Intentional Growth: Creative Year Planning for Artists

At the start of each year, I find myself resisting rigid plans, yet craving clarity. This is where creative year planning comes in: a way to map out priorities, projects, and ideas for the months ahead while keeping space for inspiration and growth.

Last year reminded me how quickly creativity can feel overwhelming when goals are too ambitious, timelines too tight, or expectations disconnected from the reality of making art. This year, I’m approaching creative year planning from a big picture view: not as a pressure-filled to-do list, but as a living map—one that shows the whole landscape while leaving room to breathe.

Rather than asking, “How much can I fit in?” I’m asking: “What feels sustainable, aligned, and life-giving?”

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Mapping the Big Picture

Instead of starting with dates and deadlines, I start with creating a mind map—a visual overview of the key areas and goals of my creative and business life. Seeing everything together helps me understand how the pieces connect, where tension may arise, and where there’s space. Mind maps are tools that align well with the way I think.

This approach suits art practice perfectly since ideas need room to develop and growth rarely follows a straight line. For me it's an essential part of creative year planning, helping me keep the big picture in mind while staying flexible. Of course I will need to get into the details and deadlines eventually, but when beginning a planning session, it's so refreshing to see it all from a bird's eye view (pun intended!) and let the business breathe.

A visual map of the ideas, projects, and connections shaping my year ahead.

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Expanding a Spiritually Themed Body of Work

Creatively, this year is about depth over volume.

Alongside my ongoing pursuit of portraiture, I’ll delve more deeply into the spiritual themes that pervade my thoughts, focusing on developing a cohesive set of spiritually themed oil paintings. While ten works might be ideal, realistic goals and feasibility matters—especially with glazing and drying time. Five finished pieces feels challenging but achievable, allowing each to mature properly.

Prior to the painting process, I’ll create digital sketches to explore ideas and compositions before committing to canvas, supporting both growth and experimentation. These sketches are an important part of my creative year planning, helping me refine concepts while staying flexible.

Early explorations before paint ever meets canvas.

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Art Shows and Opportunities

This year looks a little different from last. Fewer immediate group show opportunities have aligned with my current work—but that’s okay. It’s given me clarity about where I’m heading.

Plans so far include:

    •    Participating in Artists Circle in Abbotsford starting in February, with at least two or three more visits later in the year, depending on invitations

    •    Submitting a piece from my Early Years Collection to “Decay and Rebirth” at the Odlum Brown Gallery this spring

    •    Keeping an eye on open calls from Lower Mainland galleries like Inspired Arts Gallery @ CLA, Kariton Gallery (Abbotsford), Aldergrove Kinsmen Community Centre, and other Langley/Abbotsford spaces

I’m intentionally leaving room to respond to opportunities as they appear, letting my growth unfold naturally. And with my focus being developing a spiritually themed body of work, it makes sense to focus more on preparing for my first solo show.

Each art event is part of a longer, unfolding journey.

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Teaching, Community, and Sharing

Teaching is a natural extension of my practice this year. The following are some of my goals, alongside continuing my monthly pet portrait demos at the local Mr. Pets:

    •    Pet portrait workshops at a local art store loft (right across the street from Mr. Pets!)

    •    Using these workshops as a bridge to online art tutorials and more in-depth creative content on my YouTube channel

    •    Visiting more local pet stores and vet clinics to propose offering live demos and a rotating pet portrait display

Incorporating teaching and community engagement this year will allow me to grow outward—connecting locally, building confidence in teaching, and expanding my services and offerings—while staying grounded in my core art practice.

Sharing the process, one step, one student, and one story at a time.

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Content, Consistency, and Sustainable Growth

On the content side, consistency—not perfection—is key. Goals include:

    •    Weekly or biweekly PepTalk podcasts on YouTube

    •    Monthly Lovebird Chirping TV videos for fellow lovebird owners

    •    Three YouTube Shorts per week, aligned with my channel pillars

    •    Reaching 1,000 YouTube subscribers for monetization

Alongside that, I’ll:

    •    Continue to stay connected with email subscribers weekly

    •    Expand on Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Rumble

    •    Create free resources and lead magnets for future subscribers

All this is planned to avoid overlap, burnout, or double-booking while balancing creating art, teaching, and content creation.

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Planning as a Living Process

What I’m learning is that planning doesn’t need to be rigid. It can be gentle, visual, and adaptable.

This year’s map will evolve. Goals may shift or become clearer over time. And that’s part of the process.

If you’re exploring your own creative year planning—whether for art or other pursuits—I hope this encourages you to zoom out, see the whole picture, and create space for intentional growth.