How To Find Your Art Style: Important Artist Advice For Beginners

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Can’t Find Your Art Style? Do Not Panic

Developing yourself as an artist and figuring out your art style is something that every creative person inevitably faces at some point during their journey. For some, the process is a little simpler and comes naturally. However, for the majority of artists; the process requires much more experimentation, self discovery and trial and error to truly develop your own unique art style that represents your artist point of view.

Figuring out where you sit within the large ocean of art making can be a daunting task. You might feel like you’re faking it till you make it, and maybe you’re not even sure exactly what you’re faking. Or perhaps you make different things to what you see online. Maybe you write, illustrate, and sing on the side, so whenever somebody asks “what’s your thing?” you feel a little like…“well here’s a list of the last 5 things I’ve made, maybe you can tell me?”. This is a common feeling amongst artists and the creative industry – especially when first starting out.

What is an artistic style?

An art style or artistic style is one which clearly represents distinctive visual attributes that can be linked to a particular artist or period. An artist with a particular style will have a collection of artworks that have a common theme or certain qualities that determines the artists style of art making.

Art styles can look completely different from one artist to the next – and that’s the point. If we all made work that looked the same and spoke about the same topics, the art world wouldn’t be as interesting and innovative as it is. That’s not to say that artists can’t have similarities. In fact, it’s great to connect with creative who have an art style that resembles yours. See if you can collaborate or work on a project together to create something unique.

Why Can’t I Find An Art Style?

It can be hard to define an art style when the artist has had a break from making, especially if they’re involved in very different and opposing projects. Sometimes, the best way of defining ones art style is a combination of what they’ve made and the themes that run through all the different projects. If you find that you’re having similar conversations through different media – then your art style is actually very present.

A big struggle when defining your particular niche or style within an artistic practice is feeling like everything you are doing is just-not-good-enough. This is tough, especially because it can keep you from powering through, which is what usually helps define your style.

5 Tips On How To Find Your Art Style

Below is a series of steps any artist can take whenever they are asked to talk about their artistic style; either for an application or maybe just to their parents.

1. Gather all the things you’ve made

A lot of us are multidisciplinary artists, which simply means we make lots of different things. Some of our creative outlets could be classified as writing, installations, film – and some stuff we just look at and go, is this even art? But to determine your art style, you’ll need to gather all these different elements into one body of work.

Pick things that you are proud of

Don’t let yourself be defined by a particular type of art or medium. Pick the things that you really enjoy and that you feel represents your art practice. Try looking at them with fresh eyes; what patterns do you notice? What words can you use to describe them? If you arrange them chronologically, can you see how your style has changed, become more specific, taken a left turn?

2. Collect your inspiration

A lot of our art style can be drawn from the things that inspire us. After all, these are the things that push us to make work in the first place.

Surround yourself with things you regard as inspiring, no matter how related to art it is. Who are your idols? Why do you love them? What TV show can you not stop watching? Push yourself to answer the deeper questions about why you love what you love, and about what exactly inspires you to do the work you do.

3. Make a list of the artists you adore and their works

Similarly to the above point – you’re going to look at inspiration again, but this time make it specific to art. Find artists you like and admire, and experiment with artwork that is inspired by them. Do studies in their techniques, colours, shapes, materials and marks. You’ll begin to see which aspects of their work you enjoy and resonate with.

Emulation is a way of learning and getting to know what you love and what you don’t love, or what you love but would make different.

4. Ask yourself questions to get you started

Think of your work in relation to someone else’s work:

If someone didn’t know your practice, how would they describe it?

How are you questioning or disputing what another artist has done?

What larger discourses are you tapping into?

What does your work look like in simple and basic terms?

5. Have a studio visit

Ideally, you’ll want to know how to explain your style to your mom, your non-artsy friend, and a grant panel. In this case, try inviting those people to visit your work in person. Ask them simple questions about your work and listen carefully to how they respond. Using the words of other people can be really beneficial when finding your art style.

It also helps to learn how to speak about your style in different ‘languages’, narrowing down where you sit within a larger context of arts practices or styles. It’s a good exercise to try to define your style in different contexts. How would you do it as an elevator pitch? What about in the pub? What if this was at a dinner table with a group of strangers?

Although figuring out how to find your art style can feel like learning a new language, if you keep at it, you’ll surely see your own style emerge in your artwork. Give these tips a try if you get stuck, and you need a little more help, check the links below.

Do you need an art style?

It is possible to create the kind of art you want to make and earn good money doing it. The web allows you to sell directly to your fans and reach new audiences of potential buyers. You can cut out the middleman and become the exclusive dealer of your own work. There is enormous potential in online art sales and with careful and strategic use of the Internet, the possibilities are limitless.

An art style is very helpful when building this kind of career. But even if you’re making art as a hobby – it may help your sense of identity to have a solid style running throughout.

However, be cautious of narrowing down to a singular style too early. Art is supposed to be experimental – so embrace the mess and confusion as a product of your creativity. You wouldn’t want to miss out on a great idea just because you boxed yourself in too soon.

This video is mostly for visual artists, specifically illustrators. But I believe some of its principles also apply to anybody looking to solidify their style. The video talks about changing style, adopting someone else’s style in the way to finding your own.

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR ART STYLE AND HOW DID YOU FIND IT? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

Also, don’t forget you can always share your art with us or tag us on Instagram – @darkyellowdot.

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