©2010 Carolyn A. Pappas, Arrangement of Pears. Graphite on Bristol Board, 6 x 6 inches.
This post outlines my 2011 Art Goals. I love this time of year when I can read other artist’s recaps and goals. If you have made such a post, please leave a comment below and I would love to check out yours. I have tons of ideas and I could easily make a list so long that it would be impossible to complete, but I limited myself to four main areas.
Increase Production
I want to focus on expanding and improving my portfolio this year. If I complete, on average, at least one “good” piece per week I will consider this goal completed. When I say “good” I mean that I want to feel good about it and it could be something to potentially sell (see the last point).
Using Sketchbooks in a Different Way.
I want to make sketching more of a habit in 2011. For years, I used to only work in bound books. I would spend hours on drawings that I should have done on a separate sheet of paper so I could have framed them more easily. This past year I started making more of these “finished pieces” that were suitable for framing, but I found that I was neglecting my sketchbooks for actual sketches in the process. I’m not going to pressure myself to post them all online, but if I spend some time sketching every day then I will feel successful with this goal.
Experiment with New Subject Matter
I’m really curious about still life and I want to complete a number of still life drawings and paintings in 2011. I find some still lifes to be without a soul and I’m not interested in them merely as an exercise in rendering difficult subject matter (think lots of reflections on metal objects). I do, however, have a number of sentimental objects that I would like to capture. I have some ideas for a series, but I don’t want to set a quota on how many pieces I need to produce. I have already added a number of still life painting blogs to my RSS reader and any recommendations would be appreciated!
Start Selling My Work
I am not going to rush myself on this one, but it is something that I have been thinking about. For a long time I held off because I thought my work was substandard, but I have gotten to a point where I feel I am ready to start looking into it seriously.
I also have a few other projects that I have started work on, but they are not ready to unveil yet. I hope everyone has a very happy and productive New Year!
Best wishes in achieving your endeavors! Like the pears.
Thank you Helen!
Your goals are very achieveable. Every success in reaching them Carolyn.
Noble goals, Carolyn. I guess I should consider what mine should be. Happy New Year!
Thank you both. I am very excited.
I wish you lots of positive energy in reaching your goals. Have a wonderful 2011.
Thank you and I hope you have a successful year as well.
Really clear and achievable goals, Carolyn. I know that dilemma about in or out of the sketchbook all too well, but I think your resolve to focus more on the books will ultimately be productive! This is my first year in the blogosphere reading about other artists’ goals, aspirations and challenges, and it has been fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
These are great goals Carolyn. I’ve written a few similar ones for myself but haven’t posted them yet. I feel that 2011 is going to be a great year though.
[...] photos and a “secret” sketchbook page that I don’t post up on my blog. I know my art goals this year have been waylaid by other things, but when I start selling my work, I would also offer [...]
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