Reflecting on Your Art Journey in 2024 & Setting the Stage for a Transformational 2025

As we approach the end of another year, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and take stock of your artistic journey.

How has 2024 been for you as an artist?

Are you proud of the paintings you’ve created?

Did you make progress toward your artistic goals?

Or do you feel like you fell short of what you hoped to achieve?

This period of reflection isn’t about self-criticism; rather, it’s about learning, growing, and setting the stage for a more intentional and successful year ahead.

Whether you’re celebrating your best year yet or facing some disappointments, the good news is this: 2025 is a blank canvas, ready for you to fill with creativity, growth, and new opportunities.

Let’s dive into some thoughts on reviewing the year just gone, and I’ll share five practical tips to help you refocus and achieve greater results with your painting in 2025.

Reflecting on 2024: What Did You Learn?

Every brushstroke, every finished painting (and even the ones you abandoned!) holds valuable lessons. Start by asking yourself these questions:

What went well?

Did you complete more paintings than you expected? Did you master a particular technique or style? Did you find joy in painting regularly? Celebrate those wins, no matter how small.

What were the challenges?

Perhaps you struggled with consistency, felt stuck in a creative rut, or lacked confidence in your abilities. Acknowledge these challenges without judgment—they’re stepping stones toward improvement.

How have you grown as an artist?

Growth isn’t always measured in the number of finished paintings or accolades. Maybe you’ve gained more patience with your process or learned to see the world with a painter’s eye. Reflect on how your perspective has evolved.

By taking time to review 2024, you’ll gain clarity on what worked, what didn’t, and where you want to head next. The key is to carry these insights forward into your planning for 2025.

5 Tips to Make 2025 Your Best Artistic Year Yet

Here are five actionable steps to help you set meaningful goals, stay motivated, and see measurable results with your painting in 2025.

1. Set Clear and Specific Goals

Vague goals like “I want to paint more” or “I want to improve” often lead to frustration because they lack direction. Instead, focus on clear, actionable objectives. For example:

• Complete one painting every month.
• Dedicate 5 hours a week to painting.
• Experiment with a new medium or subject matter every quarter.

Write your goals down and revisit them regularly. The more specific you are, the easier it will be to measure your progress and stay on track.

2. Create a Painting Schedule and Stick to It

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to let your art practice take a back seat. In 2025, commit to a regular painting schedule that fits your lifestyle. Whether it’s 30 minutes a day or a few hours every weekend, consistency is the key to improvement. Treat this time as sacred—your creative oasis in a busy world.

Pro tip: Block out painting sessions on your calendar, just like you would for any other important appointment.

3. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection

As artists, we can be our own worst critics. In 2025, make it a goal to embrace imperfection and focus on progress instead. Each painting, even the ones you don’t love, is a step forward. Allow yourself to experiment, take risks, and learn from mistakes. Remember, every master artist was once a beginner!

Consider keeping a painting journal to track your growth. Write down what you learned from each piece, what you’d do differently next time, and what you’re proud of.

4. Invest in Your Artistic Growth

Improvement doesn’t happen by accident—it requires intentional effort. Make 2025 the year you invest in your skills and knowledge. Here are a few ways to do this:

• Take an art course or workshop (online or in-person).
• Join a local painting group or community.
• Study the work of master artists and try to replicate their techniques.
• Set aside time for deliberate practice, focusing on specific skills like color mixing, composition, or brushwork.

The more you invest in learning, the more confident and capable you’ll become as an artist.

5. Share Your Work and Celebrate Your Wins

Sharing your art can be intimidating, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. In 2025, challenge yourself to put your paintings out into the world, whether through social media, an art show, or a group exhibition, or selling them online. You’ll build confidence, connect with other artists, and open yourself up to new opportunities.

And don’t forget to celebrate your achievements—big or small! Every completed painting, every new skill mastered, and every moment spent creating is worth acknowledging.

Create An Annual Benchmark Painting

Years ago I joined a gym to start doing some weight training. The first thing they had me do was a one rep strength test to gauge my current level.

We can apply this to our art journey. At this time of year one of the things I encourage our members to do is create what I call a “Benchmark Painting”. This is where you apply focus and concentration on creating the very best painting that you can with your current skills and knowledge.

This might be a larger painting that you put more time and effort in to. Or a different subject or style than you are used to doing.

The point is though we make this the very best painting we can do at the moment. This then becomes our benchmark.

Once we have our benchmark painting we put in place plans to improve upon it. The goal being that when we do our next benchmark painting in 12 months time we hope to see significant improvement in your work.

Set some time aside over the next few weeks and create your benchmark painting.

Looking Ahead to 2025: A Year of Possibility

Imagine yourself at the end of 2025, reflecting on the year. What do you want to look back on? A collection of paintings you’re proud of? A newfound sense of confidence and skill? A deeper connection to your creative process?

The truth is, you have the power to shape your artistic journey. By setting clear goals, staying consistent, and embracing the ups and downs of the creative process, you’ll set yourself up for a year of incredible growth and fulfillment.

So, as you close the chapter on 2024, take a moment to honor how far you’ve come. Then, pick up your brush and step boldly into 2025 with renewed focus and enthusiasm. Your best work is still ahead of you.

Ready to make great improvement in your painting? Join our 8 week study program here:
https://learntopaint.academy/mmop-2-0-brush-set/