Creative Manifesto for the Year 2026
At the beginning of this year, I sent out a short newsletter just to let people know the year had started slowly—and that it was intentional.
After my last show, I felt a strong pull to slow down. I let that feeling stay with me through the December break and most of January, and now I’m sure: this is what I want and what I need.
For me, slowing down means taking more time when I want to.
Not doing something if I don’t want to.
Letting ideas bubble up instead of forcing them.
It also means being more deliberate with everyday moments—like sipping my tea slowly. I don’t want life to rush past me.
So instead of a rigid plan, I’m thinking of this as a creative manifesto—a set of intentions to guide the year.
Mindset for the Year: Slow Connection
My guiding idea for this year is: Minimize physical presence, maximize connection.
In the past, I’ve done many shows and events. They often took a lot of effort and energy. This year, I want to explore other ways of reaching people—ways that still feel personal but are more sustainable for me.
Creative Direction
I’m interested in continuing to explore themes around:
Travel and places that stay with you
Small, everyday moments
Product Exploration
This year is also about trying new things without pressure.
Some ideas I want to explore include:
Small, easy-to-frame pieces
Commissions
New products like calendars, puzzles, or other everyday objects
The goal is not to launch everything at once, but to experiment and see what feels right.
Connection Over Noise
Instead of focusing on constant events or markets, I want to:
Spend more energy growing my email list
Share more of my experiences and creative process (I am dabbling with the idea to create an area for artist resources to help other artists)
Promote other small businesses
I want my art to feel like a conversation!
A Gentler Year
This year isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing things differently.
More slowly.
More intentionally.
I’m excited to see what emerges when I give myself the space to move at my own pace.
Thank you for being here and for following along.
With love,
Apoorva