I’ve been a little lost this year, well, probably the last 18 months. This week, in a artist development group we answered a few questions around our art practice and my answers left me questioning everything. The questions I really struggled with were:
What do you think you are talents & skills?
I struggled to answer. A: Having ideas/concepts to design to initial work.
What questions go through your mind while you work? This one as an over thinker was interesting…A: How do I grow? What’s next? How do I keep up? Why do I need to? How do I let go?
What are some of your invisible rules in your practice? Which of these do you let go of?
1. I work in quilts that are created for both a quilt show and art exhibition.
2. A finished art piece is a large quilt, other works I don’t count. (This is the one I need to reframe the most).
In my corporate job (of 25 years), every year I would meet with my managers and we would review the company’s goals and align our business goals and plans, and provide measurements to keep track of how we are performing. I have continued that practice with my art career. Each year I set my business goals which I align with my strategic goals & values of my art career & business. I did not do that this year which I think is part of this uncertainty. So let’s start here and do a reset both in my practice and thoughts, realign where I need to and refocus to reach my goals I have for these last few months.
How do I describe my practice and what is important to me?
These were my previous strategic goals and value (“why”)
- Support and promote quilts in the art world so they are seen as art. I would like to see quilts valued for their beauty, the work & technique that goes into them, and the storytelling and history within quilts
- Be financially stable by at least covering costs to allow me to continue being a full-time artist.
- Be an active member in the art community and give back, as being a part of a community is a fundamental value that I had growing up, and moving countries over the years it has remained essential.
I think these still are true but my practice has expanded with other mediums and I would like room to grow, so I am adding:
- Exploring growth through experimentation in my practice as it allows me to continue seeing the world differently and I may have different experiences that feed into the next etc.
Next…”What” business goals will help me achieve these and stay align to these?
| Strategic Goal & Values | Business goals |
| Support & promote quilts in the art world | Create New Work |
| Exhibit my Quilts | |
| Curate a Textile or Fiber Show | |
| Share other Quilt & Fiber works | Artists | |
| Financially Stable | Sell Artworks |
| Teach Classes | |
| Introduce other Revenue Streams | |
| Community | Facilitate Community Activities with my studio Colleagues |
| Network with other Artists | |
| Volunteer with Art Organizations | |
| Experimentation & Growth | Attend Residencies |
| Nuture Creative Avenues for Experimentation | |
| Give Myself Grace |
Now, to put these into actionable activities (the how) for this quarter
| Strategic Goal & Values | Business goals | Actions & Activities |
| Support & promote quilts in the art world | Create New Work | Finish one large unfinished piece before the end |
| Outline and plan out quilts for one new exhibit | ||
| Exhibit my Quilts | Apply for 1-2 solo shows before the end of the year | |
| Apply for 1-2 group shows before the end of the year | ||
| Curate a Textile or Fiber Show | COMPLETED 2026 (Curated show at Artspace & facilitated/supported local opportunities around QuiltCon) | |
| Review Opportunities for 2027 and outline one exhibition idea | ||
| Share other Quilt & Fiber works | Artists | Share 1-2 Quilt & Fiber works every month on Instagram. | |
| Financially Stable | Sell Artworks | Reach out to 2-5 people and set up at least 2 studio visits. |
| Sign up for Artist programs at 1-2 Art Consultants (provide higher quality images) | ||
| Teach Classes | Teach at one Guild before the year end | |
| Apply to 1-2 new events for 2027 | ||
| Open up teaching calendar for 2027 | ||
| Introduce other Revenue Streams | Create 20-30 Device stands for Markets & local retail stores (resell) | |
| Create Prints and Greeting Cards for Markets * local retail stores (resell) | ||
| Investigate Consulting as a Business Operations Manager for artists or art organizations. | ||
| Reframe as a Job | Create regular hours and clock in & out | |
| Analyze and manage time & activities so that: Creating 60% Admin 20% Networking 20% | ||
| Community | Facilitate Community Activities | Host Sip+Stitch |
| Continue community activities within Artspace Studio Artists – ArtSide Chat | ||
| Network with other Artists | Meet with 1-2 Artists each month | |
| Attend 1-2 Art Events each month | ||
| Volunteer with Art Organizations | Volunteer ideas and help out at ArtSpace when needed | |
| Volunteer up to 10 hours/wk with VAE | ||
| Experimentation & Growth | Attend Residencies | Attend Creative Retreat in October |
| Apply for 1-3 Residencies for 2027 focused on research project or new exhibition or experimentation flesh out an idea | ||
| Nuture Creative Avenues for Experimentation | Select one research topic for possible future exhibit | |
| Create an ideas jar & choose 1 each month to experiment with. | ||
| Allow at least 5 hours a week for experimentation and growth activities | ||
| Give Myself Grace | Allow failure, try to fail fast and not get hung up on the project. | |
| Allow grace for not producing as each experiment could lead to something else. |
Is this something you do? Is it something you need help doing?
I do have a short 2-3 hour class that I work with people on coming up with a similar plan. I also talk with groups on how to start mapping out plan that works for their business or career.
Here’s to my resetting, aligning and being more focussed in the last quarter of the year. I’ll update you all soon.
Factotum of Arts 