They're Not Resolutions, They're Goals

It’s different! I set and review goals for myself twice a year, January and August. In January I plan out the entire year ahead, and in August I review and plan for my next “season” of painting after mostly taking the summer off. Here’s my forecast for 2018:
 

• Get self out there in the physical world. One of last year’s goals was to sharpen my online presence with a constantly updated web site, blog, Instagram feed, and newsletter. I also entered two competitions (and did not get in). This year, I want to take a step outside and find the right venues to show work in person to see if I like the schedule and work habits necessary for that kind of art practice. To this end—I’m going to enter a few art fairs and exhibitions. Another literal interpretation of this goal is to paint outside. I got a shiny new plein-air easel for Christmas, and I’m going to hit the streets when the city thaws.
  

 

• Plan subjects farther in advance to capitalize on seasonal sales and art fairs. The last two years I painted a lot, but the paintings were a lot one-offs, which resulted in a disparate collection of work. It’s not really a surprise. I paint many subjects, and I was experimenting a lot with materials. I’ve begun to set myself up for this new way of thinking by organizing my work into themes (“galleries” on my web site) that reflect moods and feelings rather than more traditional categorization of landscape, figure, still life. This new way of thinking about subjects suits me because I’ve learned that I’m not subject-driven. Sub-goal: This requires planning out framing options, too. Painters talk about “painting to frame,” which is painting on standard-sized canvases and panels that are less expensive to frame because they can fit into standard-sized prefabricated or recycled frames. We all know how $%@ expensive framing is, so being smart about my canvas sizes is also important.
  

 
Note: As I typed this, I received an email newsletter from James Clear titled Forget About Setting Goals. Try This Instead. Come on! He is a proponent of setting up the right process or system for your activity, which gives you more consistent satisfaction. Whereas goals can be like Christmas morning. So exciting when it happens, but then what motivates you? I think the two work together, influencing and responding to each other. He and I both agree that the type of goal you’re setting for yourself is important. My goals right now are to create the right systems and work habits so that I can happily continue painting every (eh) day, as well as try new things to help me figure out which direction to take my career. I like the give-and-take Clear describes at the end of his newsletter: ". . . goals are good for planning your progress, and systems are good for actually making progress."