The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Art Style
Finding your art style seems to be a right of passage for artists these days, and for good reason. Social media has really changed the way that we see art. And with so many artists around the world making amazing artwork in so many styles, having your own signature art style is the best way to stand out against the crowd.
When I first heard about having an art style I always thought people were referring to styles like abstract or modern. Which is one form of having an art style.
But it turns out that having an art style is more about the recognizable way that you put your own spin on your art. It’s the way that you apply colors, your composition, techniques, and more. It’s your uniqueness wrapped up in one.
And what artist doesn’t want to be recognized for that?
Regardless of whether you’re a beginner artist or a professional, if you’re looking to have a signature style, here are some tips and ideas to help you develop yours.
This post is all about finding your art style.
The Best Ways to Find Your Art Style
Experiment with different mediums and techniques.
One of the best ways to find your art style is to experiment with different mediums and techniques. A lot of artists stick to what they know best, which is a missed opportunity to explore mediums and techniques that you may enjoy even more.
Trying out different types of paints, pencils, markers, or even digital tools can help you discover another side of your artistic expression. Even small changes in your technique like adding texture, switching up line thicknesses, or using different brush strokes can elevate your style.
Get inspired by artists you love.
An exercise that helped me develop my style while in art school was to find artists whose work inspired me. And if you can find inspiration from artists who use different mediums from you that’s even better. Looking at other artists’ styles can inspire you and give you ideas for your own unique style.
Take the time to analyze the work of different artists’ and figure out what you like most about their styles. Is it the color palette? Their shading technique? The mood of the piece? When you’re starting to find your art style, more often than not it’s a mix of your favorite artists with a bit of your own character in it.
So when you’re admiring another artist’s work think about how you can incorporate elements into your own style.
Find inspiration in your surroundings.
Don’t forget, your surroundings can be a great source of inspiration for your art style too.
In my case I find nature to be the biggest influence in my art. The lack of rigid lines and the constant movement even when things may seem so still helped me develop my loose style of drawing.
Look around your environment and see what catches your eye. It could be anything from the colors of a sunset to the texture of a tree bark.
Let those observations inform your color palette, composition, and overall style.
Do studies and experiment constantly.
Even professionals need to do studies. Now, I know this may not have an immediate effect in developing your art style. But what it will do is help you build knowledge and technical skill to convey your style in a way that you may not have been able to do otherwise.
When doing studies, it’s useful to focus on the elements that you want to incorporate into your own art style. For example, if you’re interested in doing children’s book illustration you’d do better studying character design or landscapes rather than graphic fonts. Then you can experiment with those techniques and make them your own.
And remember, consistency is key when doing studies. Try to set aside time each day or each week to work on them. This will help you to develop good habits and make progress more quickly.
Be patient and watch your art evolve.
Finally, the most important part of finding your art style is patience. The reality is that finding your style isn’t a one and done approach. It’s something that develops over time with lots of practice, experimentation, and finding what you like and what work best for you.
I’ve been creating art for over 20 years and in those years my style has changed so much. I feel more confident with my skills with every stroke of my pen. So keep creating. Because the beauty of it all, is that your art style with continue to grow and change as you do.