December 19, 2025

Artist Goals for 2026

Today we’re sharing goals and intentions for the new year from some amazing artists in the US, UK and Australia.

By The Art Toolkit Team

A watercolor sketch depicts a coastal scene with colorful buildings on a hillside overlooking a tranquil sea filled with boats. The background features a gradient sky transitioning from pink to blue.

Ohn Mar Win

A woman wearing a bright red floral dress sits at a desk, smiling warmly. Her workspace is filled with art supplies, and natural light pours in from a nearby window, showcasing a peaceful outdoor scene.
A person paints vibrant orange citrus fruits in a sketchbook, surrounded by fresh mandarins and another open sketchbook with orange-themed artwork.
A collection of various paintbrushes stored in a decorative cup, alongside a stack of small, black sketchbooks with visible handwritten numbers on the spines.
A watercolor sketch in a notebook depicts a beach scene with people under colorful umbrellas and a rocky coastline lined with trees. Art supplies, including a palette of paints, brushes, and colored pencils, are arranged beside the open notebook.

“In 2026, I plan to travel with my sketchbook again, hosting relaxed, inspiring workshops in beautiful Switzerland and Edinburgh, Scotland, where participants can paint food, landscapes, and culture in expressive ways. I also want to keep building a creative community that celebrates the joy of watercolour and filling sketchbooks in all shapes and forms without pressure, even with limited time or experience.

I’m also focusing on my own creative evolution—painting more for myself and exploring new ways to combine watercolour with collage, ink, and texture. My goal is to create art that feels freer, more personal, and rooted in curiosity, exploring subjects that both inspire and bring calm.”

Learn more about Ohn Mar and her artwork on her website and on Instagram. Watch a recording of her demo, Expressive Fruits and Vegetables, on our Demos page.

Photos, including hero image, courtesy of Ohn Mar.

Jenny Jing Zhang

A sketchbook open to a colorful drawing depicting a vibrant street scene with buildings, trees, and parked cars. The background shows a cobblestone street lined with historic architecture and a café, bathed in warm sunset light. An artist captures the view from the scene.
A woman with long, dark hair is sitting at a table, focused on drawing in a sketchbook. She wears a bright yellow shirt with colorful patterns and is using a pen or brush to create art.
A vibrant watercolor painting depicting a lively street scene with people walking amid bright yellow trees. The artwork is set on an easel, with a palette and painting supplies in the foreground.
A sketchbook showcasing a colorful illustration of musicians performing outdoors, with a guitarist and a singer in a yellow dress adorned with flowers. The artists are surrounded by trees and an audience in the background, capturing a vibrant atmosphere.

“In 2026, I want to keep discovering and drawing hidden moments in my city—Chicago’s vintage shops, heritage buildings, and everyday people with their stories. I also plan to revisit my past travel sketches to create a small zine that celebrates those memories and how each place has shaped my way of seeing. Finally, I’m excited to experiment with acrylic and oil paints to explore new ways of expressing light, texture, and emotion.”

Learn more about Jenny and her artwork on her website and on Instagram. Watch a recording of her demo, Bending Perspective, on our Demos page.

Photos courtesy of Jenny.

Trevor Shin

A vibrant, mixed-media illustration featuring colorful cars parked on a stylized, winding road surrounded by intricate floral patterns. The scene includes a dark blue car, an orange car, and a red convertible, all set against a backdrop of abstract shapes and designs.
A person with glasses and dark hair sits at a wooden table, sketching or writing. They wear a blue cardigan and are surrounded by books and plants in a cozy, well-lit space.
A person is painting a floral design on a sheet of paper, surrounded by art supplies including a palette of watercolors, brushes, and a cup of tea. The setting is cozy, with soft lighting and a wooden table.
A stylized statue holding a bundle of foliage stands amidst vibrant, abstract flowers in shades of yellow and green. The statue features intricate details and a blend of dark tones, contrasting with the colorful background.

“This year I’m focusing on furthering developing my understanding of how pigments react to each other. I’m amazed at how often I find new textures and separations when experimenting in my work. I’m also going to continue to push my drawings into new realms that excite me. Professionally I'd love to get a New Yorker cover, Criterion cover, and find an exciting new gig in Animation. Now it's in writing, I have no excuse.”

Learn more about Trevor and his work on his website and on Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Trevor; portraits by Jer Aquino.

Takeyce Walter

A watercolor palette with various colors sits beside a small painting depicting a serene lakeside scene framed by a leafy border. The painting showcases trees reflecting on the water under a gentle light. A paintbrush rests nearby.
A woman with curly hair and glasses smiles warmly, wearing a floral-patterned green blouse. She is set against a background of a serene nature scene featuring trees and rocks by a body of water.
A person sitting on a rock by a lake, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a denim jacket, engaged in writing. The serene water stretches out in front, with hills in the background under a clear blue sky.
A vibrant sky featuring a large, fluffy cloud illuminated by the sun, with shades of blue and hints of pink and orange. The horizon shows a calm body of water reflecting the colors of the sky.

“My goal for 2026 is to dive even deeper into my Augmented Reality art project, PixelPalette. This year, I want to be more intentional with my painting practice—creating work that not only stands on its own, but also comes to life through AR.

I’m excited to continue exploring how technology can enhance the way we experience art, making it more interactive, immersive, and accessible. Whether it evolves into a book, an exhibition, or a shared digital experience, my hope is to invite others into the colorful, layered world PixelPalette is becoming.

Here’s to a year of creativity, experimentation, and bringing this vision into fuller reality.”

Learn more about Takeyce and her artwork on her website and on Instagram.

Photos courtesy of Takeyce.

What are your artist goals for the new year? Be sure to tag us on Instagram with your goals and creations!
An artist sites on a rock, dipping a paintbrush in a Pocket Palette.

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