So yesterday’s post was all about looking back. Today’s post is about looking ahead and I couldn’t be more excited. I think all of us love the promise and possibility of a new year.  It’s obviously the whole clean slate thing.  I believe great things are in store for all of us in this New Year so get ready, get ready, get ready to receive your blessings! After you enjoy the music below keep scrolling to see my Creative Plan for 2012.

2012 Song/s:  Something’s Got a Hold of Me. Something’s Got a Hold on Me

I chose two songs for two reasons.  I selected James Cleveland because I have been hearing my grandmother’s voice in my ear a lot lately. Maybe it’s because our birthdays are coming up. She would have been 97 on 2.15.  She was a James Cleveland fan (a man who was musically waaaay ahead of his time just like she was a woman waaaay ahead of her time). So the James Cleveland song is for the two of us.  The second song is of course in recognition of the late, great Etta James who passed last week. I guess some would say that it is blasphemous for me to put these two songs together but they’ll get over it . For me, both songs are an inspiration. Both the artists and their music inspire me to  double down and aggressively pursue those things in which I strongly believe and have a passion for: family community and art. While I walk this path I pray that God keeps his hands on me.

2012 Word: MOVE

2012 Color: Thistle

Creative Plan  for 2012 (while also holding a wide space for things I can’t even imagine right now in this space and time)

***I borrowed the format below from Lisa Call. I really like how she tracks her time and lists her goals so I have reformatted my own process. In some instances I liked her goals so much that I adopted/adapted some of  them for my own studio practice. Both her blogs are a great resource and real inspiration.

Art:

• Studio Time – 1500 hours
• January through March focus on creating new work    I’m in full swing on this.
• Create new pieces for 5 shows
• Draw with pencil, clay, thread and floss throughout the year

 Writing:

• complete two articles
• complete manuscript

Art Business:

• Increase number of engaged fans on my fan page  [in other words, I don't just want to collect people, I want to build community]
• Write blog posts every 2 to 3 days
• Update social media (twitter, facebook, google+) 3 to 4 times a week on average
• Photograph & process images for artwork as completed
• create a spreadsheet to track my progress throughout the year       COMPLETE
• create a spreadsheet of key vendors for my work w/ability to track where I bought what      IN PROGRESS
• Schedule regular updates of new work to website as completed
• Complete bookkeeping monthly     YIKES but it’s got to be done.
• Update contact list monthly
• Update exhibit history as needed
• Update front page of website bi-monthly with a goal for monthly
• Update bio  DONE
• Update resume – midyear
• Update resume – end of year
• Update general artist statement
• Take 3 new workshops to expand my thinking and knowledge on key concepts related to my work  — Already signed up for one!

Personal:

• Taxes to accountant by end of February or sooner
• De-clutter my office, bedrooms and studio  (the office is done and the studio is in process)
• Read 50 new books  (COMPLETED 4 NEW BOOKS in 2012 that I have really enjoyed)
• Visit galleries,  museums, or art spaces at least once a month

Health

• maintain my Ashtanga yoga practice
• add walking/biking back in during the spring
• maintain new plant based/vegan/gluten-free menu (95 days and counting!!! I feeel good da na na na na na na)

As with last year, my goal in a nutshell is to keep growing and stretching and putting myself and my work out there.  I wish the same for you. May you experience an abundance of love, laughter and ART this year. Go on and sing your song.  Peace, Deborah and the Wildflowers