Well, to say that blogging eluded me in 2017 is an understatement. After declaring my word of the year - INTENTION - I promptly disappeared. Whoops! Ha. Well, unless you’re judging my success by frequency of blog posts, I actually did fairly well with my word! I wanted to be more focused on very specific art goals, and I did that. I also wanted to be more intentional with my actions as a mom and I’m finding some routines that keep me from losing my mind and allow me to enjoy time with these fellas without always feeling like I should be cleaning or folding something. 

Onward to 2018! I’ve been puzzling over a word to choose for a few weeks, and while I could easily pick the same one (and will still keep it in mind), I want to give myself something fresh to think about, so (drumroll….) this year’s word is TEND. 

I like two definitions in particular: 

to go or move in a particular direction. “the road tends west around small mountains”

and

care for or look after; give one’s attention to.

I like it because it applies to maintaining all of the things I worked on in 2017 as well as the direction I want to take this year.  The word nerd in me also like the softness of it and the romantic images it evokes of tending a runaway garden. It’s nice to think of all of the pieces of my day as vines I can gently put back into place when they get a little tangled. 

One specific resolution I have is tending my relationships. It’s easy to get wrapped up in daily tasks with kids and not connect with friends and family - especially with so many distant ones - and before I know it huge swaths of time have passed in the blink of an eye. Being a better caretaker of those relationships is an important goal for me. 

My art world this last year was all about staying focused on process, which has been really calming. Just exploring without as much pressure is like taking a deep breath. Especially with acrylics, it was a needed breath, and I’m in a place that makes me feel so, so happy with them right now. In the words of my Ninjago-obsessed 3-year old - I am seeking “my full potential.”  Ha. Sensei Wu, Splinter, and Super Why will all agree that the learning process is the important part. Tending that process will mostly be a matter of discipline (again: ninja) and spending the time I need in the studio. 

As always, thanks for following along as I explore this painting life and I hope you all have a wonderful 2018. I’ll try to do better with blogging, but for constant updates Instagram is my favorite. If you’re choosing a word of your own, please share! I love to follow along with other people too.