Creative Resolutions Giveaway
Each year, I ask readers of this blog to set some creative goals for the new year. And they do. Read the resolutions for 2011 and 2010, and you’ll see hundreds of hopes for the coming years.
So, it’s that time of year again—time to make some creative resolutions for 2012. Leave a comment on this post, telling me what your creative goals will be. Decide to conquer a technique or medium, learn a new skill, or set aside more time for personal artwork, and put your decisions in writing. One comment per person, please, and your comment must be limited to goals for creative pursuits.
On January 1st, I’ll close the comments on this post, and draw names from the list of people who have posted resolutions. Each name I draw will win a free six month subscription to The Monthly Muse (or six month renewal if you’re already a subscriber).
If 10 people leave comments, I’ll draw one name. 20 comments, two names. For every ten comments, I’ll draw another name, so spread the word, because the more people who make resolutions, the more subscriptions I’ll give away. Post a link to this post on your blog, or email it to your favorite online art groups.
Comments are closed.
102 resolutions mean I owe you 10 free subscription winners—and here they are:
Linda Conover
Phoebe D
Susan Salyer
Lisa Jacob
Linda Jowers
Jeneen (Weekes1066)
Shelby (Shelbyparker01)
Adriann (adriann7)
Kelly (kshannoka)
Patty (animatarian)
I’ll email you today with instructions for completing your subscription.
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And to get us started, I’ll post my own creative resolutions:
I want to spend more time ‘doing’ than thinking & planning, cleaning & organizing!
I plan on creating art daily in my art journals this year.
I also plan to start teaching art journaling classes.
I resolve to spend more time creating instead of worrying about how I can make it perefect and then never trying!
I want to get brave enough to actually sign my artwork and, like many others, get over the fear of showing that work. I also want to do what I’ve read here – just make something and do so every day. It’s time to stop behaving as if I can’t do anything at all if I am not attempting to create a masterpiece. It’s time to put fun back into creativity and stop making creativity “work.”
My inner critic was out and about in 2011.
I hope that I will not listen in 2012 and I’ll do what I love no matter what.
I will finish every one of the quilting-related UFOs around here. Somehow. Even if it isn’t a quilt at all when I am finished!
Xa Lynn
I want to make time to do more art journaling and I Really want to Make something artful with the glass jars I’ve been saving! Just more art more art more art!!
Well here goes with the New Years Resolutions:
I resolve to undertake the following before the end of 2012.
1. To get up the courage to sell my work and build a professional business portfolio.
2 To make one room of the new home an Art Studio.
3. To save enough to buy the PC that will be able to handle all my graphic art applications.
4.Open my own store on Etsy.where I can sell my own work and the extensive collection of graphics I have accumulated over the years.
5.Find a patron, someone who will be able to give me guidance about how to organise printing companies, websites in the Art domain.
6. Get back into making jewellery and have a dedicated work space for all my beds, fittings etc within the Studio.
7. To cure myself of Agoraphobia and be able to take and sell my art and jewellery at the local markets.
8. Save an buy Filter Forge 3.0 to work with in Adobe.
Well I think that about covers it I have a few non Art related personal resolutions that are for me to know and act upon.
Cheers Julz
I hope to be brave enough to share my art with others and not keep it all to myself.
I want to do at least one art journal page a week, and participate in more random acts of artsy kindness.
I want to be more faithful in my gluebook/journaling. I want to write one sentence and glue at least one piece everyday.
I seriously need to clean up my working space(s); after 6 weeks of illness and last minute church bazaar madness, I have far too many unstable piles of “stuff” and hazy recollections of what I have! As always, I want to expand my bookbinding skills and tighten up the skills in that area that I already have.
Wonderful topic.
Just because I do paper crafts, I’ve been told it isn’t real art.
But it makes me happy. I need more joy. So resolve to stop listing to the critics and play whenever I can.
Use supplies already have. (Really need to cut down on this shopping part)
Put up work for sale and actually allow myself to sell it.
