Creative Resolutions for 2024

Happy New Year!

It's resolution time! I've been making creative resolutions for longer than I've been blogging. I wish I could go back and see my very first set, but they're long gone. The oldest set I have documented are my 2011 resolutions. It is fascinating to see how my priorities and focus have changed over the years.

Before setting new goals for 2024, let's look at how I did in 2023. (Spoiler: Poorly. And I'm totally ok with that.)

Of the eight resolutions I made, I completed two and made partial progress on two. 

First, the resolutions I completed: 

• I made projects for each of the books in my Library Roulette game. It was really fun, and definitely stretched me creatively. The projects are very diverse. I particularly enjoyed drawing kawaii vegetables and exploring quilt designs in paper. 
• I used a bunch of new-to-me art supplies, including: Ohuhu markers, gouache, paint sticks, blending brushes, Folk Art Dots, and Apple Barrel Paint Pens. There are probably more, but those are the ones that come to mind. 

I gave myself partial credit for two resolutions:

• I made 45 scrapbook layouts in 2023. That's seven short of the one-per-week goal, or 87%. Definitely a solid effort. I played along with multiple events at BYSS, so the layouts I did make don't all feature my go-to grid. 
• I came close to filling my sketchbook. In fact, I probably would have filled it if I hadn't painted over some of the pages that weren't working for me. In late November, I thought about making a last push to fill the final pages, but ultimately decided not to force it. I've learned that, in general, I don't love using a sketchbook. I prefer the freedom to cut paper to the size I want it and for everything to be perfectly flat while I work and later when I scan it.

All four of the resolutions I didn't complete still interest me: 

• I definitely want to take more painting and/or drawing classes, but I didn't prioritize them in 2023. I plan to in 2024. 
• I tried multiple times throughout the year to take an edible art class, but couldn't find what I was looking for on a date that worked. (I did take an Italian cooking class as well as a fantastic ramen class, but neither count as edible art.) 
• I did not make Caldecott-inspired art, but still really want to. I did make art inspired by Eric Carle (and visited The Carle in Massachusetts!) but sadly - and surprisingly - Eric Carle never won a Caldecott. 
• My crafty besties and I talked many times about visiting two art reuse stores, but we never found a date to actually do it. We might do this in 2024, but I'm not going to list it as a resolution. 

So why am I (a nerdy A-student type) ok with failing to complete so many of my creative resolutions? There are several reasons, but the main one is that I did a lot of other things I'm proud of. Our family met our goal of visiting all 50 states. We took in our first foster rabbit. I hit a big Duolingo milestone (and became a lot more comfortable speaking Spanish). I did a lot of volunteer work. I attended my first in-person travel conference. I tried speed puzzling for the first time. I've grown as a person and have done a lot of new things, which is the whole point of creative resolutions. 

Here are my creative resolutions for 2024:

Have you made creative resolutions for 2024? If so, please tell me in the comments what you hope to accomplish!