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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!
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