My friend, Jessica, gives every coming year a theme. During a recent walk together, she said, “This new year is my ‘Year of Clarity and Communication.’” Last year was the “Year of the Phoenix” and she rebuilt parts of her home, her emotional frameworks, and her professional networks. By setting a theme each year, she defines her core purpose of the year and has a mantra to stay focused. It’s a very creative approach to strategic planning, and it got me thinking; what if artists had a strategic plan for creativity? 
As a marketing consultant, I create strategic plans for clients all the time. What if we took those same tools (and added in a dash of Jessica’s process) and created your 2025 artist’s plan? So here we go. Here is how to create your 12-month artist’s plan, stick with it, and make 2025 your “Year of Unleashing Creativity.” 

Write Your Artist's Vision

First, we start with your vision. Know what you want. Maybe your vision includes selling more work or being featured in a specific show or gallery. Perhaps you want to finish a particular piece (or pieces) or master a new technique. Make a statement of your vision in the present tense. Here are three examples:

You can also envision your creative process. Maybe you want to take self-criticism or procrastination out of your process. Think about how improving your process could positively affect your creativity. You could create a vision of that.