These generative writing courses bring student writing into conversation with a specific trajectory or “tradition” of literature, from life writing to outlaw literature to the history of the short story, from prosody to postwar surrealism to genre-fluidity and beyond. These seminars offer students a dynamic space to position their work within the vast and varied trajectories of literature.

Literature courses are taught by core Literature and MFA faculty. Our department boasts field-leading scholars, interdisciplinary writers and thinkers, and theory-driven practitioners who value the intersection of scholarly study, research, humanism, and creative writing.

Award-Winning Faculty

We teach our classes first and foremost as practitioners of the art. Full stop. Though our styles and interests lie at divergent points on the literary landscape, our common pursuit is to foster the artistic and intellectual growth of our students, regardless of how or why they write. We value individual talent and challenge all students to write deep into their unique passions, identities, histories, aesthetics, and intellects. We view writing not as a marketplace endeavor but as an act of human subjectivity. We’ve authored or edited several books across the genres.

Learn more about Our People .

Thesis Defense

The MFA experience culminates with each student writing and defending a creative thesis. For prose writers, theses are 100 pages of creative work; for poets, 48 pages. Though theses often take the form of an excerpt from a book-in-progress, students have flexibility when it comes to determining the shape, form, and content of their creative projects. In their final year, each student works on envisioning and revising their thesis with three committee members, a Major Professor (core MFA faculty) and two additional Readers (core UI faculty). All students offer a public thesis defense. These events are attended by MFA students, faculty, community members, and other invitees. During a thesis defense, a candidate reads from their work for thirty minutes, answers artistic and critical questions from their Major Professor and two Readers for forty-five minutes, and then answer audience questions for thirty minutes. Though formally structured and rigorous, the thesis defense is ultimately a celebration of each student’s individual talent.

The Symposium Reading Series is a longstanding student-run initiative that offers every second-year MFA candidate an opportunity to read their works-in-progress in front of peers, colleagues, and community members. This reading and Q & A event prepares students for the third-year public thesis defense. These off-campus events are fun and casual, exemplifying our community centered culture and what matters most: the work we’re all here to do.

Teaching Assistantships

All students admitted to the MFA program are fully funded through Teaching Assistantships. All Assistantships come with a full tuition waiver and a stipend, which for the current academic year is roughly $15,000. Over the course of three years, MFA students teach a mix of composition courses, sections of Introduction to Creative Writing (ENGL 290), and additional writing courses, as departmental needs arise. Students may also apply to work in the Writing Center as positions become available. When you join the MFA program at Idaho, you receive teacher training prior to the beginning of your first semester. We value the role MFA students serve within the department and consider each graduate student as a working artist and colleague. Current teaching loads for Teaching Assistants are two courses per semester. Some members of the Fugue editorial staff receive course reductions to offset the demands of editorial work. We also award a variety of competitive and need-based scholarships to help offset general living costs. In addition, we offer three outstanding graduate student fellowships: The Hemingway Fellowship, Centrum Fellowship, and Writing in the Wild Fellowship. Finally, our Graduate and Professional Student Association offers extra-departmental funding in the form of research and travel grants to qualifying students throughout the academic year.

Distinguished Visiting Writers Series

Each year, we bring a Distinguished Visiting Writer to campus. DVWs interface with our writing community through public readings, on-stage craft conversations hosted by core MFA faculty, and small seminars geared toward MFA candidates. Recent DVWs include Maggie Nelson, Roger Reeves, Luis Alberto Urrea, Brian Evenson, Kate Zambreno, Dorianne Laux, Teju Cole, Tyehimba Jess, Claire Vaye Watkins, Naomi Shihab Nye, David Shields, Rebecca Solnit, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Susan Orlean, Natasha Tretheway, Jo Ann Beard, William Logan, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, Gabino Iglesias, and Marcus Jackson, among several others.

