FINDING YOUR ARTISTIC STYLE

HOW TO FIND AND DEVELOP YOUR UNIQUE ART STYLE

I just realised recently that we all seem to struggle at some stage to find our style in art... and the good news is ... we already have our own style, we just maybe haven’t noticed it yet.

Our art style is to do with originality, and authenticity and is a part of us ... just as we are unique human beings ... we have a unique artistic style.

When learning to write, we struggle to use the pencil or pen correctly to make the letters appear on the page and after much practice, we master it, then the magic happens... somehow we all develop an original writing style.... It’s the same with art, while we’re learning, we long to do art like we see on the internet or in books and wish we had their style, which adds to our frustration when learning.   

The truth is, we can only have OUR OWN STYLE.

There are many tutorials online and in books which teach us methods and give us skills, but there are no lessons that can show you your voice as an artist.   The reason is that no one can describe the exact way they arrived at their current place with their art, and even if they could, it wouldn’t be much help because your artistic style is totally specific to you.

In fact, it is you.

If you’re frustrated with your art (as we all are at times), just remember that you are honing your style, and like learning to write, you are progressing and moving forward in your artistic life.

I found the following steps in an article I read by Christine Nishiyama, and thought they described our journey really well.. Here they are:

#1:  Interest

You draw, paint, write, and make a lot of stuff as a child. Eventually you find the basic art form you enjoy making most.

#2. Craft

Once the interest is planted, you dive in, aiming to improve your craft. You copy other artists, trying to learn how the artwork is made.

#3:  Your Taste

You develop a taste for your favourite type of art.  Art that speak to you and fires your imagination.

#4: Finding Your Voice

You follow your obsessions and curiosity.

#5: Honing Your Style

You notice and pay attention to which elements keep popping up in your artwork.

This leads you to discover what makes a piece of art look like you.

this is a continuing development, that can and should keep evolving throughout your life as an artist

The Step that Makes it All Happen

There’s one crucial step that happens throughout this progression, and without it, nothing will happen and your style will never be found. So what is this secret step to find your artistic style?

IT'S MAKING ART

These habits are the things that just begin happening in your artwork almost in an automatic, subconscious way. The topics that keep popping up, the pencil texture you keep automatically drawing.

THOSE are the things that make up your style.

But you can’t just choose them, you have to find them.

Your style will keep developing once you recognise that you actually have a style, accept and love your style, work on honing your style to make it the best it can be. 

Lessons are wonderful for teaching us all the practical things we need to know and learn ..... Just remember ..... Your style is YOU.