6 Tips on How to Find Your Art Style

Here’s a guide to help you navigate this creative process and uncover the art style that feels authentically yours.

Finding your unique art style is an exciting process since it develops your artistic identity amidst a sea of other painters. Here’s a guide to help you navigate this creative process and uncover the art style that feels authentically yours.

1. Explore Different Mediums and Techniques

    Begin by experimenting with various mediums—acrylics, watercolors, oils, pastels—and different techniques. Each medium offers distinct possibilities and challenges.

    Watercolor artist Jean Haines is known for her ethereal, fluid style that captures the essence of her subjects with minimal details. Contrast this with Vincent van Gogh’s thick, expressive oil paint strokes that bring his intense, vibrant scenes to life. By trying out different methods, you can discover what resonates with you.

    2. Study and Borrow

    Don’t hesitate to study the works of various artists. Borrowing elements from their styles is a time-honored tradition in the art world. Ask yourself what you like about Salvador Dalí’s surrealism, with its dreamlike, bizarre landscapes, or the delicate realism of Andrew Wyeth’s rural American scenes. Combine these influences in your work, and gradually, you’ll start blending them into something unique.

    3. Create Regularly

    Consistent practice is key to finding your style. Set aside time everyday or every week to create. The more you paint, the more you’ll recognize patterns in your preferences and techniques. Paint something ugly and decide why you think one art is ugly and one is pretty.

    4. Reflect on Your Work

    Review your work regularly. What themes do you see emerging? Do you prefer abstract compositions, like those of Russian painter Wassily Kandinsky, who believed art could evoke emotions as powerfully as music? Or are you drawn to the clean lines and forms of Georgia O’Keeffe’s flowers and landscapes? Reflecting on your preferences will guide you toward your unique style.

    5. Embrace Your Unique Perspective

    Your life experiences, emotions, and worldview are uniquely yours. Infuse your art with these personal elements. Frida Kahlo’s paintings are deeply autobiographical, reflecting her pain and resilience. Her distinct style emerged from her personal narrative, making her work instantly recognizable.

    6. Be Patient

    This sounds cliché, but it’s still true: finding your art style is a journey, not a destination. It evolves over time as you grow and change. Some artists believe that your art style will eventually come to you. Enjoy the process, celebrate small discoveries, and be patient with yourself.

    By exploring various mediums, studying other artists, creating regularly, reflecting on your work, and embracing your unique perspective, you’ll gradually uncover an art style that is distinctly your own.

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