23 During 23
23 in 23 is a list of things I want to achieve in my art business throughout 2023.
I’m a firm believer that growth, balance and expansion can’t be left to chance, because when it is we become susceptible to retreating back to our default habits and comfort zones.
Setting achievable goals gives us the accountability to get where we want.
So before we get into it, here’s a few prompts to get started:
1. Do a brain vomit list – throw out all the tasks you’d like to complete by years end onto a big sheet of paper
2. Decide what you can say no to, delegate, postpone, let go of or batch to give yourself some white space.
3. Ask yourself, ‘What needs to happen to make 2023 feel like a success?’
here’s my 23 during 23 list:
1. exhibition of ceramic sculpture
2019 was the last year I created anything substantial for public display with a Solo Show ‘Balancing Act.’ Due to personal events in 2020-22, I’ve had to take a step back from ambitious bodies of work, and it’s about time I correct that. As such, I’ve pencilled in a date for November 2023.
2. create a sea painting for our apartment
My husband and I bought an apartment by the sea as a place of respite when we moved up to the family home to take care of my father. This place of sanctuary needs some calming paintings on its walls.
3. planning and reviews
I am a advocate for reviews but have fallen off the wagon. This year I will regain this practice.
4. launch 3d portrait service
To expand my Oil and Watercolour Portrait Collections, I will be expanding this service into 3D ceramic Sculptures this year. An exciting progression that I can’t wait to explore.
2015 Commission of Poet Albert Haslett
5. Improve studio lighting
I absolutely love my space of work, but it only has one light making it much more challenging to see details than necessary. I will invest in extra lighting this year.
6. take 6 x day/weekend courses
I pulled back my teaching over the past few years and have taken the leap to give up my regular 2hr term time classes, but I miss working with people and so I want to continue through short in-depth bursts spread across the year.
7. create an in-person teaching page
Adding onto number 6 - Add an in-person teaching page/brochure of weekend/day courses available.
8. reclaim all clay
Bags and bags and bags of hardened clay that needs reclaimed. Finally want to get around to it this year.
9. 24 new blogs
Usually, I aim for 12 x posts per year. I want to double that this year.
10. socials
I’ve been deliberately quiet on Social Media and want to fix that this year with a minimum of 2 x posts on Instagram and getting back to being on top of Pinterest as it is by far my biggest driver to my website.
11. 1 x online course
This is something I have planned for literally years…I will have one ready for August.
12. 2 x new digital products
My Demystify 52 Colours e-book drives passive income every month. I will add two new books this year, one on colour and one on ceramics.
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Mixing mud from your tubes instead of vibrant crisp colours?
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Spending a fortune on paint because you feel you might have more luck with a new colour?
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13. buy a new piece of equipment for studio
I have my eye on a few pieces and want to tick one off the list this year.
14. Get my yoga back
This may not be directly related to my art but stretching helps keep an injury in my arm at bay. I’ve not made the time for it and that has to change.
15. expand flower product
I adore my porcelain roses and will launch extra colours, vases and wall displays this year. They’re already in the works!
Forever Flowers that never wilt or fade
Each ceramic flower is painstakingly made by hand, ensuring each rose is unique, just like flowers from nature. The attention to detail in these miniature works of art is exquisite.
Crafted using a type of clay created by the artist, each petal is as thin and as crisp as real petals and fused onto cut willow to create a natural finish.
Use them in a vase to add continual delight in your home, tuck them into your wedding bouquet, give them as a heartfelt gift or pop them into an indoor plant arrangement for extra drama and texture.
16. small things challenge
I love this challenge, but this year I intend to try a different format.
17. Soak in online training
I’ve a few courses banked and ready to be consumed.
18. 12 new Mini Portraits
One mini-portrait per month is a great balance to my sculptural work and I love creating them.
Mini Portraits may be small in size and appear unassuming or quiet, but the impact they have is HUGE!
The painting commands a person's full attention asking them to enter its world. Physically, the viewer begins to move, they lean in, focus and steady themselves as they become silent - it can be very moving to witness.
Colours are muted and all unnecessary detail removed, ensuring the entire focus is kept on what’s most important;
The people you love.
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Perfect for:
Mini Watercolour Portraits are perfect for immortalising old photographs of lost loved ones. They make a quiet but powerful tribute to honour those we want to continue to keep close.
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Pricing:
1 Figure: £260 framed
2 Figures: £310 framed
3 Figures: £360 framed
Includes Free UK shipping. Additional Fee for international orders.
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How To Order:
I only take payment when I am certain I can do the image and people you’d like captured justice and therefore Mini-Portraits are booked by Emailing me at sandra@sandrarobinsonstudio.com
19. read 12x books
I am a slow reader but would like to improve this. This year, I’ll make sure to read one book per month. (See Artist Book Reviews)
20. Make Moulds
To speed up some of my scupltural animals and figures, I want to take moulds of the bases to make the process quicker.
21.build glaze library with self-made glazes
Glazing is still the weak point to my sculptural work. I began the work of testing Amaco Glazes last year but this year I want to start the very long journey of understanding mixing up my own glazes from raw materials.
22. Take part in a Summer and Winter Fair
Totally out of my comfort zone but I’d like to experiment to see if this form of sales could work for my business
23. Yearly gift launched
One of my favourite ways to end the year is with a unique gift exclusively for a member on my mailing list to win. (Sign up here if you want to be in for a chance.) It’s a small token of my gratitude, because without you I wouldn’t be able to make a full-time living creatively and I don’t take your support lightly. Thank you. x
Overall, the idea of tackling 23 during 23 is to have clear goals to work towards. There are a lot of ambitious things on this list such as a new exhibition and 3 new digital products so I’m intrigued to see how many I will tick off when I return to this at years end.
Now it’s your turn…What’s your 23 during 23?
Want to Make More Art on your list?
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ForM is by far my favourite group exhibition of the year to visit and I am honoured to have been one of artists involved in it this year.
If you missed the exhibition, here’s a round up.