Now that we are into the last week of the year and we probably are all going to make those new year resolutions, I want us to first look back at how far we have come.
I know a lot of times when you are trying to achieve new heights and move forward in your endeavors you will hear sayings like "Don't look back. You'll miss
what's in front of you" but I have also heard saying like "Don't look back unless it's a good view". I definitely say don't look back when you are working hard to achieve new goals, but I do think as an artist it is rewarding, educational and sometimes humbling to look back at works you did years and years ago.
I hope you've saved some of your first created works of art. You probably didn't save the ones that didn't turn out but hopefully, you
created some that were good enough to sell or give away to friends and family or maybe you have some packed away.
If you get the chance this week try and look at some of your older works. I got that chance this week when I went to over to my mom and dad's house for Christmas. Some of my older work that hangs in my folks home I liked and some that I won't admit I did, but mom likes them all so they are staying.
Looking back at
older works should give you a good sense of achievement. It also shows how much you have grown as an artist. If you haven't painted that long and you can only look back a year or two, it still is good to look. It is good to see how you have grown but if there isn't much growth then look to see how you can grow from the older work. look at what you don't like and see if you can change that to create something that you do like. Critiquing one's own work, old or new is always a good
thing for an artist to do.
Here is to you looking ahead to achieve great paintings, but never forget to look back at where you came from!
