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Revitalize Your Art Before The New Year!

The Drawing Codex <thedrawingcodex@v.kajabimail.net> Sat, 30 Dec 2023 at 6:22 PM

Reply-To: <tim@thedrawingcodex.com>
To: <warpticus4@gmail.com>

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Greetings Fellow Artisan!

As the year draws to a close, it's natural for us artists to start

dreaming about the future...

As artists we're good at envisioning strange places, creatures, and

fantastical events, but sometimes, this imaginative strength can be a
double-edged sword.

Especially when it comes to setting our artistic goals!

It’s easy to come up with big ideas, and have them fall flat. I've
experienced this myself, swinging between disillusionment and
highly ambitious dreams.

I think the idea of a new year’s resolution has almost become a joke.
Often there is no real expectation of following through. It’s just empty
dreaming.

But I think this turn of the calendar is quite a good way to re-think our
progress. To revitalise our goals. To hit reset on our artistic journey if
need be.

To make sure we are going in the right direction!

So even though New Year’s Resolutions are kinda cheesy (and it might
not even be a thing in your part of the world!), there is something
there…

The key, I've found, is in crafting a meaningful plan with a proper

foundation.

It's about balancing lofty aspirations that motivate us with realistic,

measurable objectives.

Our ability to envision a great future is an asset we must harness wisely.

So what do we need as a foundation? How can we lay some solid

footing beneath our newfound desires?

Before we start dreaming up big goals and crazy ideas… it's crucial to
review your past year's progress. Understanding where you've been is
essential in charting a course for where you're going. Let's reflect on what
worked and what didn't, and appreciate our achievements.

When reviewing the past year, I like to consider these three areas:

1. Defining Your Artistic Goals (The Destination):

The first step involves identifying where you want to go with your art!
(Simple really...)

This includes creating an influence map or collection of images that

align with your artistic aspirations.

It's about understanding your major artistic influences and setting a clear
destination for your artistic journey.

The key is to do this visually. We are artists, we have visual goals. And
we should record them visually (that is to say, we collect images that
outline a visual direction, a visual quality, and or a visual feeling)

2. Check Your Vector: Are You Heading In The Right Direction

Towards Your Goals:

The second part of the process is about understanding the direction

you're headed in relation to your goals.

It’s crucial to assess whether your current artistic practice is moving

you closer to or further away from your desired destination.

This involves a careful examination of your current work and progress,

ensuring alignment with your long-term goals.

It's easy to drift from things that are important artistically. Be it from a
job or career choice which might not be 100% aligned with the art you
want to make.

Often being at a school or with a group of people who have different

artistic goals can make you forget who you want to be.

I have also had times where I have actually found my art has lost
something over the years. When I go back I realised there were
things I was doing in the past which I liked more than what I was
doing presently.

Looking back and checking your work actually aligns with your larger
aspirations can give you a lot of insight into your progress
3. Speed and Productivity:

The final component focuses on the pace at which you are moving
towards your goals.

It's about being honest with yourself regarding your productivity and
the effort you're putting into your art.

This part involves reflecting on your artistic output over the past year and
assessing whether it aligns with your expectations and aspirations.

You might realise you have actually done a lot once you go back and
check...

You might realise you have done almost nothing...

Either way (we are usually somewhere in the middle), it's important to get
a good gauge of your productivity and focus. As this will help with your
goal setting going forward.

If you want more detail to help you review your progress, you can check
out the latest episode of The Visual Scholar Podcast.

I delve into these aspects in much more depth, along with sharing
some of my own journey and analysis of my progress in 2023.

Check it out here!:

E25: Revitalize Your Art Progress! (The Annual Artistic Review)

Happy Drawing!

-Tim

P.S. Stay tuned for more content in the new year about setting goals
and building an artistic ritual. Getting these right early in the year can
lead to significant progress and fulfillment in your artistic journey.

P.P.S. I hope you are having a great holiday season!

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