Annual Review 2022
Image courtesy of Zane Lee at Unsplash
Every December I look back and assess the past 12 months. It is an opportunity to celebrate my successes and learn from the things that didn’t go so well. I can then take this forward with me to build on in the New Year. I answer about ten questions in detail in my journal but here are five of them and a sample of my responses for this year;
What am I most proud of this year?
1. Winning the textile category of the Bucks Art Weeks competition.
2. Giving a talk about my work to the Chiltern Embroidery and Textile Group.
3. Starting my blog.
4. Getting back into the habit of drawing.
What new skills did I learn this year?
I learned about still life composition and working with acrylic paints. I have experimented with different drawing techniques and printmaking with a gelli plate. I am keen to build on my knowledge of painting techniques and I would like to experiment with other printmaking techniques in the New Year.
Is there anything I was going to do this year but didn’t? Why?
In January, I considered creating a range of embroidery kits but haven’t done it. I thought that creating embroidery kits was my expected next step but I was trying to create from an empty well. This year has been about getting back into making art again and finding the inspiration that will carry me forwards. Perhaps I will re-visit the idea sometime in the future.
Where did I waste time this year?
Procrastination and fear have been my biggest barriers to making art this year. I will be using my journal to identify and dig deep into my fear-provoking thoughts. What am I really afraid of? Why? Once I have identified the reasons for my fear, I can start to address them and find solutions.
What did I find out about myself this year?
I am at my happiest when walking in nature and I need to bring more of that into my day to day life. I would like to find a way to express more of my experience of the landscape in my art. I have noticed the artists that inspire me and the things that light me up and started to make a record of them. I have also accepted that it takes time to build knowledge and explore new ideas; making art in a meaningful way requires patience and a willingness to progress slowly.