What's Your Art Style

Karen Hanna
Aug 31
11 min read

I've been reflecting on the learning and practice that each artist undergoes, whether through formal education or self-teaching. Our common goal is to discover our unique style. Many professional artists, when asked how they found their art style, will say that you already possess your own style or that you will develop it over time.Although both responses are correct, I think it's important to explore further. I've been on this journey myself and continue to be, but I feel I'm closer than I've ever been.

Your unique art style

I think part of my struggle in finding my art style stems from spending so much time initially experimenting with products and techniques, rather than focusing on discovering my style. While I was experimenting without a clear goal, I was unknowingly shaping my style. I believe many of us start this way. For self-taught artists, experimenting with various paints and mediums is essential to learning, alongside exploring different types of art. This process helped me determine which paints, mediums, and art forms I wanted to pursue. My challenge in finding my style is that I became stuck in the exploration and experimentation phase. I've been in this phase for several years, trying everything that caught my interest. However, I've now realized that my art still appears experimental as I search for my style. Finding a unique and authentic style is a significant journey for a professional artist, involving the development of a distinct artistic voice that reflects one's personality, emotions, and preferred methods. Do you feel as if you'll never reach your desired destination or are stuck in your current routine, unsure how to make it unique? I admit this journey has been challenging for me. Additionally, there are distractions, especially after painting for a while, such as following trends because everyone else is doing it. This leads to customers seeing the same thing repeatedly, choosing the cheapest option if they buy. We often paint what sells instead of what our hearts want because we aim to be full-time artists who can pay the bills. We also tend to paint everything that catches our attention rather than focusing on a specific style. There's that word again—style. I research extensively when passionate about a subject. I've noticed in many videos and blogs by other artists that a key to success is having a consistent body of work. When you look at your art, is there a sense of consistency, or does it seem like three different artists created it? Ideally, when you post a painting on social media, it should be immediately recognizable as yours before anyone reads the artist's name.

Ways to find your unique style

In my view, unless you have a clear idea of what you want to paint, don't stress about defining your style. Whether you're new to art or have been painting for some time, the initial phase of discovering your style involves exploring various techniques and mediums that interest you. You can't develop your unique style until you know which art tools, paints, and techniques you enjoy using. I lingered in this phase for too long. It's easy to keep exploring, but I should have moved on sooner to focus on refining my style. This delay was partly due to my late start in painting and my age, but regardless of where you are in life, take the time you need to explore. Just don't stay in the exploration phase so long that you feel you haven't progressed toward the unique art style you aim to achieve. Once you've finished experimenting and chosen the paints and tools you like, what painting style will you pursue? You might worry about being pigeonholed and repeating the same thing, but after experimenting, you're on the path to finding your style. It's just a starting point. For instance, a baker might begin with pies. Once she perfects them, she might decide to move on to cakes or cookies. Similarly, master one technique or subject in painting, and once you're comfortable, step out of your comfort zone and perfect something else. If you started with abstracts and want to try portraits, go for it, but have a part of your art that you feel confident in producing.

Moving on from paints and tools and exploring everything

Once you're ready to move beyond the experimental stage, there are additional principles to consider. This leads you to the subject matter: will you focus on landscapes, abstracts, portraitures, or perhaps mixed media? There are numerous options beyond these. Begin your exploration with the subjects you love and wish to paint, and practice until you can depict them to the best of your ability. Many artists, upon reaching this stage, continue to explore different ways to make the subject matter uniquely their own style. This is also the stage where composition, color value, and perspective become important.

You've likely thought about these aspects during your exploration phase, but now is the time when focusing on this part of painting helps you create more professional-looking artworks.

