Much of what I want to do in 2010 is very similar to 2009 - which was stated in Making A Mark in 2009 - The Plan. So I'm going to separate the post for 2010 into two sections:
MY GOALS FOR 2010
As before, these fall into five groups. What I've done this year is reorder them in order of interest and priority - which recognises that I'm interested in the making or art and I like creating but I have two absolute passions for learning and sharing. (Did I ever tell you all that my first degree is in Education?)
LEARNING: To look at and learn more about art which I find stimulating.
OK - This is where it gets fun - as I anticipate two major projects in 2010 both of which are ones which I think can be interactive
Theme: Landscapes
This is about developing my knowledge of a genre which I've been interested in for a long time. For the purposes of the project this includes marine art and some elements of urban landscapes. Mine is an approach which leans more towards curatorial. I'm looking for the excellent which already exists rather than trying to reinvent the wheel!
Activities:
- a reminder of the Headlines in terms of overall goals - and how this works in terms of principles
- specific activities for 2010
MY GOALS FOR 2010
As before, these fall into five groups. What I've done this year is reorder them in order of interest and priority - which recognises that I'm interested in the making or art and I like creating but I have two absolute passions for learning and sharing. (Did I ever tell you all that my first degree is in Education?)
- LEARNING: To look at and learn more about art which I find stimulating. I'm not trying to understand all art. I don't mind if the stimulation is to the eye, brain or heart. I just want to know more about the art which arouses a response in me and I'm interested in pushing the boundaries
- SHARING: To celebrate what's good in art and to share it with others - whether it's art, artists, art techniques or art supplies. This is a major theme of my life. It's who I am and what I like to do. Sharing has many facets
- DOING: To make art worth making. I'm more interested in doing better than doing more of the same. I'd like to be able to get what's in my head down on paper! I'd like to get past the feeling that I can't start because it won't be good enough - I know I have to start somewhere! In 2010 I'm going to focus more on the genre that interest me.
- SHOWING: To show artwork because it merits display rather than because it's the thing to do. I much prefer seeing exhibitions to submitting work to them!
- SELLING: To gear selling activity to income targets and the realities of the marketplace. This continues to be a low priority. On the other hand there is rather a lot of art which is occupying lots of space in my home....
Life is too shortOk on to themes and activities - grouped according to the goal which is driving them in 2010.
The journey is the reward
The original and the best
Variety is the spice of life
There are no shortcuts!
'Good enough' is good enough.
What goes around comes around
You get out what you put in
LEARNING: To look at and learn more about art which I find stimulating.
OK - This is where it gets fun - as I anticipate two major projects in 2010 both of which are ones which I think can be interactive
Theme: Landscapes
This is about developing my knowledge of a genre which I've been interested in for a long time. For the purposes of the project this includes marine art and some elements of urban landscapes. Mine is an approach which leans more towards curatorial. I'm looking for the excellent which already exists rather than trying to reinvent the wheel!
Activities:
- develop a site for the landscape project (quick divert for 10 minutes - new sites for the new project are now (ning)DONE and (Blogger)DONE!)
- work out what might be the best way forward for the group and/or interactive aspect - comments and/or questions are welcomed on this aspect
- develop a better knowledge of the history of landscape painting and different landscape movements in different parts of the world ((eg UK, France, Germany, France, USA, Australia)
- find out more about specific landscape artists (eg JMW Turner, Constable, the Barbizon School, Impressionists, Hudson valley painters, German, Austrian and Australian painters) - I'll be doing a post soon identifying all the landscape artists I've identified to date that I'm interested in. For those familiar with past projects we might tackle this aspect co-operatively if you're interested.
- find out more about contemporary landscape painters and work out what I like best and why
- interview contemporary landscape painters
- look at other people who have developed landscape series eg about rivers or lakes or valleys or about a specific area
- learn about how media has changed/been influenced by landscape art
- identify different 'how to' approaches for landscape art and =identify/link to other people's resources (which means you can help me here if you are a 'source' or know one of them)
- read a lot - art history, art instruction
- view a lot of landscapes in books, online and in exhibitions - plus review all the photos I took in the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay (guess who knew what she had planned for 2010!)
- visit as many different places as I can eg Hampstead Heath, up and down the River Thames, East Bergholt, Walberswick, Cornwall(?), Tuscany(?)
- see if I can get to see Turner's sketchbooks in real life at Tate Britain
Activities:
- develop my drawing skills using a more structured project rather than good intentions!
- regular drawing exercises - like doing scales for artists!
- I know where this one is going - I just don't know if I can do what I'd like to do as yet so will post more when I've sussed this out
SHARING: To celebrate what's good in art and to share it with others - whether it's art, artists, art techniques or art supplies.
