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Which brings us to each year’s communal celebration of the passing of our lifetimes:
New Year’s Eve
So what did you “actually get done” in the past year? How closer are you to a grand goal in life? An assessment is made and then the inevitable Step 2 of the yearly process is engaged, which is often a word for word repeat of last year’s Step 2:
The New Year’s Resolution
There seem to be two main strategies that emerge at this point of facing the New Year, a “brand new morning.” The lone wolf quietly acknowledges goals not yet reached, and is even more secretive in the “new plan.” “I’ll show them,” becomes the new private mantra. It works for some people, but my experience has been that I’m splurging on Star Wars memorabilia by Valentine’s Day.
I’ve found that rather than making secret contracts with myself, a much higher success rate is always achieved as a combination of two other elements.
Pablo Picasso
To a truly worthy vision, maybe even one that cannot be achieved in a year, but in a lifetime, is just the sort of quest that engages the starving soul so much more than the common shaving a few digits off of the weight scale. (I personally implemented the "no cookie left behind" program this holiday season so I might want to think about that one too.) But the truth is, New Year’s comes but once a year. It would seem better to me to go big or not at all. Pick projects of real importance in your life – ones that require the more personal attention and dedication to the better.
Should not be a dirty word in the strategies of personal achievement. It has been my experience that the more genuinely useful support I’ve received from the like-minded (as well as the merely curious) has always gone a long way to keeping my Big Picture from faltering. When the potholes in the road forward begin to resemble archeological digs, as it seems they usually do, there’s nothing more heartening in being able to take it all in stride than a word of admiration, advice or encouragement from a fellow dA community member.
In his book "Outliers" Malcolm Gladwell outlines the 10,000-Hour Rule, the thought being that spending ten thousand hours practicing a particular discipline is necessary for mastery of that skill. He also brings up the importance of support in the from family, friends, and mentors in the ultimates success of an individual. No one achieves the highest summit's of success alone. No one. Even the most unique vision requires the nurture of human camaraderie if it is to be developed to it's fullest potential and efficacy.
I find myself thinking about recent achievements as well as a grand vision currently in formation here at deviantART, and how much the atmosphere of this community – how much dedication to art and artists, and how much they are supported and support each other – and I can’t wait to see where life will take all of us in this new year. A tough statement to put out there, considering the unbearable horrors that have recently rained down in our world from weather catastrophes, classroom atrocities, civil wars and the violence related to a radically altered political landscape around the world. But it’s true. I am still hopeful. I am still ready to rededicate my dreams on New Year’s Eve. I’m not sure I’d be making that statement were I not now ensconced and engaged in the deviantART community. But as Kurt Vonnegut used to say, “So it goes.”
For the Reader
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If not, why not?
Does a goal achieved with the help and support of friends in any way diminish the power of that achievement, or does it become something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation?
What’s the most farfetched resolution you’ve ever declared?
What is your yearly resolution that has still never been achieved?
Do you think it helps to rededicate oneself to a cause, no matter how large or small, regardless of how many times the attempt has failed?
Can you share with us the personal discipline system that works for you as an artist in bringing your work to a next level?
More specifically do you have any tips for those of us balancing multiple responsibilities along with our creative endeavors?
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If not, why not?
no, just no, because no
they just bring disaster anyway, lets not push it is my new idea behind not making any
2.
Does a goal achieved with the help and support of friends in any way diminish the power of that achievement, or does it become something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation?
it becomes something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation
3.
What’s the most farfetched resolution you’ve ever declared?
ones that claim control over happiness and success, as if it is in your own hands...
4.
What is your yearly resolution that has still never been achieved?
kinda in the answer above...
5.
Do you think it helps to rededicate oneself to a cause, no matter how large or small, regardless of how many times the attempt has failed?
redefine happiness and success, take it from another angle, or just not make resolution anymore..
6.
Can you share with us the personal discipline system that works for you as an artist in bringing your work to a next level?
taking classes!
7.
More specifically do you have any tips for those of us balancing multiple responsibilities along with our creative endeavors?
follow the fun
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If not, why not?
no, just no, because no
they just bring disaster anyway, lets not push it is my new idea behind not making any
2.
Does a goal achieved with the help and support of friends in any way diminish the power of that achievement, or does it become something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation?
it becomes something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation
3.
What’s the most farfetched resolution you’ve ever declared?
ones that claim control over happiness and success, as if it is in your own hands...
4.
What is your yearly resolution that has still never been achieved?
kinda in the answer above...
5.
Do you think it helps to rededicate oneself to a cause, no matter how large or small, regardless of how many times the attempt has failed?
redefine happiness and success, take it from another angle, or just not make resolution anymore..
6.
Can you share with us the personal discipline system that works for you as an artist in bringing your work to a next level?
taking classes!
7.
