Know where you're starting from

Have a journal specifically for the new year, and on one of the first pages write down:

how many artworks you created in 2021, how many days a week (or hours, etc) you created art, how many art challenges did participated in, etc.

You can even write down your follower count if that's something you want to grow in 2022.

And if you have an art business (or want to), I share other things you can write in your journal and more tips on planning the best year for your art business in a video HERE.

Reflect on 2021 & the future

Before you make your 2022 goals, you should do some reflection!

Take out your journal and follow these prompts:

What went well in 2021?

What didn't go well in 2021?

If I could redo 2021, what would I do differently?

What were some important lessons I learned?

How can I make 2022 better?

What does my best year look like?

What do I need to start doing?

What do I need to stop doing?

Where do I see myself/ my art at the end of 2022?

Where do I see myself/my art in 2, 5, 10 years?

Make 2022 goals for your art

Be sure that your goals are specific, feasible, and to have a deadline.

For example: I want to create 22 finished paintings by November 2022 - that's two a month January thru November.

Write in your 2022 journal how many artworks you would like to create. And then break that number down into how many you would like to create each month.

And remember, have that number be reasonable! You don't want to burn yourself out.

You can have your number be at least the amount of art you created in 2021, and if you feel like you will be able to create more than that number, increase it!

And based on what you wrote in point one (know where you're starting from), make goals for the new year!

So if you participated in 2 art challenges, maybe this year you'll increase that goal to 3 (pss..there's a new art challenge starting soon! more on that later).

Another tip: based on where you see yourself and your art in the future (the previous point), your goals for 2022 should align with where you see yourself later on.

For example, let's say you see your future self making large, abstract paintings in a few years. But one of your goals for 2022 is to get better at realistic art. That doesn't align!

Some final thoughts...

One of the BIGGEST lessons I learned when it comes to making goals for my art (and business), is to make one new, BIG goal a year.⁠

⠀ ⁠⠀ If we have a lot of BIG goals or even a lot of tiny goals, it's overwhelming, stressful, and will lead to burnout.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀

You don't want to thin yourself out! It's best to put all your energy, focus, and time into one new, BIG goal...⁠⠀ ⁠⠀

Rather than dividing your energy and focus among many goals.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀

You'll achieve your goal(s) quicker, the fewer you have.⁠⠀

What's your one new, BIG goal for 2022? ⁠⠀

I also want to remind you that it's okay if your goals change! Most likely they will.

Every single year I make goals, I've found that many of them change.

Sometimes we pivot directions and that's okay!