Goals or intentions tend to fall into two categories that evoke quite different emotions and involve different approaches to reach--things that are problematic and need to be improved, and things that are basically positive and exciting. The first category-- issues and situations that you know you need to work on---can make you anxious and self-critical if you fail to improve. This can lead to a self-defeating loop if you believe you really are not capable of doing better. Instead, realizing what you've accomplished in the past to make progress on these issues, along with small steps you can take to move forward can be helpful.

The other type of goal involves ideas and plans that are exciting, that will help you grow and develop as an artist. These tend to feel energizing and motivating and are the heart of a dynamic art practice. Yet these ideas can also be easily neglected if we don't take them seriously. and implement steps to make them happen. Consider what projects you have abandoned despite your initial interest. What threads in your current work could be pursued in more depth if you give them time and focus? Is it the year for a workshop, artist residency, or a collaborative project? Are there ways you can improve your time management or studio set up to facilitate some new projects?

We all have things we can work on going forward, whether or not we take the New year as that opportunity. As much as anything this is a good time to consider your individual approach to setting and reaching goals, how it works best for you to make changes, in addition to any changes themselves. It is easy to fall into an all or nothing approach with goals and intentions and then feel discouraged and frustrated if you fall short. A middle way in which you accept some change even if you don't entirely succeed can keep you on track and moving forward.

Thanks to everyone who has been sharing the show and donating! If you would like to donate to the Messy Studio Podcast donate here.
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What's new at Cold Wax Academy? Rebecca and Jerry have an exciting Winter Quarter planned with a focus on working with cold wax medium using both abstract and realistic approaches. Members will enjoy opportunities to participate in portfolio reviews and critiques, and of course, engage with the ongoing weekly live sessions that explore featured topics in depth. Cold Wax Academy is the only online teaching platform devoted exclusively to deepening and developing your painting practice in every aspect. Lessons are centered on the range of uses for cold wax medium, but also include important insights and information about all other aspects of art practice. For information about joining this vibrant, international community of artists, and to learn more about cold wax medium, please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com

As always, members have access to recordings of all previous sessions including everything from the first year, so it's easy to join anytime. Winter Quarter begins January 5th. Please visit http://www.coldwaxacademy.com for details about membership levels and to sign up for a year of exciting learning experiences.

Here is what a member named Sandy has to say about her own experience:
"Rebecca and Jerry have presented the most professional, authentic and structured approach to a creative activity I have ever come across. Their selfless sharing of all their knowledge and encouragement is a gift in my life unsurpassed."

Have an art related product, service, or event you would like to advertise on the Messy Studio Podcast?
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The Messy Studio Podcast is a Tick Digital Media Production.

Knowing what is most meaningful to you in your work and applying that knowledge in a flexible way is key. Your intentions, if broad enough, allow for unfolding interpretations over time. You can also think about more narrowly focused and temporary intentions within the bigger picture. These might serve the needs of a particular work of art or series, or be about focusing on learning a new medium

But your most basic, underlying intentions, once recognized, can remain unchanged for decades. They are the “big picture” focus that underlies who you are and what you want to say. What moves you? What qualities do you always want in your work? What ideas have always pulled you? Over time, your expression of these ideas finds different forms, but these basic aspects of who you are remain true.

Acknowledging and writing down your core intentions is a powerful tool. Intentions help you to stay on track and to critique and understand your own work. While the idea of discovering these may seem daunting, it need not be done all at once. Setting intentions can be a work in progress until you feel you have found the essence of what is meaningful to you. At that point, they become a guiding and unifying force in bringing strength and consistency to your work.

Thanks to everyone who has been sharing the show and donating! If you would like to donate to the Messy Studio Podcast donate here.
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Thank you also to everyone who has written testimonials for Ross's website! Have you enjoyed the audio production quality and hearing Ross's voice? Submit a testimonial by email at rticknor.core@gmail.com or by submitting the contact form at www.messystudiopodcast.com!
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When you buy art supplies at Blick remember to use our affiliate link to support the podcast! Bookmark this link and then you don't even have to think about it again. This is one of the best ways to support the show. It takes a few seconds and costs you nothing!

Right now Gamblin products are 40% off, so this is a great time to buy Cold Wax or Gamblin oil paints!
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It's time for an update on the latest news from Cold Wax Academy! Rebecca and her partner Jerry Mclaughlin are now well into their second quarter of weekly Live sessions for their members, in which they explore 3 main topics in deep, interrelated, and engaging ways. This quarter, those topics are Texture, Layering, and Writing and Talking about your Work. Weekly sessions include discussion, slide presentations, videos, critiques, special guests, and the opportunty to ask questions during the session. Cold Wax Academy Members have access to all past sessions, which are recorded each week--so if you're hesitating to join mid-quarter, no worries about missing out. There is plenty for you to explore, and you can watch previous sessions on your own schedule. Jerry and Rebecca offer for a trial month at the Core level for only $29.99. Visit www.coldwaxacademy.com and
and click on the Memberships button.
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Have an art related product, service, or event you would like to advertise on the Messy Studio Podcast?
Email Ross at rticknor.core@gmail.com for current mid-roll advertising rates.
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For more from The Messy Studio:
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www.facebook.com/messystudiopodcast
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For more from Rebecca Crowell:
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The Messy Studio Podcast is a CORE Publication MGMT production.

