Reflecting on Your Art of the Year Past

Time for a little New Year’s Eve bonus post! I thought it would be fun to look back on the year as we begin our steps into the next one.

The end of the year always seems to come out of nowhere, doesn’t it? One minute, you’re buried in projects, wondering how you’ll ever get it all done, and the next, the holidays are here, and you’re feeling a weird mix of tired and hopeful. In the middle of all that, it’s worth taking a breath and looking back. Not in a big, dramatic way — just a simple check-in. How did your art change in 2024? What felt different? What stayed the same? What caught you off guard?

Reflecting isn’t about beating yourself up for what you didn’t do. It’s about noticing your creative journey and giving yourself credit for it. The good stuff, the hard stuff, the unexpected stuff — it all counts. Whether you’re a full-time artist, a hobbyist, or somewhere in the middle, your art practice shifted in some way this year. Maybe you tried a new medium or tackled a new subject on purpose. Or maybe life threw you a curveball and you had to step away from your work for a while. No matter what, it matters. Taking time to reflect helps you see the progress you made, even if it wasn’t the progress you planned.

You can start by thinking back to lastJanuary. Where were you creatively? What were you working on? Did you have any goals in mind? Maybe you started the year feeling focused and ready. Or maybe you felt a little lost, unsure what direction to take. Either way, it’s okay. The important part is just noticing where you were. I like to pull out my sketchbook with my “lists” (one of my go-to’s for organizing my thoughts!) and see what I was interested in setting a goal for and to think about if I wanted to continue it for this year or to let it go. (it’s also ok to let it go!)

Now, think about where you are today. How has your work shifted? Are you making different kinds of art now? If you’re into abstract art, maybe you explored new textures or shapes this year. If you work with figures, maybe your themes got more personal, or maybe you played with light and color in new ways. Even if your art looks pretty much the same, maybe how you feel about it is different. Maybe you’re more confident in your style, or maybe you’re still wrestling with the same ideas but from a new angle. That’s growth, too.

Reflection also means being honest about the tough parts. Art isn’t always a smooth ride. There are days (or weeks, or months) when it’s just hard. Maybe you felt stuck, lost motivation, or a project didn’t go how you wanted. Maybe life stuff got in the way. It’s frustrating, but it’s all part of the deal. Instead of judging yourself, try to be curious. What did those challenges teach you? Did they push you to try something new? Did they help you figure out what really matters in your art? Sometimes the hard stuff leads to the most important shifts, even if you don’t see it right away.

And what about the surprises? Maybe you finished a piece that you’d been putting off forever. Maybe you got into a show or sold a piece unexpectedly. Maybe someone gave you feedback that made you see your work differently. Those little wins, even if they weren’t part of your plan, are worth celebrating. They’re reminders that growth doesn’t always follow the path you expect.

If you’re someone who handles the business side of art, think about how that went, too. Did you figure out a better way to price your work? Try a new approach to promoting yourself? Collaborate with other artists? The business side can be tough, especially when all you want to do is create. If you made any progress there, no matter how small, give yourself some credit. And if you didn’t, that’s okay. Knowing where you’re at now can help you set goals for next year that actually feel doable.

For those of you juggling art with a day job or other responsibilities, think about how that balance went. Did you find ways to fit art into your life, even when it felt impossible? Did you learn to be more flexible with your expectations? It’s never easy, but reflecting can help you figure out routines that work for you.

As someone who teaches art and makes art, I know how easy it is to lose track of your own growth. You’re so busy with the next project or the next deadline that you forget to look back. But when you pause for a minute, it can be grounding. It reminds you why you started in the first place. It shows you how resilient and creative you are, even when things are hard. And it can help you figure out where you want to go next.

So as 2024 wraps up, take a moment to reflect on your art journey. Maybe write it down. Or talk it out with a fellow artist or a friend. You might be surprised by what you find. Maybe you’ll see that you’re closer to your goals than you thought. Maybe you’ll notice patterns in your work that you hadn’t seen before. Or maybe you’ll just feel grateful that you kept going, no matter what.

Reflection isn’t about tying everything up neatly. It’s about seeing and appreciating the messy, beautiful process of being an artist. And that’s always worth celebrating.