Goals 2011

For some reason I have had difficulty writing this post, preferring to paint or do any number of other things first (watch 30 Rock reruns - That's important, right?). In other words, procrastinate. Usually I love love love writing up goals and lists (!) but for some reason, this year is different.

A bit of fear seems to be hanging out like a little cartoon cloud over my head, and I've felt anxious. Change can do that to you, it seems. With switching my day job and cutting my hours, comes the voice. Lots of people have that small voice of self doubt that creeps up and tells you that no matter what it is you want to do, there is no way you can succeed. That it's impossible and you can't have *insert hearts desire here*. Lately, every day I need to prop myself up and get rid of the negative voice telling me every sort of pessimistic thing. They are always super melodramatic things like: I will never sell another painting in my life, or I will never have another solo show, and on and on. With much effort, I have quit eating my weight in cookies, gathered my determination, replaced the negative with a positive outlook, and have prepared my goals for the upcoming year. They are as follows:

Art-Related

Create:

• small paintings - 65

• medium paintings - 45
  


• large paintings - 20
  


• extra large - 5
  

My goal is to basically triple last years number. I would like to create 130 new paintings for 2011. I'm not going to get too hung up on the exact number of what size paintings I create, these are just some guidelines for reference.

Business-Related

• Send out a large (researched) mailing of brochure/cover letter packets
  


• Send out emailed submissions from researched list
  


• Update mailing list quarterly
  


• Schedule at least 1 solo show for 2012
  


• Have at least 100 large postcards ordered for April
  


• Have new brochure designed
  


• Have new brochure printed quarterly, as needed
  


• Have 50 business cards printed, more as needed
  


• Update website at least once a week with new paintings and current events
  


• Update blog at least once a week
  


• Update Etsy site weekly
  


• Enter 2 "good" juried shows within the year
  


• Overhaul my record-keeping system for inventory
  

My focus this year will be mostly on production of new work and finding a gallery. I want to push my art-making as much as possible. It would be nice to see a quicker progression in the work, and the only way to improve is to paint, paint, paint!

New Painting(s)!

January 8th II. oil and acrylic on canvas. 17 x 20"

January 8th I, oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 10"

New Painting for Friday

December 28th. 8 1/2 x 10" oil and acrylic on canvas.

Another version from December 28th! Actually I have three. I also completed my first 17 x 20" that day too. I like the 17 x 20" size okay so far, hope it will be a good substitute for my old "medium" canvas size. So finicky about sizes!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season - I'm bummed it's over (sort-of), but looking forward to progress in this new year. Also, to add to the bummed feeling is the fact that I am still working full-time. One more week to go, and I will be switching to half time employment, which when added to my old painting regimen, will feel like full-time painting. At least here's hoping it does!

New Year, New Painting!

December 28th II. oil and acrylic on canvas. 8 1/2 x 20"

Happy New Year everyone - Best wishes for 2011!

Year in Review - 2010

I feel like lots has been accomplished this year, but that I also have so much undone stuff from this list that embarrassment is heading my way. So here you have it, my year in review!

Art-Related

I set out to create:

5 new 7 x 6" paintings

20 new 16 x 13" paintings

20 new 18 x 14" paintings

15 new 24 x 20" paintings

This is difficult to review, because of the fluctuations in my sizes, which I can never seem to get under control. I will put it like this:

small paintings - 26

medium paintings - 11

large paintings - 5

extra large - 1

So that brings me to a total of 43 paintings in 2010. The only problem with that figure is that it only accounts for paintings that got to stick around to see the light of day, it doesn't take into account for the...ahem, not-so-great paintings. My goal was 60 works and I think I may have hit 50-55 if I had counted the scrapped pieces. So not bad. I suppose I will give myself a pat on the back for that number.

Business-Related

Send out a large (researched) mailing of brochure/cover letter packets

Major fail here.

Send out 3 larger packets each season

Fail here as well. I think I sent out packets to a grand total of 4 galleries. I can and will do better than that. Which brings me up to the next point which is...

Receive representation at one gallery

As mentioned above, I only sent out 4 packets, which to no one's surprise, brought me no galleries.

Update mailing list quarterly

Check!

Schedule 2 solo shows for 2010

Yes, I am counting this item as a major success. At the beginning of the year, I had the exhibit at the Federal Building and the fall show at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley (which, due to the fact that I displayed 44 paintings - my largest show ever, will be counted for this category, even though it wasn't a solo exhibit)

Have 30 brochures printed quarterly

I had one printing of my brochure done, and have recently run out. There will be a new brochure coming soon!

Have 100 business cards printed

Check!

Update website at least once a week with new paintings and current events

Check!

Update blog at least once a week

This one isn't 100%, but I would give myself a solid B

Enter at least 3 juried shows within the year

Check. Fingers crossed for New American Paintings....I would need all the luck in the world for that to ever happen! I can't believe I even entered.

Improve upon my record-keeping system for inventory

Fail. This is definitely going at the top of my list for 2011, no doubt about it.

So there you have it, my 2010. Soon I will post my 2011 goals and a new painting(s) post, so check back soon. Happy New Year!

New Painting!

December 4th. oil and acrylic on canvas.

December 4th was completed after our 2nd snow of the year, I've been late to post it. It's been so unbelievably cold lately. I honestly don't know how people live in colder climates than mine! All I've wanted is to stay home and drink coffee all day long. So I've just been settling for espresso (and chocolate) in the evening. My husband makes the best:

I'm still developing small 8 1/2 x 10" paintings as I look ahead to the April exhibit at Slingluff Gallery. Seems to be slow but steady production, as I am still working full-time, and Christmas being around the corner and all. Which I am still not ready for - although yesterday was spent baking way too many Christmas cookies! I'm really looking forward to the new year, because January 1st will be my official start date for the new, 1/2 time day job! I daydream about it constantly, all the possibilities that two whole additional days will provide for painting - only a few weeks away...

Grantwriting Workshop/Gallery of Gifts Reception tomorrow!

November 1st. 9 x 12" oil and acrylic on canvas.

(one of several paintings on display tomorrow)

Just an FYI for anyone interested, Arts Monongahela is hosting a free grantwriting workshop for state art grants on Wednesday, December 15th from 3:00-5:00 at the Jackson Kelly Gallery, 201 High Street, Morgantown, WV. Presenting the workshop is the WV Division of Culture and History and the WV Commission on the Arts. For more info or to pre-register, contact Debbit Haught, community arts coordinator for the arts section, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 714 or email at debbit.r.haught@wv.gov.

Also, speaking of Morgantown events, a reminder about tomorrow's Gallery of Gifts reception at the MAC - a great place to pick out gifts (I bought the best ornaments there last year!) and grab a snack, refreshments will be provided!