Arlene Wright-Correll

Where Would I like to Be a Year From Now©



Posted: Friday, January 06, 2012

by Arlene Wright-Correll
http://www.learn-america.com

The email question asked this week is “Where would I like to be a year from now” and my first and most immediate answer at this stage of my life is to still be above ground.

My second answer is that I still am hale and hearty and then I thought is this question related to my personal or my professional life?

I have always had a hard time distinguishing between the two even when I had a 43 year run in my previous career and ran a household, family of 7, several offices and upwards of 35 sales people I just merged them all together and somehow managed to successfully keep all the balls in the air.  Old habits are hard to die so I do the same thing today with my artistic career.

I think it is a good thing for anyone and especially artists and crafters to think down the road and thinking a year ahead is not a very long time.  It seems that I just woke up on January 1, 2011 and now I am waking up on January 6, 2012.  Was I asleep during that time or does time really fly when you are having fun?  No, it just flies faster the older one gets.  I remember reading something a very long time ago that has always stuck with me.  “Faster drivers do not see better than slow drivers.  They just see further down the road.”

An artist/crafter needs to map out the year as to what their production is going to be and that includes myself.  I think my goal will be one painting a week.  I know you may well think that is a lot, but some times I go for 3 weeks without producing anything and then will whip out 4 or 5 paintings in a week’s time.  I figure I can safely say I will have added 52 paintings to my studio a year from now.  For those of you who are scoffing right now, I just finished a company logo job that included 12 paintings which I completed in less than 6 hours and the client was absolutely over the moon with one of them.

Artists/crafters also need to figure out what shows and exhibitions they are going to attend or be in.  I think I will personally shoot for at least 4 shows and exhibitions in 2012.  What will you shoot for?

A year from now I will be smarter because as an artist I intend to learn a least one new “trick of the trade” or “trade secret” a month from someone who is smarter than me or better than me at what I like to do.  That may mean attending workshops, meeting artists at shows, joining an art club or guild or whatever it takes to get better at what I like to do.

How about you?

A year from now I will know how to work smarter, not harder in my artistic profession. How about you?  A year from now I will know how to work softer, not harder in this chosen profession. How about you?

So I ask the question right back at you. Where will you artistically be a year from now.

About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

A Year From Now
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Kacycarr 132 days 12 hours ago.
109 fans.
Hi Arlene I enjoyed this piece. I admire that you can think that far ahead. I struggle to do this. The only time I do something on this line is when booking a holiday that could be months away. I make sure to holiday a couple of times a years so I don't have to wait 12 months.

Keep well

Kacy
» left by Arlene Wright-Correll 132 days 4 hours ago.
31 fans.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy as the saying goes. I holiday anytime I feel like it.
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