More specifically do you have any tips for those of us balancing multiple responsibilities along with our creative endeavors?
follow the fun
sometimes
2. Does a goal achieved with the help and support of friends in any way diminish the power of that achievement, or does it become something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation?
ummm im not sure, never really tried that.
3. What’s the most farfetched resolution you’ve ever declared?
to tell the guy i have a crush on how much i like him (this years resolution) and to actually be five feet tall (im a miget)
4. What is your yearly resolution that has still never been achieved?
to be five feet tall
5. Do you think it helps to rededicate oneself to a cause, no matter how large or small, regardless of how many times the attempt has failed?
yah, it feels good when you actually do one of them and they end successful
6. Can you share with us the personal discipline system that works for you as an artist in bringing your work to a next level?
itspretty much talking to people about what they liked and didnt like about my art and asking for suggestions or ideas. and its also pushing yourself to do better or try something new, getting out of your comfort zone.
7. More specifically do you have any tips for those of us balancing multiple responsibilities along with our creative endeavors?
to do your best, i am one of those artists and i try to stay at the top of my game. making deadlines for art helps. if you are writing stories make a deadline for when the next chapter should come, but if you are busy just do it in your spare time. i try to have certain things done, even though i have to juggle school and work at home to do. as long as you have fun, its cool~!
A: No, I usually make mine in May-April, June if I'm being really lazy. It's mostly because I'm more likely to keep it if I'm not swamped with distractions like school, taxes, and family things (for whatever reason spring is the busiest time of the year for my family). Doing it this way, I've managed to keep my resolutions, even if I alter them a little on the way.
Q: Does a goal achieved with the help and support of friends in any way diminish the power of that achievement, or does it become something made all the more memorable and special because of the participation?
A: Depends on the goal. Some things I've resolved to do just couldn't be shared.
Q: What’s the most farfetched resolution you’ve ever declared?
A: Find a way to win the lottery. (-_-')
Q: What is your yearly resolution that has still never been achieved?
A: To gather the courage to wear a bikini (or anything belly showing) in a public place.
Q: Do you think it helps to rededicate oneself to a cause, no matter how large or small, regardless of how many times the attempt has failed?
A: Definitely, you can't get there if you quit.
deviantART muro drawing
To answer the questions:
1 - Sometimes. It depends on how many goals are on my to-do list. This year I didn't make any because I still have some from last year that I have to realize.
2 - It depends on the goal, but in most cases, yes. Especailly if it is something that has to do with (traditional) art, I feel bad because I was not able to do it completely myself, that's why I do such stuff mostly without any help. If it has to do with level design/mapping and level editing, help is welcome though since it is a more technical "art-style" (officially not considered art where I am from though, an opinion, which I simply refuse accept, it's just as much art as any other form of 3-dimensional art. That it is made for a game doesn't matter to me, infact I consider that harder because you have to create pretty visuals with good gameplay while pure 3D art is "just" about the visuals and composition). Bugs MUST be found before the project hits its final stage or people will be angry and for that kind of bughunting I have a certian set of testers which I met through the mapping/level designing scene. If it is traditional art, it would not feel as if I accomplished it myself, I prefer the privacy of the "development stage" until it is finished and usually only then show off what I have made to ask for feedback to try again later (which is part of the discipline question below (6)).
3 - That is private, but I never really expected that it would work anyway as this is not within my powers.
4 - It has to do with 3.
5 - Since I am stubborn, yes. If something doesn't work out as I wanted it to, I give it a new try and redraw it from scratch! In fact, I first wanted to directly draw my drawing of the Christmas Girl in my gallery without investing too much time in a sketch so I drew a skeleton and then the simple shapes - but then I accidentally smeared it and so I decided: "Whatever, this is just a sketch, next one will be the real thing" and the next one was the real thing (at the moment just lineart though, f I mess that one up, I'll retry it again and again and again).
6 - Basically what I have mentioned at the end of answer 2. Additionally to that, I increase the level of difficulty gradually with every picture and I do that with different art styles and directions to expand my knowledge and to be flexible. If something doesn't work, I'll try again and again and again. I'm a stubborn person in that manner and don't give up until I get to create what I wanted to create. If people give negative feedback, I will try to do better next time or even remake the picture from scratch, if I start to dislike it myself.
7 - I suggest to try out what your limits are, this is important otherwise you won't be able to properly plan how to manage everything and you should also give art directions a go of which you previously thought "this is lame" or that didn't interest you at all. You might rediscover art that way and gain experience on a broader range. You will eventually even find out that a certain art style that you might have not even considered before is your strenght and you might fall in love with this art, one, that you can finish fast and with a pretty result which you are satisfied with. If private life gets in the way of the artist life, you might have to make a proper time schedule and if there is little spare-time left, try it with an "art day", for example on the weekend when you sit down and just draw.
Have a nice year everyone and may your resolutions work out!