Eyes Forward

Every year I make up a studio log calendar to track how many days I’m getting in my studio.

In 2018 I got in my studio a beautiful 247 days!

This is a major improvement over the 2017 where I was in the studio 180 days. The improvement of showing up in the studio is more than just the numbers. I can see the additional days in evolution of my paintings and how the imagery and energy has become more nuanced.

Those extra two months I got in 2018 pushed me in ways I hadn’t expected. My studio space became more organized. My confidence to reach out to new collectors soared. And my love for this trade has only grown.

Every year I come up with a new motto. The motto is something I refer to with every decision I make and every goal I pursue. In 2018 my motto was No Brakes. I needed some fire under me, so with this motto I was taking every opportunity and really pushing myself towards creating as much as I could. This didn’t mean not taking a break: I traveled and took a day off every week- it’s important to rest! The idea was more: ‘There is no stopping.’ Last years motto served me well and I wanted to play off of it for 2019.

Eyes Forward

Eyes Forward is for looking at the long game. I’m asking myself “Does this choice lead me towards my goals in the future? Is it leading me to good ideas, relationships, and mental/physical well being?” It’s for leaving the past in the past and choosing to take actions that aren’t tainted with negative experience. It’s for looking at the long game. Who do I want to be in a year, five years, fifty years? :)

I have a specific goal starting for this year that I’ll really need to keep my Eyes Forward on. I’ll be blogging a lot about my process and my ideas for how to make it work in the upcoming months. Hope you join me!

Take care,

Stephanie