2021 Goal Setting

Hey Creative Friend,

I’m doing another of my public sharing of my annual goals. You can find my 2019 goals here. I like to share my goals with you because it helps me be accountable and it encourages you to set your own goals. 

Each time I have shared my goals I get many people telling me how it helped them clarify what they wanted to do and how it inspired them to go for it. So, here’s hoping that my goals this year will get the wheels turning for you as well.

As I’ve explained in previous goal setting posts, you want to convert your goals to SMART goals to make them achievable. Please note that this isn’t the  SMART version of my goals.  It’s the version of my creative goals that’s easy to post here. 

So, let’s get into it.

Art Making

I’m planning to develop my portrait skills further and create an even stronger body of work. I might even take a class if I find the right one. Although at this point, I feel like what I need is more practice, not classes. I’m specifically looking at incorporating more patterns in the background of my works and improving my skills with rendering facial features. I’m also looking at being more playful with my portraits.  I want to move  beyond the bust to full figure portraits and multi-figure portraits. In addition to all that, I’ve also applied for some amazing opportunities that I’m really excited about. 

Online Store

In 2021, I plan to open my art shop so that I can sell prints. I’ve been receiving so many requests that I have to make this happen. I’ve started working on the online store front for my prints but I hit a snag when it came to taxes. I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to do with taxes. I called my state’s tax office. Didn’t go far with that one. I feel like if I could find someone to spend a few minutes with me I’ll be able to get that part sorted out. So that’s on my agenda for 2021

Educational Programs

I plan to update my existing educational programs because I believe in continuous improvement. I’ll incorporate the feedback I’ve received from my past students to keep improving my courses so that I can better meet the needs of creatives all over the world. I also plan to release  two new courses in 2021. As I like to say, teaching is my generosity engine. So, I look forward to using my educational programs to show generosity to some deserving folks. 

Exhibitions

This year, I don’t have any plans for a solo show. But who knows. If some great opportunities come up, I won’t turn them down.  I’ll keep submitting into group shows that are a good fit for my work. With regards to the regional Connecticut exhibition that I’ve been managing for the last 5 years, I’ll be giving it up this year. I feel it’s time to move on , seek other opportunities and do other things. I believe in supporting the arts. So I’ll find another way to support my art organization. It’s just not going to be as me being the exhibitions manager. 

Marketing 

Up until now, I haven’t promoted myself as a small business that much. It’s always been a blog. Now, I’ll like to not only set up and promote my art practice as a small business, I’ll also act like a business. My two main marketing tools until now, have been my website and by showing my work in exhibitions. This year, I want to do more. I plan to grow my Instagram following  and thereby increase the exposure of my art pieces. I’ll also look into paid advertising and some traditional and non-traditional media sources.

That’s a lot. I’ve got my work cut out for me in 2021.  It’s going to be another busy year for sure. Setting stretch goals makes me look forward. It makes me feel like there’s something to wake up to every day.

Although, this is all about creative goals, let me throw in one personal goal I hope to achieve in 2021. Drink no more than 2 cups of tea a day. That’s really going to be hard for me to do, I know. 🙂

Have you set your 2021 goals? Can you share some below? If you haven’t set your goals yet, what’s stopping you? How can I help?

Warmest Regards,