Fugue Journal

Established in 1990 at the University of Idaho, Fugue publishes poetry, fiction, essays, hybrid work, and visual art from established and emerging writers and artists. Fugue is managed and edited entirely by University of Idaho graduate students, with help from graduate and undergraduate readers. We take pride in the work we print, the writers we publish, and the presentation of both print and digital content. We hold an annual contest in both prose and poetry, judged by two nationally recognized writers. Past judges include Pam Houston, Dorianne Laux, Rodney Jones, Mark Doty, Rick Moody, Ellen Bryant Voigt, Jo Ann Beard, Rebecca McClanahan, Patricia Hampl, Traci Brimhall, Edan Lepucki, Tony Hoagland, Chen Chen, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, sam sax, and Leni Zumas. The journal boasts a remarkable list of past contributors, including Steve Almond, Charles Baxter, Stephen Dobyns, Denise Duhamel, Stephen Dunn, B.H. Fairchild, Nick Flynn, Terrance Hayes, Campbell McGrath, W.S. Merwin, Sharon Olds, Jim Shepard, RT Smith, Virgil Suarez, Melanie Rae Thon, Natasha Trethewey, Philip Levine, Anthony Varallo, Robert Wrigley, and Dean Young, among many others.

Academy of American Poets University Prize

The Creative Writing Program is proud to partner with the Academy of American Poets to offer an annual Academy of American Poets University Prize to a student at the University of Idaho. The prize results in a small honorarium through the Academy as well as publication of the winning poem on the Academy website. The Prize was established in 2009 with a generous grant from Karen Trujillo and Don Burnett. Many of our nation’s most esteemed and celebrated poets won their first recognition through an Academy of American Poets Prize, including Diane Ackerman, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Tess Gallagher, Louise Glück, Jorie Graham, Kimiko Hahn, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Li-Young Lee, Gregory Orr, Sylvia Plath, Mark Strand, and Charles Wright.

Fellowships

Centrum fellowships.

Those selected as Centrum Fellows attend the summer Port Townsend Writers’ Conference free of charge. Housed in Fort Worden (which is also home to Copper Canyon Press), Centrum is a nonprofit dedicated to fostering several artistic programs throughout the year. With a focus on rigorous attention to craft, the Writers’ Conference offers five full days of morning intensives, afternoon workshops, and craft lectures to eighty participants from across the nation. The cost of the conference, which includes tuition, lodging, and meals, is covered by the scholarship. These annual scholarship are open to all MFA candidates in all genres.

Hemingway Fellowships

This fellowship offers an MFA Fiction student full course releases in their final year. The selection of the Hemingway Fellow is based solely on the quality of an applicant’s writing. Each year, applicants have their work judged blind by a noted author who remains anonymous until the selection process has been completed. Through the process of blind selection, the Hemingway Fellowship Fund fulfills its mission of giving the Fellow the time they need to complete a substantial draft of a manuscript.

Writing in the Wild

This annual fellowship gives two MFA students the opportunity to work in Idaho’s iconic wilderness areas. The fellowship fully supports one week at either the McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), which borders Payette Lake and Ponderosa State Park, or the Taylor Wilderness Research Station, which lies in the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. Both campuses offer year-round housing. These writing retreats allow students to concentrate solely on their writing. Because both locations often house researchers, writers will also have the opportunity to interface with foresters, geologists, biologists, and interdisciplinary scholars.

Program History

Idaho admitted its first class of seven MFA students in 1994 with a faculty of four: Mary Clearman Blew, Tina Foriyes, Ron McFarland (founder of Fugue), and Lance Olsen. From the beginning, the program was conceived as a three-year sequence of workshops and techniques classes. Along with offering concentrations in writing fiction and poetry, Idaho was one of the first in the nation to offer a full concentration in creative nonfiction. Also from its inception, Idaho not only allowed but encouraged its students to enroll in workshops outside their primary genres. Idaho has become one of the nation’s most respected three-year MFA programs, attracting both field-leading faculty and students. In addition to the founders of this program, notable distinguished faculty have included Kim Barnes, Robert Wrigley, Daniel Orozco, Joy Passanante, Tobias Wray, Brian Blanchfield, and Scott Slovic, whose collective vision, rigor, grit, and care have paved the way for future generations committed to the art of writing.

The Palouse

Situated in the foothills of Moscow Mountain amid the rolling terrain of the Palouse (the ancient silt beds unique to the region), our location in the vibrant community of Moscow, Idaho, boasts a lively and artistic local culture. Complete with independent bookstores, coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and breweries, (not to mention a historic art house cinema, organic foods co-op, and renowned seasonal farmer’s market), Moscow is a friendly and affordable place to live. Outside of town, we’re lucky to have many opportunities for hiking, skiing, rafting, biking, camping, and general exploring—from nearby Idler’s Rest and Kamiak Butte to renowned destinations like Glacier National Park, the Snake River, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, and Nelson, BC. As for more urban getaways, Spokane, Washington, is only a ninety-minute drive, and our regional airline, Alaska, makes daily flights to and from Seattle that run just under an hour.

