Art Goal Creation, Opt In

A January Art Challenge...

This year in the studio we have monthly art challenges. The January challenge is Art Goals, where each artist creates and then shares her art goals. From my perspective this is a great challenge as many artists do not typically create personal art goals. However, I literally got an email from an artist that asked if MY goal was to make all of my art friends have goals. What? No, that is not my goal.  Goal creation is an optional exercise. My art goals are relevant to me, my art and my art business. Yes, you can opt out of art goals but why not opt in?

In order to lead an art goal discussion, I searched for art goals. I could not find many articles or professional art blog posts specific to art goals. Do most artists not have goals? Do they not talk or write about them? Hmm.

The main thing that I found online is that it is very important to write goals down; if it is not written down it is a HOPE. Somewhere I read that a person is 42 percent more likely to meet a goal if it is written down. Written goals give you something to work toward, to focus on, and should be used to motivate you. Goals should also be specific and have a timeline and deadline.

As I talked goals with my friends, we also talked about our inner critics, and how we are too hard on ourselves. One comment was “listen to constructive criticism not destructive,” an apt statement for artists.

My biggest art challenge and goal, yet again, is painting schedule--I need to get into the studio and paint more! I struggle with this and with tracking this, I am not getting in enough painting time. I tried a time tracker app last year to no avail. This year I am trying a notebook although I am open to ideas. How to best track my time and how to best get into the studio (room) and stay there?

I understand that many artists may resist goal creation or avoid goal creation --that is absolutely ok. I will not force you to make your goals, and I will not bug you about it! I enjoy thinking about what I what to accomplish this year, so I will opt in. And if you want to share, I would love to hear your art goals too! 

See My Art on Your Wall, VIRTUALLY

 Websites are so amazing these days and mine has a new fabulous feature where you can view what MY artwork would look like on YOUR wall! Amazing!

Here is how it works, so you can try and buy!

Steps to take to view my work virtually on the wall:

1. Go to my website. www.greenhandleart.com
2. Click on the image of work that you like. 
   
3. Then click (under the image) MORE INFO.

4. Next, click "ROOM"  where you can see my art on the wall. Here you can select which type of room (living room) and wall color. So easy, LOVE!

How great is that? My only wish was that you could see a frame on the art, then this feature would be perfection!

Be sure to check out this fantastic virtual room feature on my website! Go on give it a try!

Bone Chilling Cold & The Studio Painter

Landscape Potential in the winter months

It is snowing right now and while I love being outside and plein air painting, it is now officially (my opinion) too cold to plein air paint. The forecast is highs in 30s, lows in teens--without accounting for wind chill. BRR! Now that Winter is here, it is time to start thinking about studio painting.This is when I will sit down and scroll through my photographs, searching for those that have landscape potential.

All throughout the year, I take pics with my iphone, always looking for landscape potential paintings and images wherever I go. And often when I am out plein air painting I take multiple pics just in case I want to paint another view later. I have a big file folder on my computer for my landscape potential pics. It is always fun to scroll through looking for my next great studio painting.

There are pretty much two kinds of photos in my landscape potential folder, one is park and greenery (mostly tree and water pics) -- the other is urban landscapes which are buildings and storefronts. I have many more park pics than building pics because I feel that I still need to learn to paint urban landscapes.

I really want to take a painting urban landscapes workshop--but I have not found any workshops near me! Bummer!  I like the little towns and main streets near here, but I need to learn the painting rules for urban landscapes.

Last week my husband and I were out to dinner and we drove by this storefront that I have been wanting to paint for awhile. I love the building and storefront--but since this is on a main street there is not a good way to stand across from the building and paint--without blocking a small sidewalk. So, after dinner (and it was dark), I stopped by for some photographs. Hey, I love a good nocturne and the light and dark on this was fascinating. I painted this in the studio at home and am happy with how it turned out.

Reflections Of 2019

A Time to Reflect and to Start 2020 Goals

to help me: Time Tracking Journal & Pens

Looking back on my art for 2019, I feel that this has been a good professional art year for me. I stayed focused on painting more and on using more paint, my biggest overall goal. My art group and I had two large shows (back to back) -we had to create and frame and schedule it all. And, I balanced the portrait painting with painting en plein air.

A Review of  my Art 2019:

• I won an award early on at a juried show: Poetry And Art Night (PAN)
• I was juried into a Week Long plein Air Event in Texas
• I discovered a new professional organization - Portrait Society of America (PSA)
• I discovered new amazing national artists to aspire to at the PSA 
• I discovered a new favorite art tool - Oil Sticks
• Oil sticks are a turning point as it has changed my approach to art, and I am more inspired, more creative, and laying down more paint
• I have 4 smallworks landscapes juried into a show - Northville Art House
• I attended one portrait workshop and one plein air workshop. But I did not find an art workshop with an "Aspire To" artist. I identified my Aspire To Artists last year and have kept an eye on their websites in hopes that they post workshops.
• I sold paintings at two different shows! I had artwork in 8 shows this year (most juried)

Met Goals 

• Paint more/use more paint -- this has been number one for awhile. And yes, I still want to PAINT MORE!
• More plein air painting
• Consistent blog and website updating
• Sell larger work - sold a 12X16 portrait! 