I will focus on getting my studio finished and set up. Now that I am semi-retired I Then I resolve to make time in each day to be creative and use the numerous supplies I have acquired through the years. I also plan to sell my handmade license plate books, star books and journals.
USE WHAT I HAVE is my mantra for 2012. My studio is filled with wonderful goodies but I’m alway off buying the latest and greatest, I’ve decided to use what I have and buy less this coming year.
My goal is to do, or work on, some artwork each day.
I’m going to focus on keeping a personal journal to deal with and resolve some issues and circumstances that have negatively changed my life. I have been wanting to do this for 2 years and never had the courage to begin. In 2012, I will face these issues.
Most importantly, I am making a small journal to record what I am thankful for each day. I will begin on January 1, 2012 and continue through to December 31. I will focus on the positive things in my life rather than negative circumstances; just a sentence or two about the things for which I am thankful.
My muse is ready for a creative 2012. Ideas are busting at the seams, but there is always room for more. I see a studio re-org early in the year.
I want to do something creative everyday, whether it’s an art journaling/ gluebook type of thing, or another project.
I’d really like to sell some of my work, whether in an etsy store, or craft fair type thing.
I really need to go through my stash and get rid of the things I know I’ll never use and sell, swap, or donate them.
I will reorganize my supplies so that I can grab what I want without having to move boxes or search in the back of the closet. (very difficult, as I have very limited space, but there must be a better way to store everything)
I would really like to get more done! That will probably mean a little less computer and TV series time for me. Just gotta do it!
I will make at least 3 garments for myself by March; that means that I must learn how to adjust a pattern to fit my rather short, stout, asymmetrical body.
I will make at least one item for charity (charity quilt, pillowcases, personal hygiene items, preemie items) every month. I have been fortunate all these years and it is time to give back while doing something I really love to do.
Thank you and I am looking forward to exploring your site more thoroughly. Happy Holidays!
I just discovered steampunk and love it! I have a few supplies and will be making my first necklace!
For 2012, I want to explore new creative avenues. I’m a hot glass artist, mostly making lampwork beads and small figures, and that’s about all that I do, creatively. Plus making jewelry using my beads. I’d really love to spend some time doing many of the artistic things that have snagged my imagination over the years, instead of just daydreaming about doing them. And….using up all of the supplies, goodies, and “treasures” that I have stashed all over the house. Less shopping and more stash-busting!!!
I resolve to finish more projects,,both my steampunk ones + new ones im planning in the future. I also plan on teaching steampunk for friends who want to learn more about it.
I want to also FINALLY organize my craft room…+ after 12 yrs I want to finally put together my scrapbook of my trip to Scotland
I say this every new year- to use up what I already have at home. Instead of shopping, shop in my own stash which should give me more time to be at home using my stash. Try to learn to use orange which is a color that I don’t like. Inventory everything that I have so that I’m not buying duplicates. Not to feel competitive meaning why can’t my art be more like someone’s else.
I am resolving to take more art classes and to set aside time to create each week. I am going to attempt to schedule art time as an appointment with myself so I keep my resolution~I hope! Happy new Year Lisa and to all the amazing ladies of the design team!
Hope to have my exit strategy for leaving my day job completed by end of first quarter 2012. I DID sign up for a weekly logbook with scrap challenges class as well as some other online art classes. My 2012 goal is to actually take the time to work through these classes. Believe my 2012 word will be BECOME. I’ve been so much for others for so long, this year I want to work on becoming all I am meant to be for myself. Multimedia art is a big part of who that woman is. No more overwork excuses – just make time to become all I can be.
If days could have 48 hours, I am sure all my plans could be done!
I would like to keep going like I do and enjoy making all the artwork
and sharing in the groups.
Would like to have more time learning more about how to work with the computer
and keep on going to the gym and lose a little more weight.
My creative resolution is start on the book inside me! :^)
I’m aiming to document more – either through photos or journalling or both, to use up the treasure stash, to practice old skills and to let go of more stuff!
I want to be concrete in creating work:
Draw or sketch every day
Get better, more confident, at art quilt design and free motion quilting
Do a series of silk screen prints on landscapes in Western New York
Find and do an art show- either outdoor or a gallery
Keep in touch with a few active creative artists
Catalogue my work digitally
I want to start a 30 day drawing challenge to get me drawing everyday.