In general terms, in 2010 it's going to be 'more of the same' There will be a continuing focus on developing how I can share what I learn and learning from others who share what they do. I'll be sharing information by:
I'll also continue to contribute to group blogs 'Urban Sketchers' and 'Watermarks', be the blogmaster for UKCPS News and be an active member of 'Sketchercise'
Theme: Landscape Art
Activities:
Theme: Advanced Drawing
Activities:
Blogging is a very creative process for me and the blog posts often help me find useful information and sort out problems I'm trying to tackle. However I need to
Activities:
In general terms, in 2010 it's going to be 'more of the same' There will be a continuing focus on developing how I can share what I learn and learning from others who share what they do. I'll be sharing information by:
- writing Making A Mark Guides
- reviewing exhibitions
- writing book reviews
- writing blog posts about artists and developing resources for art lovers information sites
- writing blog posts about media and reviews of art materials and developing resources for artists information sites
- writing about art business, the art economy and blogging for artists - and developing associated guides and information sites
- highlighting - in 'who's made a mark this week' - all the other good people who share their knowledge, skills and information on their art blogs
I'll also continue to contribute to group blogs 'Urban Sketchers' and 'Watermarks', be the blogmaster for UKCPS News and be an active member of 'Sketchercise'
Theme: Landscape Art
Activities:
- regular blog posts on the topic of landscapes in art
- publish three new information sites concerning landscapes:
- (A history of ) Landscape Paintings
- How to paint a landscape
- The Best Books about Landscape Painting
- publish information sites about individual landscape artists
Theme: Advanced Drawing
Activities:
- update the Big Drawing Book Review with more books about drawing
- book reviews (this can be a collaborativ project as before if people are interested - do let me know)
Blogging is a very creative process for me and the blog posts often help me find useful information and sort out problems I'm trying to tackle. However I need to
- become even more organised about my approach to blogging!
- draft, complete and post about sketching trips/holiday much nearer the time
Activities:
- Develop a one day sketching workshop for novices based in London
- test market and then decide whether to extend offer of workshop to other venues
- scout out one possible overseas venue for a longer workshop - with a twist
DOING: To make art worth making
Theme: Mixed/Dry Media
Activities:
Activities:
Activities:
Theme: Exhibitions to enter work
Activities
Theme: Mixed/Dry Media
- continue to explore media for achieving the effect I want
Activities:
- continue to be involved with Sketchercise and to do lots more walking and sketching
- continue to sketch water
- improve my sketching of birds
- develop porfolio of work for RWS Friends show
Activities:
- continue Ecology Pond series
- develop another landscape theme
- develop landscape "trails"
Activities:
- determine different size for formats - and fix on metric or imperial!
- complete series for Mission Trails exhibition
Theme: Exhibitions to enter work
Activities
- compile schedule of dates and deadlines of all art exhibitions
- work out what my deadlines need to be and get it all down on the calendars
- Drawing London / Mission Trails (San Diego) - groups shows (booked)
- SBA / UKCPS - Yes
- SFA ? Do cats fit with everything else I want to do? (At the moment I'm thinking no)
Theme: publication of e-books
- work out economics of e-books and then decide on a course of action re time budgets etc
Acvitities
- market Barbican and Mission Trails exhibitions
- highlight SBA and UKCPS shows on blog
- finish setting Etsy Shop up properly
- think about a dedicated art for sale blog
I'll be listing other people's 2010 plans in "who's made a mark this week?" on Sunday. If you've got a blog post about your 2010 plan do let me know - no matter what the format or how long or short it is. It can be a twitter with three words if that's what works for you!
Katherine, with regard to your interest in the history of landscape painting and styles, I would highly recommend David Dunlop's series "Landscapes Through Time". He does 13 episodes on site where Money, Van Gogh, Cezanne, the Hudson River School painters, Turner, and more, lived and painted. He does an historical overview, paints a quick demo in their style with their palette, and assists a student at that location with their work. Very informative, very entertaining, very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your 2010 goals ... it is interesting to see how others structure their goals. I have a 2010 goals post, posted today. Would love to be included in your round up.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of make art that is worth making and concentrating an building skills.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I am very excited about your Landscape project!
ReplyDeleteI think you need to expand your list of countries to include Canada. Canada was making history - influenced by, but, unique from the European Fauves. Artists were essentially defining the country with landscape art - way ahead of the Americans at the same time. Tom Thomson, Lawren Harris (Group of Seven), Emily Carr - some of the most influential artists of the early 20th century were carving out a new Canadian art that has had an influence around the world. From Lake Superior, the Arctic to the front during WW1 - it's extremely interesting and defining work for the landscape genre.
I just posted my review of 2009 and preview of 2010 goals on my blog "Artscapes". Thanks for asking and Happy New Year! http://www.artscapes.ca/blog/2010/01/01/2010-goals/
I will be very interested in the information you will share about landscape painting, as the landscape has long been an important interest of mine. Currently I am most interested in the American Transcendentalists and their relation to the Hudson River School painters. So any book reviews or other resources will be so appreciated. I did blog about my goals for 2010 here
ReplyDeletehttp://nemcoskyart.blogspot.com/2009/12/100-paintings.html
although this may not be relevant to your interest.