Un-Met Goals:
Time Tracking App - hmm. My hubby helped me find a free time tracker app --that I tried to use, really!  My life gets so interrupted (Senoir dogs who had cancer and diabetes this year)!  I would forget to start the app timer and forget to stop it. Literally the minute I sit down at the easel, a dog barks to go outside or has a diabetes issue -every time! Since I am still a list maker (pen and paper), I just ordered supplies from amazon - a daily journal and some pens--  gonna try this 'manual time tracker'-- gotta figure out what works for me!

As I look back, I note happily that I  am getting stronger and more confident in the art world. And, I have lots of thoughts for my 2020 goals to improve as an artist...stay tuned...

Plein Air MY Heart

Fall 2019

The weather this fall has not been warm and lovely as it has in the past and yet I made a huge effort to get outside and plein air paint as I know that Winter is Coming! Being outside this fall I have mostly had issues with “breezy” as seriously weather forecasters, let’s call it what it is – gusty! Gusts are not conducive to plein air painting! In the past, there have been sunny calm 70s fall days, but that is not the case this year - bummer! Still, I know it will only get colder and greyer, I gotta get out while I can! 

One art friend and I have been trying to get together to plein air paint, she is a busy lady with many social commitments, its been tough. Finally, we made some time and some plans. We headed to downtown and the houses being hit with sunlight were so pretty! We each painted a different house on the street and it was really fun. Then we went back and painted one street over, where I found my skeleton in front of a cute little house. Love him! Always in this little town they decorate with skeletons in the fall, this time I had saw more skeletons than ever!

Then, I found a new plein air group and they meet twice a month which is thrilling! I was so glad to have found them. The first time I met them, the weather was not great, it frosted that morning and was breezy and cold! It was in the 40s—colder than I like to paint in. So I put on my thermal underwear, long sleeves, scarf, sweater, puffy coat, fingerless gloves, hand and feet warmers. I felt overdressed but with the breeze I was warm enough. And, I feel that I got a great painting and made new art friends!

In Gratitude

Dear Artists,

Thank you for being positive, giving, intelligent, determined, strong, prolific, energetic, thoughtful, talented artists and friends! You help me to grow and to want to improve as an artist. Your strengths and dedication to art help keep me going and inspired.  

I am so happy to have found such a wonderful art community, I love that you are all willing to share information, to mentor, to talk about art and art books, to critique. I love that you are all professional artists – art is more than a passion, it is a dedication, a willingness to learn and to grow and share and a determination to present your art to the world.

I have struggled hard to become an artist (I know we all have). When I moved here I felt very alone-- particularly in searching for like-minded people. I searched online looking for art classes, workshops and events (not finding much) and I attended community classes where I focused on art but it was hard making art friends. I was happy to have found the community center but it did not fulfill me. I needed MORE--more art discussion, more camaraderie, more inclusion, more ART! I have become more serious and stronger as an artist since I have found our art group.  

And, ‘M’ has keenly and quietly guided us to be stronger better artists who paint from life. Every time I go to a workshop or art event I hear the “Paint from life” mantra. I know artists who do not have access to a studio, who are not lucky enough to have the opportunities to paint from life (and it shows). Thank you ‘M’ for allowing the artists to descend on your studio every week. Thank you ‘M’ for always being a calm and gracious host. Thank you ‘M’ for sharing your art knowledge and your art library truly we are lucky to have such a tremendous and giving art resource.

Thank you for all that you bring to the studio each week. I value each of you and encourage you to keep making art and entering shows!

Working Toward a Moment

Me & my SOLD painting at the reception! 

My Moment: Gallery Art Reception 

I am sure I have mentioned this before, my art group and I have been working for the last year an a half for an art exhibit, all of us artists were working toward a moment. The exhibit is currently at the Padzieski Gallery in Dearborn until October 13th. I hope you get a chance to see it!

It was much time and dedication in order to create a a volume of work for our show. We worked extremely hard. As an artist, you want to show your very best work. Not every painting will be worthy of a show. I think I created about 40 works in anticipation of this show and 9 went into the show. Many of my paintings were iterations of the same pose. I have at least 2 versions of each pose. For the pose that I set up (my inspiration), it took me 4 paintings to get it right. Four! Also, after a year and a half, I was changing as an artist. I did not like my early works as much as I liked my later works; in several instances I worked from photos and earlier works to create newer more modern works in my more current style.

Once artwork is painted it almost is another beginning as the work still needs to be varnished, signed, and framed. Frame choice is very important, as display is critical. Lately I am loving a black frame with gold trim, but that doesn't work for all of my art. I had a lighter painting -lots of bright white and pastel colors and it needed a gold frame.

Finally, the moment arrived. The Opening Reception for our show at the gallery! I was beyond thrilled, not only at showing my work but also at seeing the works created by my fellow artists. Amazing, I was so impressed! I spent the entire Opening Reception meeting and greeting and talking to those who came to the gallery. Thank you all for showing up, I loved chatting with you! And, I was very pleased that our show had several sales--unusual but wonderful! Toward the end of the night, one of my paintings was purchased too! One of my best, newer paintings (in my mind) so I was very very happy that it sold! The Parisian sold and it is a proud moment for me as this was my painting from the pose that I set up -- my inspiration!

Time to celebrate! Oh wait, our next show opening is in two weeks! Off to ensure all those artworks are ready to go!