Happy New Year: Accountability and my word for 2016

Before we begin, the handsome Bleubeard, the energetic Squiggles, and I hope you are enjoying an art filled, safe, and beautiful New Year's Day.

It's once again time for my annual accountability post.  This is the one where I see how well I did the previous year, and how well I think I might do in the coming year.

Let's begin with my word for 2015, which was Represent.   As I explained on January 3, 2015, represent, a verb, means to stand for or symbolize, to indicate or communicate by signs or symbols, and possibly most important, depict in art, portray, and be an example of.   Add that to the words I've chosen the past four years, and you see I've tried to represent these words by setting a good example.   Looking back on my previous four years' words, I'm going to continue to try to inspire others, document the processes, utilize my tools, techniques, and time to my advantage, and represent my art by setting a good example on my blog.  

I thought long and hard about my word for 2016.   I finally decided this is the year to experiment.

ex·per·i·ment

As a noun it means:

1.
    a.  A test under controlled conditions that is made to demonstrate a known truth, examine the validity of a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy of something previously untried.

    b.  The process of conducting such a test; experimentation.

    c.  A trial or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc.

2.   An innovative act or procedure.

3.  The result of experimentation.

4.  Conducting experimental operations.

5.  A series of observations under controlled conditions used to study relationships to draw a causal inference.

As a verb, it means:

1.  To conduct an experiment.

2.  To try something new, especially in order to gain experience.

3.  To try or test, especially in order to discover or prove something.

I think that pretty much sums up what I intend to do in 2016.  To put it differently, I plan to experiment with new processes, procedures, and methods to gain a better understanding of the tools and products I already own.

As for accountability, let's see my accountability intentions I made on January 3, 2015, and how well I did:

1. Continue to make art that I hope some will find meaningful and show the process along the way. 
I believe I've done that, because I always try to remember to show not just the products I use, but also the process.  As for products, you won't find most of them at your local craft, stamp, or scrapbook store, because I get mine from junk mail, hand-me-down magazines, and my friends' recycle bins.

2. Create at least one tutorial each month.
Somehow I forget to count, but I'm quite sure I've created at least 12, especially during April, when I often create things that are new to me.  


3. Utilize my tools and equipment.
Not sure I utilized my tools and equipment, nor did I find new and better ways of using them.  I started out on the right track, then that idea got lost along the way.  Even though I occasionally looked for new and better ways of doing things, I'm not on any other social media site.  That means if I don't learn new ways to use my tools from my blogging friends, I probably won't be exposed to any.

4. Interview one artist a month.
I started out good this year, then dropped the ball when one of the people I wanted to interview got sick with cancer.

5. Create a bridge between fabric and paper, hopefully finding new ways of working with both at the same time.
I made several scrappy journals this year, so maybe that will count.  But the more I learn about paper and fabric, the more I know what I can do with paper, I can also do with fabric, and vice versa.

6. Create at least one abstract art piece each month.
What can I say?  That didn't happen.  I got caught up in other projects, including my 7 Continents altered book, and completely forgot to create abstracts.

I seem to be going backwards, instead of forward, since I was successful with four of the five intentions from 2014.   You can see I only completed two of my intentions in 2015.


So let's see what I'm shooting for in 2016:

1. Continue to make art that I hope some will find meaningful and show the process along the way. 
That's a no-brainer.  I've been documenting my process and products used for so long, it's habit.

2. Create at least one tutorial each month.
Since I'm no longer playing in several weekly challenges, I'm setting up a once monthly tutorial that I'll call Second Thursday Tutorial.  That way, I can look back on each month and make sure I've created at least ONE tutorial each month.   Don't worry.  I'm sure there will be more than that, but this way I have accountability for them, as well as a way to count them.

3.  Interview one artist every three months.
This actually seems more doable to me.  That means I might be asking YOU if I can interview you sometime this year.

4. Find new and better ways to integrate fabric and paper together. 
The more I expand my knowledge of both, I hope to find new and unique ways to integrate the two.

5. Dye fabric in my own different and unique way at least once each and every month.
I actually like dyeing fabric better than working with it, so I intend to create new dyed fabric each month.  If the dyed fabric inspires me, I'll even use it in an art project.  By the end of the year, I hope to have at least 12 new dyed (or painted) fabric tutorials (or at least 12 techniques) under my belt.

6. Stay on top of organizing by setting one day aside each month to show at least one, probably more, organized areas, drawers, shelves, or bins.
Sharing an organized area may be just what I need once a month for What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday (WOYWW).

7.  Create at least four abstracts this year.
These actually seem doable to me.

By setting up certain days to create certain things, I believe I'll be more successful with my intentions this year.  Of course, you'll have to wait till January, 2017 to see how well I did in 2016.

As always, I appreciate your continued support of my projects.  You and your visits make this all worthwhile!  Here's to a creative (and experimental) 2016.