Happy New Year! As we step into the first week of 2026, I’ve spent some quiet time in the studio reflecting on the year that just passed. For an artist, a year is measured by the evolution of the work and the courage it takes to try something new.
2025 was a year of "stretching" for me. I can feel that my skills have improved significantly, and looking back at the canvases I completed, I can see a clearer vision of who I am becoming as an artist.
Pivoting to the Human Form
One of the things I am most proud of this year is finally diving into nude figurative art. I have wanted to explore this for a long time because nudes truly push your technical skills to the limit. Capturing the anatomy, the light on skin, and the vulnerability of the form was a challenge I welcomed. Pieces like "Reflections of Self" and "Diana" represent this breakthrough, and I’m so happy with the results.
A Portfolio of Growth: 2025 Highlights
This past year, I experimented with subjects ranging from the natural world to the deeply personal:
• Guardians of Railay: My goal here was to capture that "Wow" moment—the majestic scale of nature that makes you stop and catch your breath.
• Il Contadino: A deep dive into realism, focusing on the expression and the stories written on a human face.
• Mixed Media Explorations: In works like "Cervo nella Foresta" and "Reflections of the Past," I played with textures and different mediums to create a more atmospheric, layered feeling.
• The Abstract Experiment: I completed one abstract piece this year. While it’s not my usual style, I am quite happy with it—it pushed me to think about emotion through color alone.
My Vision for 2026
I am so grateful for what I have achieved so far, but I want to get even more from my skills. For 2026, I have many projects in mind and a desire to paint more of the world directly around me.
My primary focus for the new year is the Power of Expression. I want to master the art of painting faces so that they truly talk to the viewer and capture their attention. I want my portraits to hold a gaze.
In my landscapes, I want to continue chasing that "wow" factor—creating scenes that feel immersive and alive. I also plan to play more with abstract techniques and perhaps experiment with even more varied mediums to see where they take me.
Thank You for Noticing
To my husband, Luca, and to every one of you who visits annalisamongioart.com—thank you. Art can be a quiet journey, and knowing my work is being "noticed" means the world to me.
I’m looking forward to 2026 and all the color it will bring.
A Note to Myself (and to You)
If there is one thing I have learned this year, it is this: Focus on your own journey. It is so easy to fall into the trap of comparing your work to others. In the world of art, there will always be professionals who seem "better" or further along. But comparison is the thief of progress. I’ve realized that the only person I should try to be better than is the artist I was yesterday.
My advice to myself, and to anyone else pursuing a passion, is to be deeply appreciative of what you have already achieved. Celebrate the small victories, the difficult brushstrokes you finally mastered, and the courage it took to start. Focus on your own skills, your own vision, and your own growth. Your art is yours alone, and that is its greatest strength.
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