When examining today's top artists or even the Old Masters, you'll notice they mastered a particular subject, theme, or technique, refining it repeatedly until it defined their distinctive art style. Throughout their careers, some artists explore multiple styles. Take Pablo Picasso, for instance. An artist's style is in constant flux. As you learn and practice, it's unlikely you'll create art the same way five years down the line. It's entirely up to you. Some artists prefer a structured approach, while others enjoy experimenting and playing while maintaining a consistent style across their work. Finding your style becomes crucial if you plan to sell your art. The reason is that you want your work to be recognizable, encouraging people to return because they know and appreciate your work. You can build a loyal customer base if they can identify your work without seeing you or your name, just by viewing your artwork. You want to create pieces instantly recognizable as yours. This is your style. It may emerge from a mix of elements like the colors you choose, your brush strokes, line work, or subject matter. Consistency runs through your style. You'll know you've developed a strong style when someone can identify your work just by scrolling through social media. Of course, we all draw influence from other artists, whether consciously or subconsciously. This is how art movements continue to form. The key is to stay true to your creative process and learn from others to enhance your style. Developing a unique art style will simplify the decision-making process when creating art, as you'll have established certain parameters within your style.

Moving forward

To begin identifying your style, try to focus on a specific theme or subject. For instance, you might choose nature as your theme, which is broad enough to include florals, trees, landscapes, or seascapes. If you select animals, there are countless options to paint, ensuring you won't easily tire of your subject. With animals as your focal point, you can explore various backgrounds, such as adding a barn, placing the animal in a landscape, or using an abstract background while painting the animal with realistic techniques. This approach opens up the world of developing your own unique style. If you've been painting for a while and want to refine your style, consider collecting works from artists you admire on a Pinterest board or experimenting with techniques and brushstrokes you don't typically use. Expand your color palette or start with a limited palette you wish to incorporate into your style. Ensure the elements you choose are enjoyable for you, helping to shape your unique style. Once you've selected elements from different artists, begin integrating them into your work to see which ones resonate with your existing niche. By combining elements, colors, and techniques from other artists with your current style, you can develop a unique style more quickly. One method to start is by narrowing your theme or subject and choosing techniques or color palettes to incorporate. This requires creating a lot of art to discover what feels right without overthinking. Produce as much as possible over a few weeks, then review your work to identify what you like about each piece and which elements recur, integrating these into your style. If this approach isn't effective, consider imposing constraints to help focus. You might limit your color palette to three colors, adding black and white. Start with a yellow, blue, and red, and expand from there, worrying about warm and cool colors later.

Consider focusing on one or two mediums, such as acrylics and water-soluble pastel sticks or inks. Choose a subject you enjoy, like florals, animals, or mixed media. By narrowing your focus, you can explore more deeply rather than broadly, helping you develop a distinctive style for your art. This limitation can accelerate the creation of your unique style. Once you've adopted these changes in your artistic process, evaluate your work to see what's effective. Share your creations with others and observe their reactions to your changes. If you don't notice any differences or feedback, continue refining your approach. If both you and others appreciate your subject matter, perhaps it's your color palette that needs attention. Consider studying color theory or exploring color palettes on Pinterest. It might be as simple as altering your color mixing or introducing a signature color, or even applying a red or yellow wash to your canvas before starting your painting.

Finding your style your way while still producing your art

An artistic style is the distinctive approach you take as an artist towards your work. It embodies your individuality, creativity, and perspective on the world. This journey is both challenging and fulfilling. Remember, you're not confined; your art creation and growth are in constant flux. What your process looks like now may differ significantly in five, ten, or twenty years. This evolution helps keep your art vibrant and engaging. Discover the steps to achieve your unique style by experimenting with elements learned from studying other artists' work. You're not replicating their style but incorporating aspects of their work into your own. Regular practice is essential for developing consistency and pushing your limits. No one is perfect; embrace your mistakes and use them to shape your artistic style. Always take time to reflect on your work. This process can lead to developing your unique style without you even noticing. Curate your work by creating a personal gallery on Instagram or a Pinterest board to track your progress over time. This allows you to identify the pieces you enjoy creating most, along with techniques and subject matters. Look for recurring themes, techniques, or subjects.

This can guide you in developing your unique style. Ultimately, the most crucial aspect is staying true to yourself. Be genuine in your work; creating art solely to sell by imitating someone else's creativity doesn't feel authentic. Your artistic style should represent your view of the world. Discovering your unique style is a personal journey that takes time. While some may find their style before you, it's all about the journey and how it shapes your art. Stay true to yourself and enjoy the process.

In case you need to summarize the steps

In summary, you will concentrate on discovering what you enjoy creating and what inspires you, and then intentionally practice integrating those elements into your work.

