Yes, I am a New Year Resolutioner and proud of it!! While I hear some naysayers out there, I will tell you, I think long and hard about my resolutions. I usually begin late fall, reflecting on achievements from the year, putting tasks or items on my mental wish list for the upcoming year. I’ve always believed in the saying

~ ‘if you don’t toot your own horn, nobody else will do it for you!’  ~

So first, I’m going to CELEBRATE my achievements from 2009;

1. Let’s Reminisce – January 27th, 2009 on my blog, I announced to my clients, friends, colleagues and most importantly myself that I was moving on from Coloured Pencil media and delving full-time into the world as an Oil Painter. Here I am one year later, successfully building my portfolio and my reputation as just that. I have no regrets and honestly it was the best choice I ever made.

At this time I must truly thank all my clients and collectors who trusted and believed that I could make the transition successfully. There were a number of you (and you know who you are 🙂 ) that hired me as a coloured pencil artist and ended up with an oil painting. Judging from your kind words and enthusiasm with the finished product, I know I didn’t let you down.

2. Olympic Horse Commission – Gran Gesto  – In June I attended my first professional oil painting workshop at the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. I studied the techniques of John Singer Sargent. Considering I had never done a workshop or let alone painted a human before, I was quite nervous! However I completed it, and with it came a new understanding of oils as well as who I was becoming as a painter. I started my commission of Gran Gesto over after the workshop and completed it in the fall. Handing that painting over to our Canadian Team rider Jacquie Brooks and feeling her excitement was certainly the top professional moment of my year.

3. Perseverance – Immediately after the Gran Gesto painting was delivered I was given a wonderful opportunity by client Erin McLaughlin, editor of Canadian Gardening Magazine. Her home was being photographed the following week for the February 2010 issue of Style at Home Magazine.  In my studio, I tend to work on one commission at a time to completion. Now, the Gran Gesto painting had just been delivered, I had very limited time to wrap my head around finishing Erin’s painting. It was started, but NOT complete.

To meet the deadline, I painted like I’ve never painted before. The day before it was due, I felt very defeated, like I would never have something to show for it. However, I persevered.  I painted through the night ~ all night and into the next morning – 36 hours straight. I was exhausted, but two BIG paintings ended leaving the house and were included in the shoot.  They are on page 76 and you can get it on magazine racks across Canada starting today. 🙂

So enough celebrating 2009, and onto 2010.   What does it look like?  Where am I going?? After thinking long and hard I decided this year I’m climbing mountains!!

That’s right – I am a MOUNTAINEER!!

While I have specific life and career goals for 2010 such as;  keeping a sketch journal, traveling to workshops, colour study, eating clean and being ‘present’ with my home life; My key overall objective for 2010 is consistency.   I recognize can loose direction and get frazzled when ‘life’ happens.  Much of the time it’s my reaction to ‘life’ rather than resolving what actually happened ~ thus causing IN-consistency.

When I took a moment to think about what consistency actually looked like, I envisioned a mountain climber. Slow and steady, one foot in front the other, never losing course. They are methodical, courageous and brave. Plus I believe there is a prize when you get to the top?!! So this is me as we go into 2010.

Please wish me luck and I’m interested to know where you are going in 2010!!??