photo by Ana Cop

Hello and welcome to INSIDE THE ARTIST’S MIND on seanward.net. This is the first edition of this particular column, but it’s also the long-awaited continuation of my series called the Monday Meditation. This spot is where I’ll be able to do my thing and share my thoughts and experiences as a cartoonist, blogger, and social media nutcase.

Inside the Artist’s Mind means two things.

First, it means that you get a glimpse inside of my head so that I can share with you what goes on in my world, and how my experiences turn into my art.

Second, it means that you get to see what being an artist is all about and hopefully give you something to think about that you can apply to your own life and career.

I have been looking forward to restarting this column in the new year so that there would be more of a feeling of a fresh start. It seems like all the Facebook status updates and Tweets I saw about it were cursing 2009. I don’t think 2009 is getting a fair shake. It was a quiet, inward time, but it was also a year of discovery and figuring things out. It seems like everyone experienced some of both the highest highs and the lowest lows of their lives in oh-nine.

There’s a lot of talk in the Blog Stars circle about what we want to achieve in 2010. Everyone’s hype. Here are my big goals for the new year:

Super Party updates every week without fail

When I started it as a web series, I said I’m going to go five years without missing one. Almost six months in, and so far so good. I feel like I’ve got a good rhythm there, so I’m starting to think ahead to introducing the product line and showing it at comics conventions and art events.

Blog as near to daily as possible, with video every week

Again, this is about keeping my blades sharp. But it’s also about giving myself an outlet. It’s as much a mental housekeeping thing as it is a creative outlet.  And by forcing myself to be prolific, I’ve got excellent idea turnover and I keep inspiration on tap.

More socializing

I think that this will give me more focus, as I kind of dawdle and then don’t have time for going out. If I’m committed to doing something, then I have a set amount of time I can get stuff done in. Being busy is a great motivator, and keeping balance between work and play is an important part of being creative. Also you can’t substitute for being out there and meeting people, just being around for when stuff happens.

More work for clients

This has always been one of my weakest areas in business. All of the jobs I’ve done for outside clients have come to me, I’ve never really worked at selling myself as a gun for hire. I spend so much time in my own world that I forget about how doing outside work keeps my blades sharp. I’m so obsessed with my art and there is only so much time in a day and selling myself takes a back seat. I’ve got an agent now – Carly-Anne Fairlie at The Fairlie Agency – so I finally have some of the help I need in that area.

I have to say, today is the day I was really excited for: the first work day of the new year. There’s a feeling of newness, and an excited vibe in air. When I was in California for most of last year, one thing that became very pronounced is this “Swingin’ London” vibe going on in the blogger scene of Toronto.  Very exciting stuff going on!

What are you most excited for in 2010?  Let me know in the comments!

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Tags: creative process, goals, life, thoughts, work