As the year winds down, I like to look back at what I’ve made, what I’ve learned, and what the studio has taught me over the past twelve months. This year was a big one — not because of any single event, but because of the cumulative effect of showing up, painting, and building something that feels real.
What I Painted
This was my most productive year as a professional artist. I completed [number] original paintings across watercolor, acrylic, and gouache — more than any previous year. The subjects ranged from the familiar (Maine coast, flowers, animals) to the new (larger-scale commissions, mixed-media experiments, my first dedicated calendar collection).
The pieces I’m proudest of are [to be filled in by Molly — specific paintings that felt like breakthroughs, challenges overcome, or personal favorites]. Every year there are a handful of paintings that surprise me — that turn out better than I had any right to expect — and this year was no exception.
What I Launched
2026 was the year I built a real online presence. I migrated my website to a proper e-commerce platform, launched a giclee print line, opened an Etsy shop, started this blog, began an email newsletter, and started showing up consistently on social media.
That sounds like a lot listed together, and it was. There were weeks when the business side of being an artist felt like it was crowding out the painting side. But the purpose behind all of it — making my work accessible to people beyond my immediate geography — kept me moving forward.
The most rewarding part was hearing from collectors I’ve never met in person. People in [states/cities] who found my work through Instagram, or through a Google search, or through a friend sharing a blog post. Every message from someone saying “I hung your painting in my living room and it makes me happy every time I see it” reminds me why the business work matters.
What I Learned
Every year in the studio teaches me something. Here’s what 2026 taught me.
Consistency beats inspiration. I painted more this year because I showed up to the studio every day, not because I felt more inspired. Some of my best paintings came from sessions where I didn’t feel particularly creative at the start. The act of painting generated the energy that the painting needed.
Small paintings are powerful. I used to think bigger was always better. This year, I made a conscious effort to create more small, intimate works — 5×7, 8×10 — and discovered that they carry just as much artistic weight as large pieces. Collectors love them. They’re affordable, they’re giftable, and they force me to distill a subject to its essence.
Community matters. Connecting with other artists, with collectors, and with the people who follow my work online has enriched my practice in ways I didn’t expect. Art can be lonely when it’s just you and the easel. Building a community around the work makes it sustainable.
What’s Ahead for 2027
I’m heading into the new year with a full painting schedule and a clear vision. New collections are already in progress. The 2027 Art Calendar is designed and ready to print. I’m developing my first virtual watercolor workshop. And I have a list of commission ideas that I can’t wait to start.
My goals for 2027 are to paint more ambitiously, to deepen my engagement with the collectors and community I’ve built, and to continue growing this practice into something that sustains both my creative life and my actual life.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you bought a painting, a print, a set of cards, or simply followed along — your attention and support means more than you know.
Here’s to another year of paying attention to beautiful things and trying to put them into paint.
— Molly
