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.