For upcoming events and program news, please visit our calendar .

For more information about the MFA program, please contact us at:  [email protected]

Department of English University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1102 Moscow, ID 83844-1102 208-885-6156

ART2LIFE DESTINATION RETREATS ARE NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

The Art2Life Academy is a community of experienced artists who are committed to advancing their art, process and careers to high level. Enrollment is offered only once a year and is only available to those who have completed an Art2Life Destination Workshop or the 12 week Creative Visionary Program (CVP). To find out how and when you can join one of these programs, please reach out to us at [email protected] . Thank you so much for your interest.

TESTIMONIALS

“I’m glad to be a part of this community which serves as a constant reminder of how badly I want to paint and make good art It is invaluable to know there is a community behind us and I feel like I’m still involved, if peripherally. And best part is that I’m still learning. I’m so glad I made the decision to continue this adventure with the Academy. It’s stressful at times, but it’s also a lifeline!” Lynn

“I am looking at all the beautiful new work posted on this site and in particular in the 1Up challenge and I am just itching to dive back in.” Ingrid

“I am so thankful for the encouragement that I receive here. It really seems that I am thriving on it daily. I miss visiting here when I am away or too busy. I really don’t know how I got along before. One thing for sure, you friends are motivating me TONS.  I know I have a long way to go to get where I’d like to be, but it actually seems possible now. Sadly, I used to feel some discouragement from others’ big successes at times. I didn’t want to feel that. It was jealousy that I didn’t want to see in myself.  Now I feel that I am a part of a group that wants to help mr keep on going. Much appreciation. Judith

“Finally, I gave my notice to the friend I was working part-time for and starting on November 1st, I will be free to paint my heart’s content ! Yesss! I do want to add that you are all inspiring in one way or another and it may have to do something with my enthusiasm :slightly_smiling_face: Thank you!” Aude

“I just heard I’ve had a painting selected for a prominent selected exhibition!  I’m so excited! It’s with a painting I started in CVP too! The Shape of Memory. Thanks Nicholas Wilton and team, you have all made such a difference in my life. And thanks to all members too, your interactions are invaluable.” Jan

“I knew I wanted to show my new body of work, but didn’t realize how focused and clear I would become as a result of my needing to write a statement about my intentions and feelings about this body of work. I was surprised at how clear I was. To me, my clarity points to the confidence that Nick suggested we would develop as we learn the art principles he’s been teaching us. When I became stronger in my understanding about how to create art intuitively, I became stronger in being able to describe it to others. I found people interested in my new work, and that thrilled me. It showed me that “common people” CAN tell which work is better!!!!!! They really do feel a difference. I think that is amazing, and it is enough encouragement for me, to realize that I can connect with customers on a feeling level. I’m thrilled!” Marjorie

“Although gratitude is an understatement, I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for this community and everything that it stands for.  I have learned so so much from the program and from all of you who have spent their lives committed to that of being an artist.  Thank you ALL for being lighthouses on this path, providing light inside and at the end of the tunnel.” Elizabeth

“I have sold 21 paintings since taking the CVP class!  And have been accepted to three juried shows this fall, and am having another solo show in my small town at a coop gallery as a guest artist.  Having sold two big ones, I’m starting to feel like a real artist, lol!  Have set up my website and it’s working well.  Thanks again for for all the encouragement and words of advice!” Sally

“Regarding the question about pulling out of the stagnation…well, I post what I am doing in the Art2Life Academy! Feedback is SO important, I think, during these times. Another thing I do, if I don’t post anything, is to read all the comments about how others are facing their challenges, and I find comfort and encouragement there.” Marjorie

I love the sentiment here in all the remarks, support, gratitude and shifting of attitude of abundance for all. Thanks to the group and Nicholas for leading us to that understanding. It is different from what I am experiencing in the art world, and I am loving this thinking. I am feeling like I am in kindergarten, learning to play with others all over again.” Betsy

“I am just catching up, listened to this on a plane returning home yesterday, and it was so powerful on so many levels. I loved the great ideas for overcoming fear and resistance, as I struggle with both. Somehow it was reassuring to know how pervasive the struggle is for everyone. We are all in this together. I love the Academy, feel so supported and enlightened. And then I return home and there is a card from NW, I was about in tears for the feeling of belonging. That is one of my life issues this go around. The belonging is what I will remember as I armor myself against the fear and resistance. Thank you for this wonderful information.” Betsy

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