Reflecting on my Art Practice in 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

As I step into 2025, I’ve been reflecting on my art journey over the past year. 2024 began with small, quick raw umber portrait studies—simple yet incredibly rewarding. These studies were fun and manageable, igniting my excitement to keep practicing and improving.

Soon after, I transitioned to painting with a full palette and felt that I was making real progress. My goal was ambitious (for me): one alla prima study each week. Along the way, I also completed portraits of my daughter and my mom, which were deeply meaningful projects for me.

Then, in May, life threw me a curveball. A significant personal event took all my energy and time, leaving me unable to paint for several months. When I finally returned to my easel in September, I found my energy and time were still limited. I painted infrequently but cherished those moments when I could immerse myself in the process.

For 2025, I want to approach my art practice with a sense of consistency and grace. My goals may be more modest this year, but I’m determined to keep creating. Even if I can only dedicate an hour or two each week, I want to make progress on personal projects and explore new avenues.

One area I’ve been longing to dive into is landscape painting. I’ve already taken a step forward by investing in a course to study master landscape painters. I’m eager to experiment with this genre and see how it influences my work.

Another goal is to rekindle my love for sketching and drawing. I want to approach these practices with playfulness, using them to explore ideas and simply enjoy the act of creating.

2024 had its challenges, but it also reinforced my passion for art and my commitment to growing as an artist. I’m looking forward to what 2025 will bring—new discoveries, challenges, and moments of quiet joy at my easel.