March Goals: Looking Forward
Posted By Carrie L. Lewis on March 3, 2010
I must confess to feeling some trepidation over setting studio goals. My success rate so far this year and for most of last year has been abysmal. Very little studio work has turned out the way I’d hoped it would and almost everything has taken at least twice the amount of time I anticipated. That leads to frustration and discouragement, as well as projects that drag on forever.
But most of that is my fault and that means that most of it can be corrected.
So my biggest goal for March is going to be giving more time to artwork, even if it means cutting off writing a little early or getting started a little bit later each day. The word in the studio for the month is going to be D-I-S-C-I-P-L-I-N-E.
Portraits
This is where discipline is going to be the most difficult. None of the portraits currently on the easel are new, which means the bloom is off the rose on all of them. Keyodee Star is the most energizing of them, but that’s because it’s progressing so well and is almost finished.
Portrait goals for March are:
- Finish Clyde at the dead layer phase
- Finish Lockkeeper at the dead layer phase
- Finish Keyodee Star (this will be a stretch because the final color layer will have to dry at least three weeks before detail work can begin. If the final color layer is already finished, we’re already a week into the process. If it’s not….
ACEO Horse Paintings
This goal remains unchanged. One new ACEO Horse Painting each week this month. Since I’m two behind from last month, that means I’ll have to do at least six in March to get back on schedule.
Other Paintings
With the show season beginning soon, I need to finish some new paintings for sale. At present, two are close and I would like to finish both of them in March.
The colored pencil class has also generated interest in doing a larger colored pencil piece, so I would like to get one of those started in March.
- Finish Buckles & Belts
- Finish Contemplation
- Start a new colored pencil painting 11×14 or larger
That list should keep me busy in March, regardless of what happens anywhere else!
I am a self-taught artist for the most part. Lots of trial and error in the past forty years! Formal art training consists of a couple of years of high school art, a painting class at a community college, one semester in the Fine Arts program at Abilene Christian University and a couple of local workshops.
I am always looking for ways to better my artistic skills, so I am a permanent student in the School of Trial and Error. I love reading and have been known to spend hours online researching materials and techniques. As a result, I've painted in several different styles, including the direct method (which goes straight for the color) and Classical methods (which involves underpaintings, layering and glazing).
I have exhibited paintings in locations such as Lone Star Park Race Track, Grand Prairie, Texas and Remington Park Race Track, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Since the early 90s, I've worked with the Michigan Harness Horseman's Association, donating custom portraits to their annual benefit auction.
In the course of maintaining a growing art business, I have taught myself web design (a skill that will no doubt prove to be a continual learning experience).
I also enjoy puttering around the yard, chasing trains with my husband, Neal, travel and, of course, looking at horses whenever they appear on my horizon.
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