Things really started clicking together by the end of 2017 and I want to harness and evolve this momentum into the new year. I find it a good exercise to set myself some goals to strive for over the course of each year in order that I keep pushing hard to get better and more aligned to what makes me and my artmaking tick.
So to that end, here’s my aims for the year ahead:
Sketch everyday
I want to get to the end of 2018 and be proud of the fact that I was able to commit to and achieve a sketch for every day of the year without fail. Not only will it be great in terms of building consistency and confidence, with that amount of sketching, one can only get better at it through sheer volume alone.
Finish a small painting study every week
I was able to knock out a small painting study a week for last month and a bit of 2017 and found that it wasn’t too onerous a task. I started knocking these out to relieve some of the angst I was feeling while developing the concept for a larger painting series. These small studies meant I was able to keep my hand at painting and use them as pure practice so the subject material was not overly important. I began painting stills from some of my favourite movies and enjoyed being able to just paint for the sake of painting. If do one of these paintings a week they I should have around 50 paintings completed by the end of the year. Once again, with that much work completed you’d imagine you couldn’t help but improve.
Fully develop and complete a larger painting series
As already mentioned, I’ve been slowly chipping away at a larger painting series concept which is still in the embryonic stage. I want this idea fully developed out and completed within the next year. I am really looking forward to how this one comes together.
Experience more
Lastly, I want to make sure that I get out and see and do more, by myself, with my friends and with my family. Inspiration comes from experiences and locking yourself up in your studio will soon see the inspiration well run dry. I need to make more of a concerted effort to get out there and enjoy more experiences that inspire.
I am really looking forward to the coming year and I think if I am able to successfully complete the above goals, then I would have had a very successful and progressive year – and enjoyed every minute of it.
