Big projects can feel thrilling—and terrifying. Whether it’s preparing for a festival, launching a new series, or reaching out to dozens of galleries, the scale of the task can leave us paralyzed. The key is not to tackle everything at once, but to break projects into smaller, actionable pieces. That’s how we stay out of chaos and actually move forward.
From Vision to Action
Every major effort starts with a big picture goal. “Get ready for the winter art festival.” “Launch my new abstract series.” “Secure three new gallery relationships this year.” These are important intentions, but left at that level, they’re overwhelming. You can’t sit down on a Tuesday morning and simply “launch a series.”
Instead, you need to zoom in. What are the building blocks? Ordering supplies. Drafting titles. Photographing finished works. Crafting an artist statement. Each of these can be completed, checked off, and celebrated. Together, they move the larger project forward.
The Power of Sub-Projects
One practical way to stay organized is to treat each big initiative as a project with sub-projects beneath it. For example:
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Festival Prep → Reserve booth, clean tent, create promotional materials, update collector list.
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New Series → Research, sketch, gather materials, complete first three pieces, photograph and share.
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Gallery Outreach → Research 10 potential galleries, prepare a tailored email, follow up at two-week intervals.
By structuring big efforts this way, you don’t face a mountain—you face a staircase.
Keeping Overwhelm at Bay
Breaking projects down has two benefits. First, it gives you a clear next step to take rather than a vague goal. Second, it keeps you from the frustration of trying to “do it all” at once. Small, steady wins add up far faster than scattered, frantic effort.