Creator Royalties #049: 5 Tips for Achieving Your Creative Goals in 2024

January 23, 2024

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🤗 This week's edition of Creator Royalties is all about goal-setting, and how you can stay on track even if the excitement of the new year is wearing off.

Scroll down for our usual rundown of weekly artist grants and opportunities, as well as art drops.

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5 Tips for Achieving Your Creative Goals in 2024

The excitement of the new year might be starting to wear off…so we thought it would be helpful to provide a thoughtful and strategic approach towards setting and achieving your creative goals in 2024.

Sustainable creative goals aren’t just about creating art. They are also about making sure your creative endeavors are aligned with your values. Here are our five essential tips for turning your goals into reality.

Let’s get started!

#1: Identify your values

Understanding your values is fundamental to shaping your artistic journey. Remember, values can change, and that’s ok! Before you start setting your goals, reconsider your leading values and take time to reflect on what truly matters to you as an artist.

To help you out, refer to this non-exhaustive list to get started. Consider the themes, messages, and emotions you want to convey through your work, and pick those that resonate with you.

Example list of brand values

💡 Our Tip — less is more
While there is no specific rule for how many values you can have, try to identify no more than 3-5 values that (i) most resonates with you as an artist and (ii) help connect you to your desire to create art.

By establishing a strong foundation of values, you'll create art that resonates deeply with both yourself and your audience and most importantly, make important decisions on how to spend your time!

#2: Start with your why

Dig into the roots of your artistic passion. Reflect upon what inspired you to become an artist, and ask yourself what made you start creating in the first place. Collage artist Post Wook recently shared with us how she drew inspiration from someone she met early in her career in politics — something she refers to as her glow stick moment.

Connecting with your underlying motivation will fuel your commitment during challenging times. If nothing comes to mind, we often find it helpful to consider what problem you are attempting to solve in your work as another alternative.

💡 Our Tip — the Five Whys exercise

Developed initially to handle problem solving at Toyota, this exercise is simple and powerful. The Five Whys is a problem-solving technique that involves repeatedly asking "Why" to uncover the root cause of an issue.

By iteratively questioning and examining the responses, it helps to identify the underlying factors contributing to a problem or situation.

#3: Establish 2-3 big creative goals

Set specific and ambitious creative goals for the year ahead. Identify two to three major milestones that align with your artistic vision. These goals should challenge you to push your boundaries and unlock new levels of creativity. They can also in Jack’s case below be a new way of working.

Ultimately, whether it's completing a significant project, mastering a new technique, or showcasing your work in a specific venue, having clear objectives will help to propel you forward.

💡 Our Tip — get as specific as possible

Instead of writing down that you will apply to five open calls, research and write down the deadlines of five specific Open Call opportunities to which you want to apply.

Then, make note of the specific requirements and work backwards to make sure you are in good shape to participate.

#4: Stay on track

Maintaining focus and discipline is crucial as you navigate the artistic landscape. Break down your big creative goals into smaller, manageable tasks.

💡 Our tip — don’t underestimate the importance of time management.

Create a timeline or schedule to track your progress. Strategies like time blocking can make sure that you are spending the right amount of time on both creating and other important things like marketing, tax management, etc. that support your art.

#5: Find accountability partners

Enlist the support of fellow artists, friends, or mentors to hold you accountable. Share your goals and progress with a supportive community that understands your artistic journey.

Whether through regular check-ins, collaborative projects, or shared milestones, accountability fosters a sense of responsibility and motivation, helping you stay committed to your artistic path.

💡 Our Tip — learn with us at HUG!

Our Education offerings at HUG provide access and community for thousands of creatives across various industries. Join the waitlist today and stay tuned for some exciting announcements soon!

Closing thoughts

As you embark on your creative adventure in 2024, remember that the journey is as significant as the destination. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the victories, and don’t be afraid to let your creativity flourish.

What are some of your goals? We would love to share that with our community, so hit reply to let us know.

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Artist Grants & Opportunities

📣 Open Calls have arrived on HUG! Visit thehug.xyz to discover your next Open Call opportunity, from grants to gallery showcases, and more.

Want to host your very own Open Call? Submit your interest here.

HUG-exclusive

  • 🌊 $1,000 commission opportunity for wave-inspired artwork The company Superfluid is looking to commission wave-inspired artwork featuring their logo for an upcoming hackathon contest. Learn more and submit here.

  • 🐱 Calling all cat lovers! Artist and curator, Mani Saemi, is calling for cat-inspired artwork of any medium to be a part of a new NFT art collection, where part of the proceeds will go towards homeless street cats. Learn more and submit here.

  • 🌎 Baroque-style artwork on Foundation Pixel Palette Nation is looking for Baroque-style artwork to be a part of their World on Foundation. Learn more and submit here.

  • 👯‍♀️ Seeking awedacious women artists! AWEDACITY Conference 2024 is seeking 30 women artists to display at their upcoming virtual art exhibition, "BEING AWEDACIOUS". Learn more and submit here.

  • 💰 HUG is offering $500 USD grants to two artists each month in exchange for unminted artwork to raffle off to our community. Learn more and meet all our HUG Visionaries here.

Other Opportunities

  • HUG Artist Rebecca Rose curates a variety of opportunities from exhibitions to financial grants. Learn more here.

This Week’s Art Drops

🤗 Have an upcoming art drop you’d like to share? Or an upcoming exhibition or opportunity for your fellow artists? Make use of our Artist Updates feature on HUG, or email [email protected], so we can share it with our 10K+ readers.

Did you know that these are just 8 of hundreds of art drops on HUG? Get a full list of this week’s art drops from HUG here.