Art Goals

Art goals are important to have if you are an artist or own and arts-related business. Art goals help to keep you accountable as an artist and keep you focused. Read more about different types of art goals and how to make art goals below!

Art Goals -How to Create Them

You should make sure you are creating SMART goals. Art goals that are specific, measurable, actionable, relevant to you and timely (there is a time frame or a deadline). For example some art goals might be:

I want to create three landscape paintings by the end of the month so that I can list them on my website and sell them.

S- specific - landscape paintings

M-measurable- I am going to create three paintings - I know I have completed my goal because I will have created three paintings

A-actionable- My action steps are going to be tasks to complete the goal like planning the paintings, buying supplies, setting up supplies and painting the paintings

R-relevant - This goal is relevant to me because when I accomplish the goal then I will be able to list the paintings on my website to sell and the money helps me stay in business.

T-timely- I will create the three paintings by the end of the month - that is the deadline.

How Many Art Goals Should I Create?

You want to find the number of art goals that is right for your schedule. If art is a full-time job or you want it to be your full-time job then maybe try to have 3-5 goals every 12 weeks. If your art is something you work on for fun or on a part-time basis then stick to 1-3 goals every 12 weeks.

Books on Art Goals

A great book on art goals that I recently read is called the 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. This book is a great productivity book explaining how you can accomplish more in less time while keeping yourself accountable to reach your goals

Another great book is Atomic Habits by James Clear that explains the process of habits and how to use small daily habits to reach your goals.

Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable

Here are some ways to hold yourself accountable to reach your art goals and make your art goals a reality.

Write your goals down daily -you are more likely to achieve your goals by doing this
Talk about your goals to a supportive friend or partner
Post a copy of your art goals by your bed and review them when you wake up and go to bed
Reward yourself or celebrate when you complete your art goals
Break your goals into smaller manageable chunks/steps
Turn off distractions so you can focus on your goals for a few hours a day
Look for times in your day when you can be productive -like waking up earlier, doing work in a waiting room or commute etc.

What Kinds of Art Goals Do You Need?

It is important to define what success looks like to you. Is your art just for fun, do you want to make money off your art. Is your art a side hustle or a full-time career? Once you have defined success and your vision of your life with your art then you will be able to plan your goals.

Here Are Some Ideas for Your Art Goals:

Revenue goals - I want to make $_________ in my art business by doing__________
Art creation goals - I want to create ______________by this date
Art research goals - I want to learn about this technique or material by this date
Art experimentation goals - I want to try this new material
Art time goals - I want to spend ______more hours a week making art
Art exposure goals - I want to grow my social media/email list, number of exhibitions etc. by this amount

You can also have goals related to your art practice like having a goal related to sleep or healthy habits might give you more energy so you want to make art more. Or having a goal related to time management might give you more time to make art.