Bob and I work as a team, and it sometimes takes two of us to keep up with everything! Here are a few of the goals I set for myself to help him concentrate on his painting. I posted a blog about this, and now I’m creating a Google Calendar to add to it. If you use Google Calendars, you can create several calendars for personal use, business use, exhibitions, etc. and then merge them or view them separately. It works GREAT for us. Make a list of competitions and exhibitions NOW, both local and national that you want to enter this year and create a calendar
Make a plan to document and organize your work
I photograph everything he paints with my smartphone, then scan the ones we want to put online. I try to organize them on my computer in file folders according to year completed, and subject matter. When a painting is sold, I mark it with the name of the buyer. If we consign paintings to galleries, we print two lists, one for us and one for the gallery. The key is to just make a plan and keep up with it. And that’s not easy!
Contact other artists in your community and make plans for regular meetings. Bob is a member of several local art communities but plans to pursue membership in national watercolor societies this year. Join an online forum group to share ideas – Here’s a good one: Artist Daily or for technology, I love this one: Tech Soup
Experiment with new technology
I’m trying to learn how to use Evernote effectively. I want to start making video blogs showing Bob’s technique
Take a trip for inspiration and education
This doesn’t have to be a big or long trip. Just a change of venue with the goal of finding new material to paint will work!
Teach a class – You learn lots when you teach. We’re trying to schedule some seminars this year.
Educate yourself via a seminar or online. And conversely there are several seminars that Bob would like to attend. Here’s one of the very best!
Brand yourself with business cards, email signature, logos
We’re still working on this one with a new website. (update: New Website and NEW BRANDING 4/2023). But I’m also rebranding Twitter, CafePress, email signatures, and am creating business cards and letterhead this year.
Explore galleries and art representatives
One of our favorite local galleries closed last year. We need to find another one! (update: And we did! Beverly McNeil Gallery)
Organize your workplace
We both work better when we’re not buried in stuff!
Update your mailing list. We use Constant Contact but there are lots of good applications out there. Don’t forget to add family and friends! I still haven’t added all these names. Find new vendors and compare pricing. We primarily use Alabama Art Supply and CheapJoes.com
Join organizations and follow blogs that are helpful to you, particularly local ones. We like Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, Mountain Brook Art Association, Art Net, ArtCloud for Artists, ZAPP® Management. TheArtList.com, InsideArt to name a few.
Have a BACK UP PLAN!
We have so many images on the computer, that this is imperative for us. I’m exploring options this year, as we’re using Time Machine (which is unsupported as of 2023) and an external drive but I want to consider another alternative.
