This speaks to me of personal integrity but I can also apply it to my art-life. Have I lived the ART life I intended? After many weeks of focus on the garden, today I'm in the studio thinking about art and the rest of the year. What was I hoping to accomplish this year?
___________
My ART goals for 2018 (originally posted December 29, 2017 on my Art Journal Blog)
In 2018 I'll be more discerning about my art commitments both in showing my work and in teaching/mentoring.
1. Work with other artists to further their success
This goal was #6 for 2016 and #4 for 2017 and I am a little surprised to see it as my top priority for 2018. I have been working with a new local art group, Black Diamond Arts Alliance, and have high hopes for their success. Also, I will continue as the Plein Air Washington Artists (PAWA) Critique Group leader for our area. I have also offered to host the newly created Black Diamond Critique Group several times a year. In 2018 I'll try a new form of mentoring: Open Studio Sessions.
7-9-18 review
I'm the Membership Director for Black Diamond Arts Alliance and our membership has doubled. I chaired the BDAA first Annual Open Exhibit and thanks to our members, it was even better than I expected. I am hosting the PAWA Black Diamond Critique Group again this year. We met in April and June and will meet again in Sept. Our Black Diamond Critique Group has evolved into a group we named Lake Sawyer Plein Air Artists. LSPAA has a Facebook page and has been painting monthly at local sites. My Open Studio Sessions are being renamed Studio Mentoring Sessions and I'll offer them again in Sept. Oct. and Nov. In review, Yay! On track.
2. My online presence
This year I added online opportunities to network, show and sell my work. I have two websites now. My original website is unchanged with archived work going back to my fashion illustration days. My NEW website is primarily for new work but that may change. Both of these websites are maintained by me which means keeping them current is high on my list of priorities.
7-9-18 review
My bad. I have not kept this high on my list of priorities. Hope to improve.
3. Paint larger to support my galleries and publishers
For the past few years I have been painting smaller for online sales through Daily Paintworks, Etsy, eBay. That has been fun. Then, I signed with a couple print publishers and had to quickly paint new, larger work for them for better reproduction. Soon it will be time to submit new work to them. Now that I have limited my brick-and-mortar galleries to three, these larger paintings will go to galleries. Fulfilling my commitment to rotate work at galleries is a good motivator to paint daily.
7-9-18 review
Yes! I've been painting larger. I have two 36x36 inch custom-made wood panels. I might get to these before the end of the year.
4. Author another book?
I added this goal for 2018 with a question mark because it has been high on my list for years but not anymore. This year I contributed art to several books as well as completing a commissioned painting for a book cover. Right now I'm not motivated to write a book about my art but maybe that will change.
7-9-18 review
Hmmm.... Haven't even thought about this. Guess that is why it is #4.
And of course, I must add this to my list: ""This, or something better, now manifests for me in totally satisfying and harmonious ways, for the highest good of all concerned."
__________
Looking back, I realize that my #2 goal was replaced with Become a better painter. I took an online art course and have also made my yearly attempt to work in acrylic. Both of these challenges were...CHALLENGING, fun and frustrating. But, not boring and boring is artistic death so I'll continue to challenge myself. Also, I'm pondering returning full circle to work again with the figure.
And, as always, I intend to be a more thoughtful painter.
If you actually read all that, thanks. Perhaps it will be useful to you in living the life YOU intended.
