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Setting SMART Goals: August Goals for 2024
This article will take you through my 2024 August Goals and my journey to become a Professional Digital Artist.
Reflecting on My July Goals
The ball is rolling! Yes, I have kept the momentum of June and continue to complete every one of the goals I have set for myself. However, I don’t think I have made significant progress towards my BIG goal: Selling my Art online. Recently I watched a YouTube video by Sarah Marie Blog, and she mentioned “tasks vs goals.” Sarah explained that sometimes people’s goals turn into to-do lists or just tasks that you would complete normally. But tasks are NOT goals. Goals are supposed to push you forward. They need to be hard to reach but not unrealistic.
My July goals felt like a to-do list. It was simply vague things that I needed to do and I did not fully understand the purpose. So for this month’s goals, I have decided to use the SMART Goals Method to create my goals.
Related Post: My Simple July Goals
What are S.M.A.R.T. Goals?
Setting goals is crucial for any digital artist, especially if you’re just starting out. But what makes a goal effective? My July goals were not effective because I simply made a list of tasks to do during the month. None of the tasks were made with my BIG Goal in mind: to sell my digital art online. This month, August, my goals need a structure that will bring me closer to that first sale by December 31st.
Related Post: How To Sell Art Online and Make Money
Enter S.M.A.R.T. goals. This framework ensures your goals are clear and reachable, providing a roadmap for your digital art journey. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let’s break down each component:
Specific: Your goals should be clear and specific. Instead of saying, “I want to improve my digital art,” try, “I want to learn how to create realistic portraits using Procreate.” This gives you a precise target to aim for.
Measurable: A goal needs to be measurable so you can track your progress. Ask yourself, “How will I know when I’ve achieved this goal?” For instance, “I will complete five portrait tutorials and post my progress on social media weekly.”
Achievable: While it’s great to aim high, your goals should be realistic. Consider your current skill level and resources. If you’re new to digital art, setting a goal to become a professional within a month is likely unrealistic. Instead, aim for something attainable, like “I will improve my shading techniques over the next three months.”
Relevant: Your goals should matter to you and align with your broader objectives. Think about why you want to achieve this goal. If your main interest is character design, setting a goal to master landscape painting might not be the best fit. Instead, focus on goals like, “I want to design three original characters in the next month.”
Time-bound: Every goal needs a deadline. This helps you stay focused and motivated. Set a realistic timeframe, like “I will finish my first digital art portfolio by the end of the year.” This gives you a clear end date to work towards.
By setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, you’re giving yourself a structured approach to learning and improving your digital art. I am using this method to see progress and stay motivated on my goals throughout the month.
Choosing Themes for my August goals
As always, my goals start with a theme. Focusing my goals with a theme is the foundation of my journey. It helps me understand what I truly need to do to make progress.
Digital Art Journey: Henna Art
The art form I want to learn this month is Henna Art. Inspired by the recent Ambani Wedding, I became very interested in the Henna Art often seen at Indian Weddings. After seeing several photos of the family’s happy day, I decided to learn how to create those beautiful patterns.
Art Business: Create a Product
In July, I completed my Digital Art Business Plan Workbook. I will sell Coloring Books made from my art. So this month, I will research how to create a coloring book and make one full book to sell in my Shop.
My 2024 August Goals
Digital art journey
In August, I will complete 2 Skillshare Classes on Henna Art to learn the basics and practice it using Procreate. I will document my studies in Study w/ Me Vlogs on my YouTube channel. To mark my progress, I will create 1 Final Art Piece in Procreate using the Henna-inspired designs.
Online Art Business
In the next 31 days, I will create a 25-page Zentangle Art Coloring Book to sell in my Online Shop. To accomplish this goal, I will research how to design a coloring book. I will also learn how to sell digital products on my WooCommerce shop by watching YouTube tutorials and taking Skillshare classes.
Looking Forward to My August Goals
People who create SMART goals are 90% more likely to achieve them. My goals for August are clear. These are steps I need to take to reach my Big Goal. By the end of the month, my digital art skills will have increased and I will have a product to sell to customers.
