It feels silly to mention what the world is experiencing right now because we are being drowned in information every minute of every day. Simultaneously, it feels silly to not address what the world is experiencing right now we are all in the same battle and are all on the same side. The distinction with this virus is that it's brought the whole world into an emergency lockdown and is demanding individual isolation. It's a weird, sad, frustrating, uncertain experience that none of us are going to forget, but the main way forward is to let time take its time. We simply need to bunker down and wait for this wave to pass over, knowing that we meet again on the other side.

For now, the thing that I am fortunate enough to say is that I have a home, I have a concerned and compassionate community, I have family, I have food and I have a job. Anything more than that is an enormous and gracious blessing. I am blessed to have a garden, I am blessed to have books, I am blessed to have technology, I am blessed to have modes of communication, I am blessed to have a piano, I am blessed to have opportunities to learn, I am blessed to be able to create.

I already had some art goals planned for 2020 long before the outbreak became a pandemic, but now it seems even more vital that I commit to them. I'm also trying to give more clarity to this “online journal”, aka blog, and make it the shelf that holds the albums and memories of my creative journey. I would love to come out of this enforced isolation and be able to have something to show for it. I would hate to look back on this historic period of time with people and only have stories to share about which Netflix shows I didn't get to watch. Now seems to be the perfect time for me to restart my creativity mode, both online and offline.

My Art Goals

In 2019 I first used the phrase "pursuing creativity in the midst of anxiety" which is a true summary of my struggle to make art. This anxiety plus my perfectionism became a recipe for a never-ending stagnation and paralysis that meant I never had any completed works to show anyone. So, rather than documenting and sharing my finished products, I decided to address the "wall", and SHARE INSTEAD ABOUT MY FIGHT AGAINST IT. I'm still fumbling around while also readjusting to new circumstances in my personal life, which is why I've felt the need to set a number of yearly "goals" for 2020 - this includes art goals, because I want creativity to be a high priority in my life.

And so, since this is the story of my journey rather than an exhibition of my accomplishments, I'm sharing with you what I will be attempting to commit to this year.

PROJECT ONE:
Begin a “Perpetual Nature Journal”

My aim: To observe and document nature I find in our garden.
Frequency: 1 entry per week
Project inspired by: Lara Gastinger, botanical artist & illustrator. (Read the story, visit her website and follow @laragastinger)
Details: An ongoing journal focussed on documenting my observations of the natural world. One page or one spread is dedicated to one week of the year, and the creator completes one annotated sketch per week. When 52 weeks have finished, you begin again from the date you started and continue adding drawings to the appropriate week. Eventually you could have a collection with 5+ years of entries in just one journal!
My tags: #ourlittlegardenstories #amydianaperpetualjournal #lgperpetualjournal

PROJECT TWO:
Complete “The 100 Day Project”

My aim: Paint 100 mini artworks that celebrate the uncommon natural beauty from my home country, Australia.
Frequency: 1 artwork per day
Project inspired by: Michael Bierut, teacher at Yale School of Art. (Read the story, follow @mbierut and follow the worldwide projects)
Details: This idea was made popular in 2012 when a group of students shared their assignment online to creatively repeat an action for 100 days. Their intent was to keep each other accountable and build their portfolio, but in a short amount of time, creatives worldwide joined in and now has become an annual event that runs from April to July.
My tags: #the100dayproject #the100dayproject2020 #100daysofaustralianfungi

PROJECT THREE:
Resume “The Postcode Diaries”

My aim: Make 20 new artworks & create a dedicated Instagram account
Frequency: 2 postcodes per month
Project inspired by: Me!! I was inspired by my own watercolour travel journal and my love of my home country. (Read the origin story and follow @thepostcodediaries)
Details: This is a "life project" that I have assigned to myself where I will visit every postcode in my home state of Victoria. We have approximately 900 postcodes between 3000 (Melbourne CBD) and 3995 (Inverloch). While visiting each postcode, I have been doing a watercolour and ink sketch from a corresponding town/suburb. I will also be working my way forwards from 3000 and backwards from 3995 in order to get a mix of urban and country "postcode entries". It also gives me the opportunity to see and explore my beautifully diverse state.
My tags: #thepostcodediaries #amydianadraws #visitvictoria #postcodeentry[number]

My Ultimate Goal

Despite the list I've shared with you, my truest and greatest desire is to become someone who creates every day, and so it doesn’t actually matter if I attempt these goals or not. But, I know that my perfectionism is going to distract me from this ultimate goal, so I am going to have to learn to hold more tightly to my desire rather than the means. Brian P. Moran explains that you need to "be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods".

Whatever the future may be, I hope you will join me in this venture and would love to know if you are keen to see any of these in particular come into fruition. Even better, I would love to know if you have any creative goals of your own? Or do you have any other projects you are taking on during this lockdown period? Let me know in the comments!

The best way to keep up with me and these projects is following me on Instagram, Facebook and signing up to my (very occasional) emails.