Intentions both describe and create our experiences. They express who you are, your core selfas well as the desire to continue with your ongoing concerns. Writing intentions down can be a powerful exercise, helping you to establish and integrate what you most want into your practice. The act of writing can set these concepts in motion even below conscious awareness.

How can you arrive at a list of intentions? This requires some introspection, including deeply observing your own work, that of others you admire, and asking yourself how you would like viewers of your work to respond. The process may take a while; some ideas may come to you imediately, in an obvious way, while others require contemplation. Intentions should be broad and not feel limiting--opening up ideas and new directions over time. It's also fine to have some that are closer to goals than actualities, because intentions are for the long haul. Shorter term goals and intentions can also be developed as an aside for specific projects, but the core list should be something that provides guidance, and allows for flexibility and new ideas over time.

Intentions provide many benefits in a practical sense. As a framework for statements about your work, they enable you to write and speak clearly. They also help with self-critique and to stay on track in pursuing ideas. They can refresh your sense of what you want when you are blocked creatively, and aid in your self-esteem and identity as an artist by giving you a sense of control over your art practice.

We hope this episode will help you create your own list of intentions or--if you already have one--reaffirm its importance in your art practice.

This episode is sponsored by Multimedia Artboard. Use promo code "MESSY" at checkout for 30% off!
https://multimediaartboard.com/

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The Messy Studio Podcast is a CORE Publication MGMT production.

In a recent podcast Ross and I talked about the commonalities abstraction has with other approaches to art as well as its unique aspects. We mentioned then that there are challenges for artists working in abstraction and today we’ll talk more about that. How to bring meaning and individuality to the work?

An idea that some find hard to grasp—thinking abstraction is simply design or random occurrences. Yet all you have to do is recognize that people have personal voices and recognizable styles to know that there is more going on than that.

Odd that imagery = meaning for many people. Tied to a strictly literal way of thinking and interpreting. Using only a small part of our means of appreciating the world.

Labeling of imagery can lead to a shallow interpretation of any kind of art including realism—ask more questions, why has the artist chosen the subject matter, how is it handled. True appreciation never stops with identifying subject matter even when it is the most obvious component.

Abstraction—usually imagery is removed from the equation, or if it is there it is handled in a non-illusionistic way. We can jump in more readily to the interesting things—what’s behind the work. Labeling does not need to intrude. Abstraction includes the artist's experiences, emotions, thoughts.

We do accept non-literal associations through our other senses--hearing, smelling, tasting.

Our human brains seek structure and meaning-- but literal image is only one type of structure. Look for how the artist has structured the work as a way in. Notice contrasts, how the visual elements are used and which ones.

As the artist, abstract painting requires abstract thinking. Letting go of labels, letting yourself be carried by ideas, feelings, memories. No need to explain, stay logical. We've all founnd ourselves caught in reveries without visual reference.

At the same time give yourself some structure—identify intentions, preferred elements, use of form and content.

Getting away from linear thinking does NOT mean lack of content. Many things bring meaning to our lives that are not clearly defined.

Sources of abstraction include any aspect of experience you care to bring to your work—in any combination. We can be pulled off track into the familiar when "things" appear as part of the process. this can be very random.

Intuition does not mean finding something identifiable things in the painting but rather playing off important visual elements.

Intentions: important to set them to develop and understand yourself and meaning of your work. Your essential character and core values and feelings. They make your work you. They can evolve over time.

Challenges for Artists /personal voice
Idea that abstract artists as need to be more individualized or unique because they are creating their own realties rather than depicting a shared one as with realism.

BUT like other approaches, there are similar appearances. Ex: geometric abstraction, abstract expressionism.

Learn about artists working in these ways and how your work might be seen in that context, the history and cultural connections among people.

You can feel quite lost without these references. Be open to various influences that mix and enrich your work. Influence doesn't mean it has to have obvious visual siilarities. Can be an intrigue with process, background, thoughts.

What other aspects of your life bring meaning to your work? what are you interested in?

Expressing your complete self is an advantage of abstraction. The multiplicity of influences and sources both external and internal can be very rich. Keep an ongoing awareness of these. This can also include spontaneous, intuitive work.

Involves a lot of personal, inner work--a very examined life. An understanding of yourself.
Intentions involve both personal content and formal aspects (such as exploration of color.)

Be willing to examine your own inner impulses, and for ways to communicate those . be able to think in an abstract way, don't over-explain. Difficult but can look easy to outsiders. Analytic phase interspersed with flow. That takes a lot of experience.

trying to sort all this out may require simplifying, finding a structure, talking about it out loud.
Intuition does play a huge role.

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Special Guest: Jerry McLaughlin.