It's true. Today is my birthday, and it's my 30th.  I won't comment on how I am dealing with this particular birthday (if anyone has wonderful things to say about turning 30, for instance, how all your wildest dreams come true once you hit this milestone, I could use it!), but I will say that it has got me back to focusing on things I want to accomplish.  So I give you my long overdue "Goals 2013" post:

Production

-     Continue my "Portraits" series

-     Continue my Black and White series

-     Complete at least 6 canvases per month

-     Introduce 16 x 12” size canvas

-     Complete 5 small paintings on paper per week, keeping the focus on large canvas works.


Business 
 
-     Update mailing list quarterly
 
-     Have postcards(2) revamped with new images, one with bio on back, one blank

-     Update notecards with new images
 
-     Update website at least once a week with new paintings and current events.

-     Update blog at least once a week, preferably 3 times mostly.
  
-     Continue to develop and improve my monthly Studio Newsletter.

-     Reach out to bloggers who may be interested in what I do, quarterly
  
-     Update Etsy site 2 times a week

-     Tweak Etsy shop listing copy

-     Continue to tweak Etsy tags/titles

-     Review artist statement

-     Update my bio picture

-     Create "About" video for website

-     Update my video portfolio

-     Assist Derek in building our drawing storage/drying rack area in studio

-     Stay on top of all ordering (painting supplies, mailing supplies, promotional materials, etc)

-     Update my etsy shop “About” page, review copy and add new images

-     Maintain all social networking outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube channel
  
-     Update my onesheet yet again

 -     Create a book showcasing my art

-     Enter 1 juried show within the year
 
-     Update my inventory at the end of each month

-     Keep detailed records of travel/mileage

-     Connect with my lovely mailing list people  via snail mail at least twice a year

-     Send out follow up mailing of onesheet/cover letter to galleries in July 2013

-     Send follow up email with new work to selected contacts
  
-     Make sure I reference this list at least twice a month to keep me on target and make this entire "goal setting" process worthwhile!

My focus this year will be about refining a consistent, powerful body of larger work, while introducing a new small canvas series. The creation of large diptych works on canvas will be a priority. At the same time, I need to make sure that I maintain a good administrative routine.  Ordering supplies, tracking expenses and income for tax time, filing receipts, recording mileage, and cataloging work are just some of the un-fun parts of being an artist that I really just need to get over and do in a timely fashion.  It will make my life so much easier.


 

I’d originally planned to post this review at the end of December, but life got in the way.  This is uncharacteristic of me, but sometimes you just need a break. I like to catalog my progress in this way, and do it more for myself than anything - I apologize if this is intensely boring.  I'm pleased to say that this list keeps growing longer and longer each year; kudos if you make it through to the end :)  So here goes! 

Production

 -     Complete my "Portraits" series
As suspected at my ½ way check in, this goal was not nearly met.  I did create several new works in this ongoing series.  No check.

-     Continue my Black and White series
Have completed a diptych and one large work in this series, created several that didn’t see the light of day and were scrapped.  Check!

-     Complete 3 large canvases per month
I met this goal for about 9 out of the 12 months.  Leading up to my September solo exhibition, a lot of large paintings were completed, some were kept, some were pitched. As I prepared for our studio renovation, the last 3 months of the year saw a shift to solely paintings on paper, due to lack of space.  3/4 check?

-     Complete 10 small studies per week.
I have created lots of paintings on paper, from 4 x 6” to 12 x 16”.I’m not sure if I painted 10 per week, but I think I came pretty close. 
I’m going to give myself a “check!” on this one.


Business 
 
-       Update mailing list quarterly
 Check! 
 
-     Schedule at least 1 solo show for 2013. 
This has fallen through, I currently have no solo exhibition plans for 2013 and am not sure I will undertake one this year, as my goals are shifting.

-       Have new postcards designed, ordered.
 Check!  and check!  I had two new postcards designed.

-      Order new small notecards,
 Check! 
 
-     Have artist brochure printed quarterly, as needed.
The artist brochure is indefinitely on hiatus. 
 
-     Update website at least once a week with new paintings and current events.
 Check! 

-     Update blog at least once a week, preferably 3 times mostly.
 Good consistency here, although I must admit, posting was typically 2 times a week on average. 
 
-     Continue to develop and improve my monthly Studio Newsletter.
 Yes!  My newsletter had a design overhaul, and I am still working to improve content. 
 
-     Update Etsy site weekly
Check!   Sometimes more frequently. 
 
-     Tweak my artist statement.
 My artist statement received a complete rewrite this year. 
 
-     Update my onesheet.
Check! 
 
-     Create a book showcasing my art.
This is in the works, so no “check!”

-     Enter 3 "good" juried shows within the year.
I have entered and been accepted into 2.  The third was nixed as I felt it wasn’t a priority/good opportunity.
 
-    Overhaul my record-keeping system for inventory, for reals.
CHECK, finally!  I have purchased an inventory system recommended by Alyson Stanfield.  We’ll see how it goes! 
 
-     Send out a researched mailing of onesheet/cover letter to galleries at the end of 2012.
 This has once again been moved to February 2013.  I am well on my way, as the documents and spreadsheet are nearly ready. 
 
-     Make sure I reference this list monthly to keep me on target and make this entire "goal setting" process worthwhile! -
 No check! for this.  I did a pretty bad job at referencing this list.  Going forward, I will need to come up with a better system for scheduling
and implementing goals. 

-     My focus this year will be developing a consistent, powerful body of larger work.  I am very much looking forward to my solo exhibition at Annex Gallery and am excited about the prospect of searching out other galleries towards the end of the year.

I am making slow but steady progress with my main goal: creating a body of strong, larger-scale works on canvas.  I have been incredibly fortunate and honored by the support I received this year. This means my inventory on large paintings needs replenishing, but that is the best of all problems to have!   
 


Unexpected Goals

-     The biggest of all would be the complete renovation of our studio!  Hugely excited to post more on this and am enjoying the new space immensely!

-     Was included in The Country King

-     Participated in FestivALL, a two day art festival

-     Created a Sunday video series, 10 Seconds for Sunday, on my blog + Youtube channel, featuring inspirational or haiku-like videos

-     Started a Youtube channel 

-     Created a video portfolio 

-     Overhauled the design of my blog (with help from Derek) 

-     Had my work included in multiple collections, selected by designers

-     Increased my presence on Facebook

-     Had my work featured in West Elm’s Summer 2012 Catalog!

-     Improved my Etsy shop SEO and listings

-     Saw a marked increase in sales, where I not only met but far exceeded the conservative goal I had set.

-     Had great support from multiple blogs, including Elements of Style and West Elm

-     Improved supplemental promotional materials, notecards, etc.

-    Was able to send out Thanksgiving cards to those signed up for my snail mail mailing list, which is important to me. Making sure viewers/collectors/friends know how much their support means to me is always a priority.  Every day I am grateful.

-     Through several exhibitions and events, was able to meet many new viewers both in person and online, allowing me to connect with some fantastic people.  So fortunate!