Finish project 52 from this year (I stopped at 32, I will be working on it well into the new year) and make a book of the pictures.
Paint more and don’t be afraid to paint without drawing it in first. Just play.
Work on new techniques for my art journal.
Make some ATC’s
And the scariest goal of all — start trying to either display my work in coffee shops/ or the like or even sell it. Eeek.
Being newly retired & not in very best of health, I have a quite a few “projects” slated to the new year. You know those things you wanted to get completed if you were retired and didn’t have to go to work every day list. I think my biggest challenge is to get started on a different routine than I had when I worked. Resolutions never worked for me – so I make a list “goals” to work on, I usually get most of them completed before the beginning of the next year. I think my biggest goal is to stop collecting and to use it.
My goal for this year is to teach more and share my art techniques with others and also make my blog a learning blog with tips, techniques and step by step photos.
Thank you Lisa for encouraging all of us to ‘put it in writing [concrete]‘, and not just let our, dare I say ‘resolutions,’ be floating vaguely around in our thoughts. Mine are: To stop being so critical of my work. To enter daily a note in my art journal & blessings journal. To try new techniques instead of just saving the publications, websites & materials. To never stop learning. To start the Master Gardner classes in Jan 2012 with a positive attitude of ‘I am not too old to learn & contribute.’
I have several art-related goals for 2012:
1) complete my office clean-up before the end of January, including new shelving, and other storage;
2) spend a minimum of 1 hour per day working on my ATCs, art journalling, gluebooks and whatever interesting projects come up in the groups I belong to.
3) use up what I have on hand rather than buying more;
4) tame the inner critic that prevents me from showing off my work to others, and
5) have fun and play with whatever techniques or projects come to mind.
Wishing everyone happiness this holiday season and all the best for the new year.
I want to use up enough craft stuff/ discarded books/ fabrics so that I can once again get my car in the garage.
I want to skip growing vegetables that are a lot of work, and put all my gardening energy into growing superb tomatoes.
My goal for 2012 is to be more organized in my space. I tend to have things pile up around me as I work and that becomes a problem when the next project is ready to start.
Happy creating to all and happy holidays.
I want to organize my craft room so I don’t spill over into the whole house!!! Then I want to really enjoy spending time creating and growing… and sharing with others.
My resolution is the same as last year! I have a whole room that I can use for my various crafting endeavors,but I can barely walk in there at any given time.There are always bags of stuff laying around.I have shelves and storage containers waiting to be utilized,but I just never seem to have the time to get in there and organize.So,this year,I am going to try and devote at least one whole day a month(if not more) to getting that room functional.
I want to find time to do my crafting that I seem to neglect more than I want to.
I want to treat myself to a me day to do nothing but artwork.
Hugs, Joellen
2012 is going to be the year I allow myself to believe in my creative side and I feel confident enough to share it with others. I have some specific goals:
1. Set up a room for myself where I can get all my supplies out so I don’t spend more time searching for things than actually using them!
2. Learn some new crafts especially jewellery making – I’m going to learn how to use jump rings!
3. Sell what I make at the local market
Roll on 2012!
2011 has been a difficult year, personally and financially. It seems we have had lots of issues to deal with – my hubby taking partial retirement due to health issues, putting my father in a nursing home, having a daughter and her little ones living with us which has certainly changed our lifestyle. Needless to say time and money for art have seemed to go by the wayside. It has been months since I have had any significant time to just create for the fun of it. As things are starting to settle a little and we are finally working out a routine for the household, my goal for the new year is to set aside a block of time each week for myself…for arting and reading and perusing what all of you have been doing since I have been on hiatus. I have so missed being a part of the online art community, of joining swaps and exchanges, of sharing and learning and being inspired. In 2012 I am going to be just a bit selfish with my time and energy because I have discovered without art in my daily life I am less than myself and just floundering about at times. I used to get the Monthly Muse but let my subscription lapse when things were tight and I have sorely missed it. Even if I am not picked I plan to renew after the holidays. I NEED the inspiration! …and the challenge to try something new each month. Thanks for a chance to win.
