Unleashing the Inner Creative
Artistic style is a unique reflection of an artist’s individuality, personality, and perspective. It is the visual language that allows artists to convey their emotions, thoughts, and ideas through their creative works. This is something I struggle with at times and I am sure that others do too. While some are born with a distinctive style, many embark on a journey of self-discovery to find their own artistic voice.
Here, we will look into the process of finding your artistic style and exploring the key elements that contribute to its development. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or simply seeking to enhance your creative abilities, understanding how to uncover your style can be very helpful in how you deal with your life.
1. Embrace Your Curiosity:
The Power of Exploration: Artistic style often emerges from a sense of curiosity and a willingness to explore different mediums, techniques, and subjects. By embracing curiosity, you open yourself up to new possibilities and allow for the discovery of unexpected artistic paths. Experiment with various art forms, engage in different styles, and venture into uncharted territories. This journey of exploration will help you uncover what truly resonates with your artistic sensibilities.
2. Seek Inspiration:
Cultivating Your Visual Language: Inspiration acts as a catalyst for artistic growth. Take the time to immerse yourself in art galleries, museums, books, and online platforms to expand your visual vocabulary. Draw inspiration from diverse sources, both within and outside your artistic field. Observe the works of renowned artists, study their techniques, and analyze their distinct styles. By exposing yourself to a wide range of artistic expressions, you can gain insights and inspiration that will contribute to the development of your own unique artistic style.
One way that I use the art of others is to practice redoing a piece of art that I really love. When I do this, I learn about how the original artist used colors, what techniques were used, and how that artist approached composition. I love learning about how other artists think when they make art.
3. Embrace Your Authenticity:
Honoring Your Inner Voice: Artistic style is deeply connected to self-expression. Your personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives shape your artistic voice. Embrace your authenticity and allow your art to reflect who you truly are. Avoid comparing yourself to others or attempting to imitate popular trends. Instead, focus on understanding and embracing your own voice, for it is the authenticity in your art that will captivate others.
When I start a new piece, I don’t really think about what anyone else may think. I try to see if I can put the idea in my head down onto my canvas or paper. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t, I think about the reason it doesn’t work for a while, then go about changing or adding/subtracting to it to make it work for me. This process is the part I absolutely love because you have to use your critical eye as well as your artistic brain. However, sometimes the piece is just junk and I trash it and start all over. That is art.
4. Experimentation:
A Gateway to Innovation: Artistic growth flourishes when you step outside your comfort zone and engage in experimentation. Push the boundaries of your creativity by trying new techniques, materials, or combinations thereof. Embrace the unexpected and allow yourself to make mistakes. The process of experimentation opens up new avenues for exploration and nurtures the evolution of your artistic style.
This year, I embraced using gouache. I had never before used it and did not know how to work with it. I still have problems, but I have learned to love the medium. I also rediscovered my love for pastels. My art journey started with these beautiful pieces of chalk long ago, but over time I had left them behind. It was really wonderful to “rediscover” them and start using them again. I felt like I had reconnected with an old friend!
5. Practice Patience:
Trusting the Artistic Journey: Finding your artistic style is not an overnight process; it requires time, dedication, and patience. Embrace the journey, both the highs and lows, as they contribute to your growth as an artist. Allow yourself room to evolve and adapt. Remember, art is a constant exploration of self, and your style will continue to evolve as you do.
I have been making art since childhood. I have never let my art go, even when very busy raising a family as a single mother and working long hours as a nurse. I always found a few minutes to practice my art. Over time, my art got better and better, but that never really was the purpose for my practice. I did art because I had to. If I stopped putting these images down on canvas or paper, my head might explode! You need to allow yourself the time it takes to fully develop and explore your art. You get older anyway, so why does time even matter?
6. Analyze and Reflect:
Discovering Patterns and Themes: Take the time to analyze your body of work and reflect upon common patterns, themes, or motifs that emerge. Look for recurring subjects,
color palettes, or compositional elements. These observations can provide valuable insights into the elements that resonate with you and contribute to your artistic style. Understanding these patterns will help you further refine your creative approach.
Over time, I began to realize that birds were always a part of every piece I made. I love the variations, the colors, the movement of birds. They make me feel a connection to the Mother Earth. If I had not examined all my past work, I never would have realized that birds are a major part of my style. Now, I don’t always make a bird, but I do try to incorporate some of their color and spontaneity into each new piece.
7. Find Balance:
Integrating Technique and Expression: Artistic style is a delicate balance between technique and expression. While technical skills are essential, don’t let them overshadow the emotional and conceptual aspects of your art. Strive to find harmony between your technical proficiency and the emotive qualities that make your work unique.
When working on a new piece, I first focus on technique–composition, accuracy of drawing, color harmonies, etc. After I have established the basic premise of the piece onto the canvas/paper, then the fun begins and I just let my imagination take over. I have had really great successes with this process, but I also have had some messes. When that happens, I usually put the piece aside to let it steep for a while. When, and sometimes if, I go back to it, I have fresh eyes and can see the possibilities more clearly. It is like walking a tightrope sometimes.
8. Engage in Feedback and Critique:
Honing Your Artistic Voice: Seek constructive feedback from trusted mentors, fellow artists, or art communities. Constructive criticism can offer fresh perspectives and help you identify areas for improvement. However, remember to maintain your artistic integrity and discern which feedback aligns with your vision. Use feedback as a tool to refine your style and strengthen your artistic voice.
My friends and family are my source of critiquing my art. They are usually on target and they are gentle in their comments. You need to find your own group of mentors that you can trust and depend on for honest and gently criticism of your work. Criticism only makes your art better, so embrace it. I love when my daughter says, “don’t you think that ____ is in the wrong place?” I look carefully at what she is pointing at and see what she means. It really helps me with design and balance.
9. Embrace Evolution:
The Dynamic Nature of Style: Artistic style is not set in stone. It evolves and transforms as you grow as an artist. Embrace the fluidity and allow yourself the freedom to experiment and explore new directions. As you continue to evolve, your style will become a reflection of your artistic journey, capturing the layers of experiences and growth that shape your creative expression.
When you were a child, you probably drew trees, houses and stick figures. That is perfectly normal. As you grew as an artist, these things got more realistic; they were more fleshed out but probably more comical in nature. That also is normal. As an adult, your art becomes more about what you are feeling when you draw or paint than what it looks like. Sometimes you feel like realism and sometimes you do not. That also is normal. Embrace your journey. Enjoy it fully.
10. Trust Your Intuition:
The Guiding Force of Artistic Style: Amidst the search for your artistic style, trust your intuition. Listen to that inner voice that guides you towards what feels true and authentic. Your intuition is a powerful compass that will help you navigate your artistic journey and uncover the unique artistic style that lies within you.
As I have said before, you need to believe in yourself and trust that little voice in your head. You should always listen to that voice and really hear what it is saying to you. When you can do that, you will discover amazing art coming out of your fingertips. Discovering your artistic style is a deeply personal and rewarding endeavor. It requires an open mind, a willingness to explore, and a commitment to self-expression. Embrace the process, trust the evolution, and allow your inner creative to flourish.
In case you missed them, there are more posts about creativity here or here and even here. Please feel free to check those out. Leave me a comment if you find these useful or if you have a suggestion for another topic. I’d love to hear from you.
Hear are a few resources to check out if this topic interests you:
our artistic practice by emphasizing the experiential aspect of creating art.
