My goals for 2008 are much the same as for 2007: I'd like to drop a couple pounds and improve as an artist. But those goals are quite generic. Specifically, here's what I hope to do:

Akiri and I would like Flight Rising to be fully announced and at the very least open in some capacity to the public. The project is huge, so reaching this point will be challenging for just 2 people.

I'd like to license or self publish a 12 month dragon calender of newer, properly sized artwork. I'm thinking the Dragon Gods used for Flight Rising might be a good choice for this. If I have any hope of getting it licensed, I have to finish by May at the latest. If I self publish, I can simply complete it by the end of October or so.

I'd like to get NeonDragonArt.com functioning at 100% once again. This past month the website has truly become live again, but there's so much that I need to get done in the next month. The comics need to be rearchived, the tutorials updated with redone and brand new units, the store given the simple layout treatment, an easier order form put into place, a comic and tutorial links section put back in place, the general discussion of the forums reopened, and a functioning link exchange form put in place. (The one that's been on the site the past two years had two of the fields broken...)

I'd like to do a handful of trades and another handful of requests done. I want to do free art for people like I used to. (Obviously I cannot do free art all the time, as I'm trying hard to make a living off of my skill as well! I hesitate to mention this resolution, but its something I'd like to do. Please do not e-mail me about getting a trade or request at the moment. I've got to get my website back online and my previous commitments met before I can do art for people just-because :-D)

I'd like to finish the art and tutorials for my third how to draw book, a sequel to the original DragonArt continueing the fantasy creature tutorials.

I would like to devote an hour a day to stay on top of my e-mail/livejournal/forum/and offsite gallery notes. I get a lot of feedback on my art: People deserve the courtesy of a response. I have neglected these areas of my internet life in the past year and a half, and its rude to have all these forms of communication open if there's never going to be a response!

I would like to get an artbook published in some capacity, even if its just through lulu. People stop by my site or booth and sometimes pick up 3 or 4 prints. I'd rather for the same price they get an entire book with 50-150 images! I don't feel guilty being paid for my artwork, but I'd much rather have someone who supports me get as much product for their money as possible.

I would like to feature an art and comic every week on deviantart and my livejournal. There are many, many fantastic artists out there who just don't get enough exposure. I know featuring someone won't give them instant popularity, but I have a moderate readership and visitor count on my website. Every little bit helps, and giving exposure to new artists and great new art that visitors have never seen before to check out should benefit everyone :-D

I would like to get at least one figure (probably a dragon) made by a company such as Gensen. I know I couldn't do a very large run (probably less then 50) and that breaking even, let alone making money would be unlikely, but as a treat for doing a good job in 2008, it seems like a nice reward to give myself. (Assuming towards the end of the year I've completed enough of my goals) I know I'd bounce off the walls to see my art in 3D

I'd like to actually meet my goals this year.

With all that I hope to accomplish I know that my last goal will have to wait until 2009. I would like to get an online comic going once again. Project "Butterfly" (aka: Sky Pirates vs Lazer dragons) seems like it will be a blast to illustrate. I miss creating comics comics. I know that my efforts in the past were awkward, and heck, my efforts in the future will probably be awkward as well, but I really received lot of joy out of the visual storytelling. I cannot hope to do the comic and all of the above in 2008, as the comic entails continuous weekly updates. I learned a lot from my previous comics, naive as they were. One of the things I learned is that reliable updates are important. If I get all that I hope to accomplish in 2008 done, not only will I have accomplished a lot, I should have learned quite a bit as well! I would like to think that the art will be better for that. Perhaps I can even find a partner to work with. Even if it means leaving the sky pirate/dragon idea behind, I prefer collaberating as its much more enjoyable to work with a partner then alone.

I hope 2007 was good for everyone, and that 2008 will be even better. Happy New Year!

Tags: 2008 goals, art, flight rising, happy new year

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