I, like many others, plan to organize better.
Use something I have on hand to create art – once a month!
I want to improve my skills at collage. My goal is to create one collage image a month, and to study collage images that I like in an effort to learn what works and what doesn’t.. I also plan to make a steampunk doll this year. I have never made a doll before, so this will be a first.
I plan to work on a creative inspirational journal through out the year, learning new techniques along the way.
i decided to stop making cards for awhile and concentrate on other types of art work. i want to make a cigar box purse, more hangings, mixed media projects, try my hand at making jewelry and work with slides and soldering.
My resolution is to finally learn how to do a blog and website and get going on it. I’ve been retired a few years and still have not figured it all out. That and I really want to master digital.
My resolution for 2012 is to display my art! Last year I planned to finish everything I started – my jewlery, fiber art, paper, paint and assembled art is overflowing my ‘studio’. It needs to be appreciated in every room – I see shrines all around to the goddess of creativity
and will give away some too!
I want to find my own style.Then develop it. I am finding that difficult at times..but I do not want to be a copy artistI love many peoples art and styles they move and inspire me I want that strength in my own art.
Wow! I have many resolutions – Lose weight, be nice to my husband (have recently retired and am ‘living’ with my husband of 33 years- good thing I was working because otherwise we never would have made 33 years- I’d be in jail ) craft more and maybe after everything else – clean my house. I am a craft goddess not a domestic goddess.
My resolution? I don’t usually make them. To easy to not do them, but this year it’s “Clean, Sort, and, Tidy’ my craft room. I can’t find anything anymore. Make the room more useful or start tossing things out. I’m putting all my ‘grudges’ of the past year into doing that.
After reading through some of these resolutions, I believe I’d like to thank you Lisa for being such a generous person. One resolution for this coming year is that I can show others my appreciation in whatever way possible. (It may be in my craft projects, cooking, etc…)
I need to organize my crafts and spend more productive time creating when I’m not working in my career field. I also must stop procrastinating…there are several more things that I have to do but these will keep me busy in the meantime.
I have been blessed with health, a loving husband and family…and I hope that this new year will be better and more prosperous for our country and the world will see the beginning of a more tolerant & peaceful era. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all.
Ah, a good thing to do…I need to clean my studio so I can create my art without searching every time for the things I need to do my project with, hence getting rid of some of my frustration before I even begin…AND to make sure I continue to do at least 30 minutes a day M-F while I am working to keep me sane!
I’ve been giving this a lot of thought the last month and I have two main goals.
#1, I want to improve my machine quilting skills on a domestic machine.
#2, I want to improve my crazy quilting skills.
I have signed up with groups for both of these goals, so I think I have a good chance of actually making some progress!
My Creative Resolution is to do Art Journalling, and not be afraid to ‘mess up’ or get it ‘wrong’. To just GO with it
#1 on my list this year is to try and plow through my craft supplies I have so much and not buy anything new
#2 I really want to take up art journalling and junk journalling
Every year I have a “laundry list” of art goals to strive for. This year is no differentS so my resolution is to cull through my mountain of craft supplies and pass along supplies I no longer use, and to use the ones I want a lot more frequently. I also resolve to actually create art for myself to enjoy , instead of always making art for others.
MY creative resolution is to stop procrastinating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m raising 3 grandkids..me time is hard to get.
my #1 resolution is to make some me time to create art..something that makes me happy and ,i think,a better person!!
My goal is to write something in my creative art journal every day—and my other goal is for creative writing in which my aim is to get something published in 2012. Here’s to all our goals—-good luck!
My goal in 2012 is to finsh some projects I have started! I have quite a few!
I also want to make more jewellry and do some encaustic and ice resin.
That will keep me busy for the whole year,I’m sure!
Honestly, my craft room is a disaster. I have GOT to get organized, so I can start actually MAKING things again. I have tried a couple of different organizational systems, which appear to now be at war with each other, so I can’t find things when I want them. So that is my resolution – keep working on the craft room until it is a workable room again!
