I’ve been so busy the last few weeks—make that months—that I haven’t had a moment to think about New Year’s resolutions. Which makes me think that my first resolution ought to be to slow down a bit and be more deliberative. (How one changes the patterns of a lifetime, I don’t know.)
On January 1, we’re tempted to vow dramatic transformations: paint every day, get into a major gallery, finally master watercolor, be fearless forever. By midmonth, real life elbows its way back in, and those grand promises collapse under the weight of laundry, taxes, and unfinished canvases.
What kind of resolutions actually work?
Show up consistently. Not heroically. Not perfectly. Just consistently. Painting three focused days a week for a year will do more for your artistic development than a single month of a daily painting challenge. Skill is built through repetition and attention. Consistency beats intensity every time.
Practice fundamentals. Aspiring artists often believe that once you understand drawing, composition, or color theory, you’re done with them. I’m certainly not done with them; in fact, I revisit fundamentals endlessly. Value studies, thumbnail sketches, and color-mixing exercises aren’t remedial—they’re maintenance. Make room in your life for work that isn’t meant to be framed, shared, or sold.
Give yourself permission to make bad paintings. That’s not failure; that’s how an artistic voice develops. Social media has blurred the line between the solitary pursuit of painting and performance art. When every painting feels like it has to justify itself to an audience, development dies.
Look at work that’s better than your own. Visit museums. Read about painters you admire. Copy masterworks. Ask why a composition works, why a color sings, why a brushstroke feels inevitable.
Finish things. That forces you to resolve problems instead of avoiding them. Even if the result disappoints you, completing a piece builds confidence and discipline, two qualities every aspiring artist needs more than raw talent.
Be patient. Painting is a long game. There is no moment when you suddenly stop struggling. The struggle is the work. If you’re frustrated, you’re probably learning. If your taste feels more advanced than your ability, congratulations—you’re on the path to development.
Learn from others
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to take your art practice more seriously, a good class or workshop provides structure, accountability, and expert guidance. These are the things that make resolutions stick. There is nothing like the peer pressure of a class to keep you working.
This is your last chance to sign up for my Monday evening Zoom class, Trust the Process (making technique tell the story you want to tell). (Tuesday’s class is sold out). Consider this your invitation to turn a well-intentioned resolution into real progress in the studio.
I have just two workshops left in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026
- High-Desert Light & Monumental Form | Sedona, AZ, Apr 26, 2027 – Apr 30, 2027
Can’t commit to a full workshop? Work online at your own pace:
