Artist Breakthrough Program - Week 1 Goals
ACEO #6 ©2008 2.5"x3.5"
This card was inspired by Markings #3
Breaking Down the Work
For the next 4 weeks, throughout the Artist Breakthrough Program, I’m going to post my weekly goals. Both to hold me accountable to all of my readers and also to write some about how I get things done. Nothing like doing this in public to inspire me to actually do the work.
I break my larger goals down into small tasks. The more overwhelming the goal feels the smaller I break down the tasks. Sometimes down to 5 minute jobs that are super easy. Doing these simple tasks gives me a sense of accomplishment and the momentum to start tackling some of the larger tasks. Once I get going I get on a roll and can "do things" for hours.
Week One Goals
These are my tasks for this week, based on my longer term monthly goals from my previous post. These are to be completed by Sunday, April 20.
- I work in my studio 5 hours this week
- I do 3 blog posts
- I upgrade my 2 wordpress installs for my website to 2.5
- I complete the template for my website/blog. This is a multi step task - 4.1) I break this down into steps for what is still needed to complete the template and 4.2)I complete the identified tasks from 4.1
- I define the structure of my website (which pages I will have, what will be on the pages, the menu structure to access the pages)
- I identify 5 potential galleries for representation (at this point I’m just building a list with contact info)
The First 24 Hours
Yesterday I completed #3 and my wordpress installs are now ready to go. I love wordpress, I’m less enamored with having to manually update my install. I’m looking forward to the day they have a single click upgrade feature.
Today I worked on item 4.1 and have the list of changes needed in my template fairly well settled. I also started in on 5 and defining the pages I want in my new website.
And best of all, this morning I worked in my studio for half an hour before heading to work. The last 6 weeks my studio has been fairly well neglected. I’m looking forward to returning to a routine of making art on a near daily basis.
Oh and blog post #1 for the week is now completed. I know I said it would be about newsletters. I promise - I will get to that this week.
Update on Moving
Much of my motivation for doing this program is to keep me on track with my art while also keeping motivated with getting my house on the market. I spent most of the last week removing a very large amount of stuff from my house. Throwing out a lot, giving away tons and packing up things we can live without until we’ve moved.
I’m very picky about what gets put into a box labeled "I don’t need this for many months". I’m looking to eliminate the majority of these types of things from my life. So far most of these boxes are filled with either 1) my kids stuff (they aren’t as enamored with tossing things as I am) or 2) photo albums and scrapbooking supplies. This is one project I’m sure I will get to some day so I packed it all up and will move it. If I don’t do something with this stuff before the next move I think most of it will end up in the donate pile.
The unfortunate news is the contractor, general fix-it guy that was going to do much of the fix-it type work around my house bailed out on me. Had better offers so I’m left with noone to do the work. I spent much of monday being stressed out, pissed off and generally unhappy with the situation. I decided I needed some time to feel bad but gave myself a deadline of 9pm to just get over it and move on. Great way to experience the emotions but not let them take over my life. I’ve now processed the experience and am getting back on track.
Moving is a lot of work but I’m focusing on enjoying the process, keeping the tasks small and manageable so I don’t get overwhelmed. My morning yoga is a big help in keeping calm.
Posted by Lisa in: Goals
Tagged: ABP, ACEOs, goals, Moving
Laure said,
April 16, 2008 @ 5:50 am
Wow! You’re impressive. Moving, a full time job, raising kids, doing art, getting over emotional experiences in a set time frame. I learn from you every time I read a post.
One question though, how do you define time in the studio? What is included as time in the studio - is it purely making art, is it prepping for making art, or a mixture of this and other stuff?
Thanks again, Lisa, for the inspiration that it’s possible to do, well maybe not everything, but the important stuff and more of it than we initially think possible! ~ Laure
Alyson B. Stanfield said,
April 16, 2008 @ 7:39 am
Lisa: Laure left an interesting question. I look forward to reading your response to that, although I think it would include everything above.
I love seeing how you break down your goals and share them with the world. I’m sending other ABP members over here to take a looksie.
Lisa Call said,
April 16, 2008 @ 8:45 am
Thanks Laura. I’m excited about all I have to do right now and it helps to be coming off of 3 months where I really took it easy (for me). While my kids were in Europe I spent quite a bit of time slowing down and focusing on myself. I think it was a great prelude to doing a whole bunch right now.
I started answering your question about studio time and it got very long so look for a post on it tonight or more likely tomorrow as I have a meeting after work today.
Thanks Alyson. You’ll have to wait a bit for the answer!
Daniel Sroka said,
April 18, 2008 @ 6:49 am
Upgrading to Wordpress 2.5 is on my list. It’s one of those classic kinds of tasks that’s “simple” but that I keep putting off.