Creating the Addiction of Art – Nicholas Wilton – Ep 154

Have you ever wondered why some creative practices thrive while others falter?

The answer might lie in understanding our six essential human needs: certainty, uncertainty, significance, love and connection, growth, and contribution, how they intertwine with our art-making, and how understanding them can lead to a more fulfilling and sustainable art practice.

Art is more than just a reflection of our innermost feelings; it’s a mirror of our personal evolution. But when you’re clinging to the same artistic methods, it leads to stagnation, which is why it’s so crucial to evolve and embrace new approaches.

That’s where my innovative Bloom Practice comes into play—because it prioritizes feelings over outcomes, encouraging authenticity and profound personal development in your art.

Listen if you are interested in…

• The six human needs that form the reason we take the actions we do [5:13]
• The fundamental human need for love and connection drives our creativity [8:24]
• How we can build connections with other artists—on and offline [9:40]
• Art fulfills human needs and can become an addictive, sustainable practice [14:05]
• Retreats normalize artists’ challenges and emphasize shared experiences [16:59]
• Connect with your emotions to create authentic, embodied art [21:40]
• Use art to become more yourself and evolve as an individual [25:39]
• Focus on enjoying the process, not just the end product [26:52]

Exploring Growth and Connection Through Artistic Expression

Making art is a deeply personal journey that allows us to reveal our inner selves and facilitates growth and change. Art has a fantastic transformative power, it’s a byproduct of who you are and who you’re becoming and allows you to achieve personal and creative fulfillment.

Art reflects personal growth, but our development stagnates when we cling to the same methods, become static, and stop trying new things. You can achieve a deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose by evolving your artistic techniques. Personal growth through art isn’t a linear process but a continuous journey that enriches the artist and their creations.

People come to art-making to learn how to live in uncertainty, how to embrace it, and enjoy the mystery, the unknown.

Understanding Human Needs in Relation to Our Art

Tony Robbins’ six human needs — certainty, uncertainty, significance, love and connection, growth, and contribution — play an essential role in the art-making process. Understanding and addressing these needs can dramatically enhance your creative experience and personal relationships.

• Certainty and Uncertainty: In art, certainty provides a sense of safety and predictability necessary for building a foundational skill set, but uncertainty fuels innovation and excitement, propelling artists to explore new frontiers.
• Significance: Artists naturally crave recognition and acknowledgment. Feeling significant can validate your efforts and boost your confidence, removing those feelings of insignificance and any sense of imposter syndrome.
• Love and Connection: Art can be a solitary practice, but creating a sense of community is so important. Engaging with other artists through physical or virtual spaces allows you to build a sense of belonging and mutual support.
• Growth: Personal and artistic growth is pivotal for sustained engagement. By continually evolving and pursuing growth, artists can feel a sense of accomplishment and avoid creative stagnation.
• Contribution: Sharing art with the world satisfies this need, allowing artists to positively impact others and feel part of something larger.

Reframing the Art-Making Process

Anybody can make art that’s powerful and personal. Creativity comes hardwired into the operating system of every single human being. Reframing how we approach art-making is crucial for personal growth and fulfillment.

Embrace the art-making process—when you shift your mindset, it reduces dissatisfaction, encourages experimentation, and combats imposter syndrome. Artists can find joy and satisfaction in their practice by focusing on the journey rather than the destination.

My Bloom Practice process is all about prioritizing the feelings we want to hold more than the outcome. We want to connect first and foremost rather than fixating on the end result. This comprises five steps:

1. Connecting to feelings,
2. Opening up to emotions
3. Playing and experimenting with artistic techniques
4. Creating by focusing on your uniqueness
5. Curating the work to guide your future process

All this is why my art retreats are more than workshops; they are transformative experiences that foster community and rejuvenate creativity. We provide an environment where artists can shed their inhibitions, connect with like-minded individuals, rekindle their passion, and sustain their practice.

Resources & People Mentioned

• Why do people do what they do? The 6 Human Needs by Tony Robbins
• Join the Studio Notification Waitlist
• Bloom

Connect with Nicholas Wilton and Art2Life

Get the Free COLOR TIPS PDF here

• Follow the Sunday Art2Life Vlog here
• Follow Nicholas Wilton’s Art on Instagram
• Follow Art2Life on Instagram
• Subscribe on Youtube

Subscribe to Art2Life on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts