As we enter a new year, it's time to set some goals and resolutions for ourselves. If you're an artist, what better way to start the year off right than by setting some resolutions that will help you grow and improve your art career? Here are my resolutions as an artist as well as a few extras to help you get started. Watch more in detail in the video below.
Make a goal to create one new piece of art every week
Creating art can be a great way to express yourself, work out emotions, and just have fun. Making it a goal to create one piece of art every week can be quite challenging but also very rewarding. Not only will your skills increase but so will your creativity. Taking the time each week to focus on creating something completely unique can be eye-opening and exciting! Whether you're in a creative slump or looking for something new and interesting, setting up a regular goal of creating one new piece of art every week could be your ticket to getting inspired again. Avoiding artblock and creating at least 52 art pieces (one for every week of the year) is my goal.
Join or start an artist group to get feedback and support from others
Starting my own artist group has been a great goal for me. It will provide a platform to get honest feedback and support from my fellow artists, many of whom I would not have possibly connected with without said group. Not only will we provide constructive feedback on each others’ work, but a comforting place for moral support when things are especially tough. Additionally, working together towards our goals will create an environment of motivation and encouragement, where we can strive for small wins every day within our art journey. My artist group reminds me why I started my journey as an artist in the first place - because of my passion for creativity, expression, and teaching. If any of that interests you join my group by clicking the link. Click here to sign up!
Keep a sketchbook or journal to document your ideas and progress
Keeping a sketchbook or journal is a great way to track your artistic journey. By looking back on old sketches, you can compare how far you’ve come and all that you have learned along the way. A sketchbook is also an ideal outlet for creative ideas and helps ensure that they don’t get forgotten in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Beyond just serving as a reminder of progress and storing new ideas, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to express yourself and explore different artistic techniques. With your sketchbook in hand, you can keep pushing yourself forward with creative projects and gain fulfillment from expressing yourself through art. My goal for this year is to keep sketching in my sketchbook but starting doing it daily.
Experiment with new mediums and techniques
Experimenting with new mediums and techniques is a great way to get creative, both visually and conceptually. It's no secret that finding new ways of expressing yourself can be incredibly liberating and exciting. Not only does it open up new possibilities for exploration, but it can also lend itself to more focused lines of inquiry. Additionally, playing around with different mediums and techniques can help you break out of old mindsets or thought patterns, which can lead to deeper understanding and even entirely new areas of work. All in all, experimenting with new mediums and techniques is an invaluable way to spark creativity! Experimenting with new mediums and some old ones I have left behind are the goal for this upcoming year.
Take inspiration from other artists, but don't copy their work
Finding inspiration and motivation within the art of other successful creatives can be immensely beneficial. It’s inspiring to learn how a piece of artwork was crafted and get inspired by their creativity, technique, composition, or other aspects. However, it’s always essential to remember that there's a line between being inspired and imitation, so strive to make your work unique and original. If you copy another artist’s work, you deprive yourself of a chance to fully develop your own voice, style, and skill as an artist. Take what inspires you from the art of others but be sure not to cross that line so that you can discover your own realm of creativity and create beautiful things in the process.
Enter your artwork in competitions or exhibitions
Participating in exhibitions or competitions can be a great way to get your artwork seen and help you stand out from other artists. Not only can it aid in networking with potential buyers, it also gives you first-hand experience of what it is like to be an exhibiting artist. Exhibiting your work does not have to be limited to galleries; there are so many grassroots competitions available online and through organizations unique to certain schools, towns and cities that provide great opportunities for art lovers everywhere. The best part about entering artwork into the competition is that regardless of who the winner may or may not be, all entrants have the potential for success.
Achieving your artistic goals requires planning and organization, as well as a certain amount of creativity and spontaneity. By making a goal to create one new piece of art every week, you're setting yourself up for success while also leaving room for inspiration and experimentation. New mediums and techniques are fun to explore and can help keep your work interesting. And joining or starting an artist group is a great way to get feedback and support from other creatives. I hope these tips have inspired you to set some artistic New Year's resolutions of your own. What are your plans for creating more artwork in 2020? Let me know down below!