My resolutions:
1. Create art every day of 2012.
2. Schedule art time for every day.
3. Get familiar with the watercolors I received for Christmas.
4. Make time to do silly art projects with the kids.
My 2012 artistic pursuits are to do art everyday and to enroll in art school. I hope to have a written manifesto or some sort by the end of the year…maybe even post it on my blog to really put in stone. :0
My resolution is to become more focused on what I make-I would like to begin to develop an actual “line” of designs. I also want to focus more on my mixed media projects rather than jewelry; I would also like to expand my special events designs.
My resolution is to finally get the illustrations done for my children’s book (adults too!) on Judge Elwood! Judge Elwood is a huge and impressive toad who rules his court with a heavy, but fair hand! Eight years in the making – drum roll please, for the finish!
make time for art everyday…even if it’s only 15 minutes. Be not afraid to try new techniques and see what the outcome is.
My artistic goal for the year is to earn money with my creativity by selling my crafts. I have recently discovered collage sheets, pendant art and microscope slides … I will perfect my glass art by learning some soldering skills and venture out into the marketplace! :-O
My goals are:
to organize all my “projects” and materials, to discard some of it and to prioritize some of them.
I want to learn how to use my air brush.
I would like to learn how to do some felting and make a crazy hat and some other articles in wool.
I need to get to my bookmaking materials and put some stuff together.
For this, I need to make time in my hectic schedule for me.
My creative resolution is to keep a daily art calendar. I saw one featured in Somerset Studio and was inspired to give it a try. I altered an old ledger book with 1 1/2″ squares for each day of each month–so far I’ve got pages decorated for January through June. I’ll decorate and write a sentence on each square each day–it’ll be a fun, quick way to keep of daily events for the year!
After continuous thought and much deliberation I have decided that my resolution is to finish all the projects that I have started incorporating new ideas and techniques I have acquired since the project had begun.
There are a lot of them which should keep me busy for the rest of the year. At least one a week to one a month should catch me up. Then I am going to wrap them up and give them as presents to art friends who will appreciate the technique and effort.
Happy New Year!!
My resolution is to be satisfied that my studio is as organized as it needs to be when I want to find a particular thing, and as random as necessary to take joy in unexpected collisions of paper, paint, glue, etc, etc
I’m trying to remember that all is well and things are unfolding as they ought, and to be good to me along the way. That’s gonna be my 2012 mantra. That and “beautiful, beloved, blessed child of God….whisper all your dreams and the angels they do nod.”
I WILL enter at least one piece (peace) of art someplace new each month of 2012.
Missy
This may sound a little lame, but 25 years ago I started making a ceramic Nativity set. I got busy making other sets for income and doing craft shows, teaching classes, etc. to the point where I burned out doing ceramics and never finished my own Nativity set. I have decided that I will work on my Nativity set again this year!
When I was a teenager, I saw a fabulous art denim jacket and skirt made from the top of jeans and (what looked like) lace curtains – both heavily embellished, and with a suitably high price tag. Mom apologized and said we couldn’t afford it, but we could try to make it ourselves but we never got around to it. More than 25 years later, I am determined to create that set. My resolution for 2012 is to take jeans and a jean jacket, and create my own bit of wearable art. (My memory of those pieces is fading; I’m getting old, I have to do it fast!)
My goal is to:
1. CLEAN AND ORGANIZE my art room! (My sweet hubby is making me new shelves, so I really have no excuse not to!)
2. Try something new and different for me….. like zetti or making a chunky book
I will keep a small memo book with me at all times to write down ideas and inspirations as they come to me– otherwise, I forget too many of them.
I cleaned out several drawers in an old dresser. I will use these to organize materials for quick projects, complicated projects, cool things to use somehow, someway, later.
My resolution for 2012. Is to learn a new technique and make a project with that technique every month. Then post it to Facebook and my web site.
My Goal for 2012 is to let my creativity out of its box and play. I am usually too afraid of making mistakes and ruining the project so I end up not doing anything. For 2012 I just want to play with no worries about the end work. If I like it great if not recycle or trash.