I always love reading through other people's goals on their blogs. After writing a bit list of things for 2009 and failing at most (but not all) of them, I decided to lower my expectations a bit for 2010. I still consider 2009 to be a big success for me though, it's just that my stated goals in the beginning of the year didn't quite stay the same thoughout the year.
ReplyDeleteI too am delighted to read of your interest in landscape painting and look forward to that for 2010.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for your always excellent blog.
Love,
Linda
Wow, very comprehensive plans in the making for 2010. I will look forward to seeing them unfurl as the year moves ahead.
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun to see how a yearly posting of my art goals, what I've called "2006 (fill in correct year) The Plan", begun five years ago, has been taken up by others, especially you! Yay! My plans since that first year have been a bit less multifaceted and detailed, though not by much ( I haven't changed my personality, after all ;D) I've learned that the utility of formulating clear goals and directions with my art has the paradoxical effect of freeing me to get work done. I don't fumble to find the next thing to do, because I know, generally, where I'm going. My water theme, now in its third year, is broad enough to allow me to be both playful and focused all at once. For my own art plans to be useful, there must be a balance between clearly thought out directions and accommodation for side trips and meanderings. The water theme is perfect in that regard.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your exciting, ambitious new plan! I'll be following your progress with great interest---of course, I always do!
Happy new year, dear Katherine.
Old habits die hard! :)
ReplyDeleteI've actually written annual and medium term plans for services in very large organisations for years and years - they just used to have many millions of pounds attached as the financial budget!
What I've found interesting is losing some of the approaches I routinely used to use while retaining others I've personally found useful.
I also find it interesting to identify the people whose genes predispose them to the five year plan with outcomes/outputs (that'll be me!) and those that work best when sticking to a few very clear goals and targets and then being very adept at adjusting to the context of how things change.
What I am very clear about is that whatever approach is used for planning, finding one which works for you generally delivers a better result than not doing anything at all.
I've yet to emulate my chum Maggie Stiefvater though - who told me five years ago that her dream was to make it to the New York Times best seller list and then made it this year - and has stayed on it for the last 20 odd weeks! She is somebody who really understands the value of goals and breaking them down into achievable targets - and how to do it all while working from home and raising two babies!
I forgot to mention - the new landscape blog has now acquired a blogroll and its first post!
ReplyDeletesee The Art of the Landscape http://art-landscape.blogspot.com/
Hi Katherine,
ReplyDeleteFabulous post - as has been said before it's just so detailed! I hope you succeed in achieving them!
My own goals for 2010 are only three specifically related to art - I've blogged them here - http://wp.me/p3GNp-2d
Warm regards
Janice-Marie
Jamie and Michell - thansk for the comments about the landscape art project
ReplyDeleteI took a look at the David Dunlop series and I'd already identified most of the areas/artists for the project. I wonder if his series travels outside the USA - are there still issues about what will play on what (I never know the answer to these things!)
Michell - I have a book full of notes for the landscape art project. On one page I started off with notes about the USA and areas where landscape art developed but changed it to North America because of all the Canadian artists about whom I know nothing! Thanks for your comments.
Katherine, yes, David Dunlop does film in Europe for the segments that feature those European artists. The Monet episode takes place (of course!) in Giverny, France. The Turner segment is filmed at the Harbor of Honfleur in Etretat, France. Van Gogh at St. Remy , France; Cezanne at Mont St. Victoire, France; Renoire at Cagnes Sur Mer.
ReplyDeleteIf you need any location photos for your segments on the Hudson River School painters, just let me know; Many of them are right near me. I'd be happy to contribute a few pics for your project. (You can actually see our property from one of the locations in the video!)
I have no idea what plays on what system, so I can't help you with that technical part of it!
Well I was sat in Giverny sketching the garden in October, failed to persuade my sister to go to Honfleur which I've never visited but would like to. I think another trip to Normandy would be in order at some point
ReplyDeleteI've actually done the Van Gogh trail at St Remy - and stood on the spot where he painted the paintings. Plus I've seen Mont St Victoire from a distance - but I've no idea whether I was in the right place to view as Cezanne did. I did visit his studio though! :)
Thanks very much for the offer of photos re the Hudson Valley painters - I'll be sending you an invite to the ning community very soon!
I wish I was this organised with my plans and goals. Your post inspired me to set up some of my own which I've posted here: http://juliebroom.wordpress.com/2010/01/03/happy-new-year/
ReplyDeleteIt's not a long post but it took a long time to come up with a concise list of what to focus on from all the creative possibilities!
Just the idea of getting into the Tate to view Turner's sketchbooks gives me goosebumps. Please share with us if you do.
ReplyDeleteI will now check out your new landscape blog. Congrats on the new genre.