Seek out inspiration and influences by exploring the works of artists you admire. Don't confine yourself to a single artist or style; instead, study a range of art movements and techniques to expand your perspective.

Focus on what excites you to create, whether it's a color palette, technique, or subject matter.

Try out these concepts with various mediums and blend different styles from other artists by integrating elements of their style with your own.

Afterward, develop by practicing consistently.

Assess your work to determine if you're satisfied with its progress. Share it with others and seek constructive feedback. You can gain valuable insights from their comments.

Finally, trust your instincts. Your art is dynamic and will evolve as you do.

Developing your style requires patience, as it takes both time and dedication.

Ultimately, rely on your intuition by embracing your creative impulses. Discovering your unique style is a personal journey that you should enjoy. Keep in mind that your unique style is always evolving, and you're simply identifying your starting point in understanding it.

Freebie

I envision the leaves beginning to subtly shift in color, and the mornings are cool and refreshing as you enjoy your coffee. This is my impression, especially now that I'm noticing large groups of birds and monarch butterflies migrating from the North. My template is designed to usher you into the fall season, perfect for a greeting card or a Thanksgiving invitation. You might also consider creating a wooden welcome sign by your front door, adorned with pumpkins at the base. Feel free to personalize the template. Happy painting, my friend.

Tips/Books

This month's Tips/Books section offers something a bit unique. In preparing for my blog posts, I explore blogs from other artists and companies, and I also watch a lot of YouTube and listen to podcasts while I paint.

I often find myself distracted by topics that may not be directly related to art but can spark new ideas, just to give you some insight into how I create my blog for you. This pertains to creativity, whether you're a painter or another type of artisan. This message is for those who believe their creativity is a faith-driven gift from God. There's a YouTube channel and podcast by the same artist, Matt Tommey. Matt is a basket weaver and mentor. Here's one from Matt Tommey Mentoring https://youtu.be/JTmqmQkFzqQ?si=cQhdzJiYNO-CofIK. Happy discoveries!

What I'm working on

This summer has been quite different for me. Normally, I don't focus much on anything else because I'm always busy with painting and managing my home and other activities I consider important. However, due to my health issues, this summer has changed. I haven't been painting non-stop every day as I usually do. Now, I'm intentionally painting to refine my style and design concepts, hoping that something will resonate with me and potential buyers. Mornings have been dedicated to Bible study on the back breezeway, while afternoons are spent on the covered front porch, enjoying the breeze from the Gulf, reading or watching YouTube videos. I've also b

een organizing my home, getting drawers and closets in order. Although filing papers remains a challenge, I aim to conquer it eventually. I'm still working on my front flower beds, as I can't imagine living here without landscaped beds in the front yard. I expect them to be in full bloom next spring. Since completing my cardio rehab program, I've been exercising daily, walking a mile and a half five days a week, lifting weights two days a week for my upper body, and doing yoga stretches to stay flexible. I also walk about an hour after sunrise to take photos for my own reference, adding excitement to my morning routine. Once the weather cools, I plan to do sunset walks, possibly inspiring new paintings. This change has been beneficial for me. I've realized that working non-stop on random subjects didn't achieve much, leaving me without a cohesive body of work. I'm now painting with more purpose, focusing on specific subjects and design concepts. It's taken me longer than I'd like to feel aligned with my style and evolving, but I've learned a lot about myself since my health issues and recognized that I was rushing through my art practice and life.

I need to be kinder to myself, and you should too. As the saying goes, take baby steps, but I'm gradually gaining confidence in my style. After all, we each have a unique painting style from the start, even if most of us don't recognize it. Happy painting, my friend.

New on my website

Due to recent health issues, I haven't been very active on my website, but I'm now working to catch up by uploading content. I'm offering a sale on selected Woodubend products, perfect

for those beginning holiday projects. You can use Woodubend trims and molds on furniture, crafts, or almost any project you envision. The "Last of Summer" paintings feature Woodubend trim attached around the watercolor paper, which is affixed to a wood panel, creating a dimensional effect. Explore the available Woodubend trims and molds, along with decoupage papers and stencils. Enjoy your shopping, my friends.