Tuesday, January 01, 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2008 and Art Goals

As dawn breaks and brings in a new year, I wish for you all the joy, prosperity, creativity, and love that 2008 can bring.

I thank each of you for your continued encouragement, support and friendship, and may I offer the same to you in your art journey. Your kindnesses have kept me picking up my pencil and paintbrush and I sincerely thank you for such generosity of spirit and heart.

My Art Goals for 2008:

* Sketch/paint daily – It’s the only way I know to improve!

* Practice more faces and figures – I’ve been reluctant to do these – they take more time and thought than I usually have but I really need to tackle this subject, for doing faces tells me when I’m really SEEING and SKETCHING what is in front of me!!

* Practice more landscapes – with my involvement in a plein air group this year, I’d like my plein air paintings to improve

* Sketch the everyday - Learn to SEE and PAINT as an artist would – not simply to render the scene – but the feeling and drama of what I love and what I’m painting …

* Continue to work through the many art books on my shelves!

* Practice more values and perspective

* LOOSEN UP!!

* Increase my economy of line and sketching speed - In order to do this, I will have to focus on SKETCHING during the workweek and PAINTING during the weekends when I have more leisure time. I noticed these last two weeks off, that I really NEED that extra time to let the paint dry between washes, THINK and PLAN what I’m doing, etc., and I just don’t have that kind of leisure during the workweek…. So I’ll have to TRY to be satisfied with practicing my sketching and quick paintings at work and spend time on the weekends for more polished paintings.

* Continue to use richer colors – especially DARKS.

* Sketch more things of meaning – and WRITE more in each of my journal entries.

* Study more art theory such as composition, the things that make a painting more dramatic or eye-catching, what makes a good still-life, how to increase the light in a painting, etc., etc.

* I don’t want to focus on particular subjects to paint, but would rather leave that open to painting those things that are ‘meaningful’ in some way.

*And no matter what, get in as much EXERCISE as SKETCHING!!

* And as always: PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE

Here's to 2008!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

18 comments:

caseytoussaint said...

Great goals Lin - and if anyone is disciplined enough to accomplish it all, it's you!
Your painting is an absolutely perfect illustration for this post.
Happy New Year Lin!

Nina Johansson said...

Gorgeous painting, and great art goals. It´s so interesting to read everybody´s plans for 2008. Yours are very ambitious, and seem well thought through. I wish you all luck with fulfilling the goals, and as productive as you are, I have no doubt that you will!

Anonymous said...

I loved reading your goals - it is inspiration from EDM members like you that keep me sketching/painting daily. Your painting today is fabulous - I can really see a difference in your landscapes this year. Happy New Year and best wishes for happy fulfillment of every goal.
Shirley
http://www.paperandthreads.com

Carol C said...

Great goals, Lin.....do you mind if I copy them for me? Nah.....I don't have the discipline to make them work! But I love the way you've progressed, this year especially. You are an inspiration! Happy New Year to you!--Carol C.

Ann said...

Those are a lot of great goals. And I love your paintings too! All the best for a Happy New Year and much success with your 2008 art goals!

Lorraine said...

Oh Lin, what a beautiful way to begin the day and the new year. Your painting is just gorgeous! And all those goals, as sick as you've been -- you amaze me girl!

The happiest of new years to you and may we all be enriched by our creative efforts and the continued hope of a more peaceful world.
Hugs,
Lorraine

Tami said...

This sunrise is OUTSTANDING! I love the colors in the background against the dark branches.

Great goal list!

mARTa said...

Your constant support has been so encouraging to me! It has been such a treat to almost daily find new things on your blog; you are a diverse and talented artist. May your creative soul continue to flourish this year!

Laura Frankstone said...

Your painting is heartbreakingly lovely, Lin. Happy new year to you. I'm so confident you will be able to achieve great things. Today's painting shows how very far you have come in the past couple of years.
Xoox,
L

Lindsay said...

Happy New Year Lin. Wow, what a big list.....I know you'll do it too. It;'s been lovely visiting your site and all the best to you in 2008

Karen Sandstrom said...

Happy new year, Lin. This is one of the best paintings you've done yet! And I have no doubt there will be more to come. Just look what you've accomplished in a couple of years. So fun to watch.

Bonny said...

Happy New Year, Lin!

You've set yourself quite a list of goals. Somehow I don't think you'll have much of a problem keeping up with them!

Good Luck and all the best for 2008!

Teri said...

Awesomely stunning painting!! WOW!!! You really don't need any goals Liin, you have done so much and so well since you started sketching and painting. I know you will achieve whatever your heart dictates.

Linda said...

Lin, what a wonderful way to start the year! This painting is fabulous -- the light just POURS from it. Your goals are great, and I know you will follow through with them! (I'm going to try to remember your devotion to drawing this year when I feel my own resolve slipping ...)
:-D

Anonymous said...

Happy New year to you Lin...may all your goals give you great pleasure! A beautiful painting to accompany your goals. I'm looking forward to this year
s journey with you!
Ronell

Genine said...

Lin , this is awesome!! love the color and light

Anonymous said...

Even your goals show huge growth! And with your determination, persistence and dedication I know you'll meet them all.

Carole said...

Happy New Year, Lin! Good luck with your art goals - you've made terrific progress so far, and with your motivation I'm confident that you'll achieve your goals for 2008.

This painting is atmospheric and beautiful. It is one of my favourite winter scenes - dark trees against a rosy sunset.