Celebrate your wins
Exhibition in an old boat house from 1862
As a creator (and for most people) it is so easy to become blasé about what you put out there into the world. For me, it feels like it just slips into the shade when it is done. In the shade it simply gets lost from view, and the inner critic sneaks in. Was it really any good at all? Should I just be embarrassed for sticking my neck out? I then move on to the next thing, never really stopping to reflect, as I mostly just cringe over the things I am not proud of. If I sit down and make a list over all I did during a year though, I often feel surprised. Did I really do all that? It is so easy to compare yourself to other people, they might be great successes in the field, posting amazing work on social media every single week. Seing them from the outside they all seem so productive, creative and brilliant. But lets f#ck the cringe and write a list:
What I did so far in 2026
Painting commission for Mia. Creating art that was genuine to Mia. Acrylic paint on a 100/50 cm canvas. Posting it to her in Finland.
Finishing the online “30 day sketchbook challenge”
Monoprint wknd workshop with Ruth Anders “Making a mark”
Monoprint course with Ruth Anders “Hand print happiness” (6 of 8 modules completed)
Creating 19 collage works from monoprint within a set framework. (Sold 7, scrapped and reworked 3). The goal is to create 20, so maybe the 3 I scrapped means I have only really done 16? Think of the goal as learning (the 3 scrapped ones count) or honor the goal of 20 framable pirces(create another 3)?
Creating 4 pure monoprints for sale. (Not collage, sold 1)
Dearing to put out there a weird, large abstract piece for sale. (sold!)
Creating postcards of selected monoprints for sale (50 created, sold 44 of them so far)
Exhibition in a local boat house. Exhibiting some of my own works and a selection of local artist Marit Utvær original works. Helping old Liv create an exhibit of her collection of embroidery, first writing down the history and stories attached to the works, then creating professionally designed exhibition posters and having them printed with a local print house. The community helped, and some also exhibited handcrafted works for sale. Many people came to see on both openings days, and also on our final day after summer, creating a sense of a community that is alive and vibrant.
Creating a digital work from the collection of embroideries. Printing 10 postcards and an A3 poster. (Sold).
Creating a logo for a friends punk band
creating a website and posters for my local art club
Planning and completing a creative art activity for all ages for my local art club at “Måløydagene”
Doing small creative workshops for my local art club (collagraph, collage, composition, drip paint)
Staring a mentor group with another artist, with monthly meetings
Finishing a shell sculpture i had planned for ages
Finishing another doodle adventure drawing
