Studio Time Journal — Beginning the Year with Presence

By Anita Wood

A new year often arrives carrying expectation—goals to set, plans to make, momentum to build. But this January, inside Studio Time, I’m choosing to begin differently.

The theme for January 2026 is Presence.

Why Presence

Presence asks very little of us, and yet it can feel profound.

It doesn’t require clarity, confidence, or forward motion.
It simply asks us to notice where we are—and to stay.

A recent painting of mine, Held, Not Resolved, quietly shaped this direction. The work reminded me that not everything meaningful needs to be understood, named, or completed. Some things are allowed to remain open, held gently rather than pushed toward conclusion.

This way of working feels especially important at the threshold of a new year.

Presence in the Studio

In January’s Studio Time sessions, presence may appear through:

slower pacing

fewer decisions

intuitive repetition

limited palettes

quiet observation

unfinished edges

There is no instruction to resolve the painting or arrive at a finished statement. The practice is simply to stay—with the materials, with the moment, and with ourselves.

A Different Kind of Beginning

Beginning the year with presence is an act of care.

It allows artists to reconnect without pressure, to listen without translating, and to create without needing justification.

Studio Time remains a private, supportive art membership rooted in encouragement, exploration, and belonging.

With Presence,
Anita Wood, Evocative Painter

Paint, Create, and Belong.