My goals this year are:
To make something every week
To photograph everything I make
I am going to draw every day. In a sketchbook, on a napkin, on the newspaper. Just get at least one drawing a day behind me.
I am going to work on using artwork as a spiritual practice while I am in seminary.
This year I am really going to get organized, declutter and focus on a few crafts rather than trying to do a little of everything.
I plan to do more scrapbooking this year.
I have several goals & I am very excited to work on them:
#1 Start 2nd Julia Cameron book after finishing “The Artist’s Way” in a couple of weeks.
#2 Return to regular art journaling. This makes me very happy.
#3 Record at least one new CD.
#4 Publish at least one new book of harp arrangements.
I will be fearless while creating art.
I will set aside a 4-hour block of time, once a week, for writing or for creating art.
I have joined 2 swaps for January, providing me the “jump start” I need for 2012.
My goals this year are to stay true to my art, include it and more journaling into my work & to schedule time for my art – my well being and peace of mind is just as important as other things that take up time in my life!
I have several creative goals for the year, One is to improve my crazy quilting embellishing. The 2nd is to strive to draw in my sketchbook everyday and work on improving my drawing and trying new techniques.Oh actually I would like to do a page a day in my “glue monkey.collage book.
This year I am going to focus on finishing up several altered books that I started – but never finished! I am going to update the inventory of my massive rubberstamp collection and reorganize my craft room. Then I will be able to fully enjoy creating and ‘playing’ again without having this cloud of guilt surrounding me ~ I can’t wait to get started so I’m going to an All-Day Crop on New Year’s Day to work on my inventory books and I will hit the ground running on accomplishing my goals!
My aims for 2012 is
1;-To find my kitchen table, [it is covered with craft stuff]
2;- To take a photo of each ATC that I make.
Make more time to try new techniques with paint and stencils.
As a working mom with two young boys, I rarely make time to craft and be creative. But working on crafts gives me a sense of peace so I want to resolve to work on at least one creative project each week. I recently rekindled my love of jewelry making and want to continue new jewelry projects in the New Year and do a paper or mixed media craft each month. I also want to learn to knit.
My main resolution this year is to get away from spending every waking hour on the computer and achieving something.
My resolution for 2012 is to do something creative every day.
Mine are pretty much the same as last year–not that last year’s resolutions were failures, it’s more of a “keep it up” kind of thing.
Like so many of us, I try to do something creative every day.
Every day, find something that gives me joy–it’s usually something in nature, when I’m out for a walk.
The newer one is to spend time drawing. My daughter and I are going to do this together, and do the
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain book (which I highly recommend). The plan is to keep each other accountable.
In 2012 I resolve to spend moew time being creative, in all aspects. But specifically I will do better at sending out my handmade cards for special occasions.
My number 1 goal for 2012 is to get all my art and sewing supplies organized so I can find what I want when I want it. In the process I need to weed out the things I’m never going to use. I went from being a fabriholic to a paper addict. Now I have things in both categories I’ll never use because they just aren’t my style and don’t fit what I do.
Secondly, I’d like to do more than just what I have to do and do more experimental things trying new techniques.
I decided to not have any creative demands on me, so I am stepping down from all CT projects for this coming year. I want to be free to create whatever I want to whenever I am well enough to be in my studio. 2012′s artwork will be all about me.
I will not be teaching any classes in 2012, again opening up plenty of space for whatever strikes my fancy.
I hope that no one feels like I am being selfish…sometimes an artist just has to be free.
My resolutions for 2012:
1. Buy less, use more from the studio supplies on hand.
2. Forget the annual reorganization, get on with creation. Use whatever is at hand or can be easily located.
My resolution is I’m going to make a dream board because I am a very visual person. I need to carve out more time for creating and make my space more conducive to creating art on the spot! A wonderfully blessed new year to you and your family!
My resolution is to stop using a TV tray for crafting and set up a proper work table.
I resolve to make more “Art” than crafts, to paint, draw, create from within.