My Word of the Year 2024
January 1, 2024
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🥂
REFLECTING ON 2023…
At the beginning of 2023, I chose the word expand as my “word of the year.” That felt like a great way to capture the essence of my intentions for the year.
expand
verb
to increase or grow in extent, size, volume, scope, etc.
to spread out; unfold; develop.
to express something more fully or in greater detail.
So… did I meet those expectations? Accomplish my goals?
They were to:
Spend more productive time in my studio:
Consistent time, yes, pretty much. More productive? Not sure…
Create larger paintings:
Definitely yes!
Continue to develop the work; hone my craft:
This is an ongoing, never-ending part of the creative process (which I love!)
Create more paintings:
I’ll have to count…
And the only way to make better work is to create more work, so this is always an area for improvement
Discover new tools and try different techniques:
Yes
Show at more art fairs:
Yes
Increase my audience, and my connection with them:
Yes
Work on more commissions:
Yes
Improve my website:
Well, I have kept it up to date, added new content, and consistently tweak it… does that count? 🤔
What didn’t happen this year:
A regular meditation practice,
A consistent workout schedule,
Ditto a consistent house cleaning schedule
… oh well!
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024
So, now it’s time for me to choose my word of the year for 2024, and really think about how I want this next year to feel. Once again, I’ve had a tough time narrowing this down.
I’ve considered:
Clarity, Connection, Growth, Play, Discover(y)… but have finally decided on:
patience
noun
the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.
an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay:
to have patience with a slow learner.
First, and possibly most important, I really want to stop rushing to finish paintings. I want to spend more time creating freely and exploring, rather than concentrating so much on a finished product. Experiment. Take risks. Take time to sit with a piece to learn when it’s really, truly done. This will definitely require a willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance!
To quote Louise Fletcher, artist and co-host of the podcast Art Juice,
“Seeking the result is the very thing that stops you getting the result.”
Trust me. She’s right.
I also want to be patient when I start new work. I want to slow down. Take time to consider what my intention is rather than just jumping headlong into a new series. What is it I’m exploring? What is my line of inquiry? (A specific color palette? Abstracting a landscape? Interpreting the feeling of a specific place? Learning how certain marks and shapes interact?) I often find myself flailing about when I don’t take the time to do this, and I think it shows in the work.
(When I recognize this, out comes the sander, and a new painting emerges!)
I would like to be patient with learning, developing skills, and taking the time to play. Time playing with new ideas is a great way to improve, but it often feels indulgent or even pointless. I really want to prioritize this, which for me, will require “quiet, steady perseverance.”
Do you have resolutions for the new year?
A word, intentions, ideas you’re striving to achieve? I’d love to hear if you enjoy this yearly reflection and look ahead as much as I do. Send me a message!
Now, off to fill in my shiny new planner…!
(For you planner geeks like me who might be curious what I’m using, it’s a LEUCHTTURM1917 Dotted Notebook.)
