My 2025 Art Goals: YouTube, Courses, and Taking Action

Have you ever chosen a Word of the Year?

In the past, I’ve picked words like discipline, branding, and focus. This year, my word is: ACTION.

Originally, I was torn between action and clarity. I used to believe that clarity was a prerequisite for action, but recently, I’ve realized that it often works the other way around: action creates clarity. I’m working with a coach this year, and one of the key concepts he teaches is having a bias toward action. Even if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing, you keep moving forward regardless, stumbling and learning as you go. With that in mind, here are my goals for 2025:

YouTube

I recently passed the 57,000 subscriber mark on YouTube, but here’s a surprising stat: I’ve only posted 26 long-form videos in the past four years, averaging about 6.5 videos per year. Compared to other artists who post multiple videos a month, that’s pretty low output.

I could chalk it up to having two young kids and a busy life, but the truth is, it’s more about a lack of planning and pressure. A few years ago, I set myself a challenge to create a full YouTube video in less than a week, including the painting itself. That video ended up being one of my top performers: 

So, in the spirit of action, I’m setting a goal to double my current production and aim for 12 long-form videos this year. To make that happen, I’ve mapped out a rough schedule for all of 2025. If I want to release an acrylic flower painting video in April, I need to start working on months in advance, as opposed to working on the fly. This kind of forward planning is new for me, but I think it’ll make a big difference.

Courses

This year, I’ll be releasing two new courses:

1. Acrylic Color Mixing Masterclass – launching in March

2. Oil Landscape Painting Course

Filming for the color mixing masterclass starts today, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s designed to tackle common color challenges and help artists solve their most frustrating issues with mixing. I’ve spent a lot of time planning this course, and I genuinely believe it’s going to be a game-changer.

Courses are a big priority for me. I delayed starting my current one because I kept aiming for perfection—overthinking every little detail and flipping the concept around in my head instead of taking action. But that stops now, and if my prep work is anything to go by, it’ll be really, really good. I can’t wait to give you a sneak peek soon.

Short Form Content (Instagram & TikTok)

Earlier this year, I took a break from Instagram because the algorithm was driving me nuts. But since then, things seem to have settled down. I’m ready to start posting again, but I’ll wait until March to dive back in, focusing on color mixing reels and sketchbook content.

Even though I’d love to hit the ground running on all platforms, it’s just not realistic with my current time constraints. My main focus will be on long-form YouTube content and courses. I might lose a few followers on Instagram and TikTok during this quiet period, but I’m okay with that—it’s a necessary trade-off to keep my bigger goals in focus.

Blogs, Emails & Website

This year, I’ll be sending out biweekly emails and publishing blog posts on the same schedule. I already have a few posts drafted to help me stay ahead. Even if I’m tied up with filming or editing, I want to continue offering helpful painting tips to my audience.

I’m also planning a website overhaul. While my current site works, I’d love to improve it. Since I’ll be handling the redesign myself, I’m aiming to chip away at it throughout the year, with the goal of launching the revamped site in 2026.

Delegation

Delegation is a tricky one for me. Last year, I tried outsourcing some tasks, and it didn’t go well. For example, I hired a company to redesign my website, and what I got back was AI-generated junk. I ended up cutting ties, writing off the loss, and moving on. In total, I lost several thousand dollars to poor outsourcing decisions, so I’m understandably hesitant to delegate again.

That said, I know that delegation is crucial for growth. If I can find reliable help, it would free up more time for me to focus on creating. Figuring out how to delegate effectively is high on my priority list this year.

Final Thoughts

And that’s a wrap on my 2025 goals! I’m excited to work with my new YouTube coach (more on that soon) and see where this year of action takes me.

Here’s to taking bold steps forward, even when things aren’t perfectly clear. I wish you great success in your own action-filled year!