So far I’ve been toiling on canvases based off loose sketches.  I’ve spent more time developing the sketches and figures than I have in the past, which frees up some time from the rigors of making major readjustments on the canvas.  For the first few months, I’ve promised myself to stay away from any larger themes as well, although I’ve discovered this is harder to accomplish than I first imagined.  My mind wants to make the painting work and naturally draws on personal experience to present motives and actions that would push the painting farther.  Even acknowledging the personal narratives running through all of my work, I’m content to say that the disparate body of work I’m producing right now is more about formal issues and the act of painting than overreaching or overly personal matters.
 

I’ve also given myself a personal mission to complete one 45”x60” painting a month, in addition to whatever else is going on, with the goal of having a year’s worth of somewhat grandiose pictures that may or may not create a larger narrative of the year in some subconscious manner.  So far I’ve worked on two and am excited about the prospects of what feels like a personal side bet. 
 

I’ve lined up the rest of the year with a bunch of shows and deadlines, none of which will present themselves to me until June at the earliest, which gives me plenty of time to keep making stretchers and just producing work.  The second half of the year will be dire crunch time, and I’ll probably have to redouble my efforts once again to keep my goals in line.