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 beginning of the month, but better late than never, right? Right.  It's half way through 2012 (not exactly sure how that's possible!) and time to check in with my set goals and see how it's going...

Production

·         Complete my "Portraits" series
  I have continued to produce several more works, more on the way (but honestly I doubt that this goal will be met, as other painting priorities have come in to play)

·         Continue my Black and White series
Have completed a diptych and one large work in this series

·         Complete 3 large canvases per month
Check!

·         Complete 10 small studies per week
I have created many new studies, at times I make 20 in a week, and other weeks none are created.  I believe it is balancing out in the end.

Business

• Update mailing list quarterly – check!
• Schedule at least 1 solo show for 2013 – this is in the works (although may not be a true “solo exhibit”)
• Have new postcards designed, ordered - check!  They are on their way, very excited to see them J
• Order new small notecards – check!
• Have artist brochure printed quarterly, as needed - the artist brochure is on hiatus, as I redo my promotional materials
• 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 leading up to festival, there was a drop in blogging
• Continue to develop and improve my monthly Studio Newsletter - yes!  My newsletter had a design overhaul, and I am working on content ideas too.
• Update Etsy site weekly - check!  Sometimes more frequently.
• Tweak my artist statement - My artist statement received a complete rewrite and I am pleased with it – for now.
• 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, and will meet my goal for 3 in December.
• Overhaul my record-keeping system for inventory, for reals – still working on this, a very difficult goal, I am very driven (maybe too driven??) to make it perfect.
• Send out a researched mailing of onesheet/cover letter to galleries at the end of 2012 - This is scheduled for October or November 2012
• Make sure I reference this list monthly to keep me on target and make this entire "goal setting" process worthwhile! -  I haven’t been as good at referencing the list as I should be, but despite that fact, I have remained fairly well on task!  Yay!

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.  Overall, I think my 2012 Year in Review will be chock full of things that I achieved which weren’t even on my radar for my Goals 2012 plan.