Very simple studio intentions for the year ahead.

This time of year, I typically narrow down ideas for a “word” for the new year. I’ve done this for the past 5 years or so. And I’ve also started gathering a list of “words” and broader intentions for my studio work. Fellow artists/creatives, if you’ve never considered keeping a list of “intentions” for your work, here’s a great podcast episode on intentions on The Messy Studio Podcast I’d highly recommend.

And here’s a really simple list of words I’m thinking on lately in studio. When I look at these in relation to 2-D art-making they spark a lot of ideas for me. I’d love to know if they do the same for you. I hope you can glean from this list for your own creative purposes—whether it’s traditional art making or not.

• Slow

  adjective – requiring a long time; low, gentle

• Reverence

  noun – honor or respect felt or shown

• Light

  noun – something that makes vision possible

• Pace

  noun – rate of movement or progress

• Steady

  adjective – unfaltering, stable, dependable, not easily disturbed or upset

• Marked

  adjective - having a distinctive or emphasized character

• Respite

  noun – a period of temporary delay; an interval of rest or relief

• Almost

  adverb – very nearly but not exactly or entirely

• Space

  noun – physical space independent of what occupies it

• Tension

  noun – a balance maintained

• Ethereal

  adjective – lacking material substance; celestial, heavenly, unworldly


• Open

  adjective – completely free from concealment; presenting no obstacle to passage or view

All words cited from: Merriam-Webster.com. 2021. (2023).