Visions of 2014
2014 Marks the year I have to transition back to my old working world and being an artist, normal life, family and everything that marks change. I hate those kinds of changes. So there are the visions of 2014 planning ahead?
I think in the past three years of taking this sabbatical I have been on, from the working world to a full focus on art, it has changed me in so many ways, not just where I was living. First of all I lost a ton of weight (felt like literally), that was a big change. But more importantly, it changed who I am inside and out. The environment was less stressful, allowing more creative time.
I was so totally focused on doing a great job for my employer, that I was not thinking at all about me, my, family, my health, my future and more importantly my art and how that all tied in to being the artist I want to be.
When I first started thinking maybe, just maybe, I could make a living doing art, I was primarily only painting fly fishing art. Today I paint what I want and what I envision in many different topics. Some that make a statement in the ever changing environment, and others that just need to get painted out of my head. My medium now is generally Silk Painting with Steam Set Dyes. If the images I want to put forth are difficult to master on silk, I will continue to strive to find a way to handle it and make it work, that can take a very long while. 
So, you say, “What’s this got to do with your vision for 2014 and how does planning come into it all?”
Great question actually, my answer is simple: My better understanding of who I am as an artist has come about slowly, and not with out guidance of some of today’s most influential Marketing and Artist Career gurus available. With out planning the next 14 months out in advance, I would not be approaching these changes with the fearlessness needed to accomplish the goals set out for me. All that boils out to Planning, and being able to see the vision and set the goals. Then following through with the goals in the required order to succeed. I have not been ashamed to ask for guidance and help along the way. I also have been very lucky to know some great folks who have traveled these paths as well.
Back in 2010, all I knew was I had to work on creating a body of saleable art, it needed to be marketable art, and I had to grow as an artist, and as a person. I had no idea how to get that all started. My motto was; jump in and kick start it and all the rest would follow. But, when life changes things for you and you have no control over it, you can make very poor decisions, choices, and change the whole plan with out even knowing you are doing it. Say for instance a wild land fire that displaces you for three months, as well as family changes, simply called life happening to you and those you love most. Back up plans can also be re routed, so knowing and thinking about the contingencies and how to handle them, takes forethought and playing a host of scenarios in your mind and possibly committing them in writing.
I believe with conviction, that all the planning in the world can get upset in ways never foreseen, knowledge and forethought tho, can help total derailment of the planning and efforts put into play.
As 2014 winds down, yes I have to look at it that way right now, I need to know where I am as an artist, what I plan on launching in the near future, see with clarity my goals and just where I want to end up. Not just with my art, but with my life.
Creating a series of paintings from inside my soul guides me to see that direction more clearly all the time. It takes the ragged edges off my emotions, and helps assist me in fine tuning all the work I put into each piece of art. Each one is like a step along the path of the journey to find who I am as an artist, as a person, and how I fit into the world.
Join me as I journey this next two years into my future. Come along and see all the changes I am about to begin to make and implement the visions of all that 2014 planning ahead.
See you along the river of colors on my palette soon, and don’t forget to just go fish!
Andy
