The Path to Artistic Authenticity: Creating Art That's Truly You

Discovering Your Unique Artistic Style: A Personal Journey and Practical Guide

Welcome, fellow artists and art enthusiasts! Finding your own unique artistic style is a journey filled with exploration, practice, and a lot of patience. Drawing from the wisdom shared by countless artists, I want to share my own approach to developing an artistic style. While some of these ideas may seem simple, they are profound in their simplicity and have been instrumental in my personal creative growth. Remember, discovering your style is a gradual process that requires consistent practice and self-reflection. Let's dive in!

Start with Curiosity:

The most important step in developing your style is to just start. Don’t overthink it; pick up your brush and paint. When I first began, I experimented with various mediums, techniques, and styles. I still do! This exploration helps me understand my preferences. If you’re making art that doesn’t thrill you, take a step back and evaluate. Be specific about what you like or dislike in your work. Is it the brush strokes, the colors, or the subject? Journal about it in a brain dump style, similar to the morning pages exercise from Julia Cameron's The Artist’s Way. This helps to clarify your thoughts and feelings about your work.

Reflect and Learn from Others:

Make lists in your journal about what you love in the artwork of others you admire. Is it their line work, the materials they use, or their color palette? The longer your list, the better! This gives you a wealth of elements to experiment with in your own way. Regularly taking inventory of your experiences with your art practice will guide your future work. By understanding what resonates with you in others' art, you can start to see patterns and preferences in your own creations.

Developing Your Visual Language:

Finding your voice involves identifying the elements that make your art uniquely yours. For me, it has been about discovering consistent processes, specific paintbrushes, and the energetic brush strokes I love so much. Consistency in certain elements, like composition and technique, can help to create a recognizable style. However, allow your style to evolve over time. My own style has transformed, influenced by my surroundings and experiences, such as the vibrant life in South Florida. I fully expect it will continue to shape and evolve over time.

Stay Open and Evolving:

That said, artistic style is not static; it grows with you. Be open to this evolution and let your environment and experiences shape your work. My art has been profoundly influenced by the flora and fauna of South Florida, infusing it with bright, bold colors and lively brushstrokes. Embrace these changes as they come and let them guide your artistic journey.

Create for Yourself and Engage with the Art Community:

When it comes to seeking feedback and engaging with the art community, remember to create art primarily for yourself. Your art should resonate with you first and foremost. Once you’ve created work that feels true to you, find the community of art lovers who appreciate your style. Yes, you can and should seek to find the intersection between what others love and what you love to make, but creating solely for the approval of others will likely never truly satisfy your artist’s heart. Art is subjective, and polling a random group may not accurately represent your true art market. Focus on what brings you joy and fulfillment in your creative process, and let that guide you. I also can't emphasize enough what a blessing it has been to get connected with other artists.. whether through online groups and communities or locally and in person. Just do it! Put yourself out there and you will be so surprised with the return.

The Role of Practice and Patience:

Practice is essential. Regular sketching and painting help hone your skills and bring clarity to your style. If the process of creating doesn’t bring you joy, you might be off track. Find a process you love, and you’ll create work you love. Keep asking yourself why you’re making art. Is it for beauty, meditation, or something else? Dig deep to understand your motivations. Sometimes, the reasons behind your artistic choices become clear only much later, providing wonderful a-ha moments.

A Few Final Words

Finding your unique artistic style is a deeply personal and ongoing journey. Enjoy the process, be patient with yourself, and remember that every artist's path is unique. Regularly reflect on your work, stay curious, and let your style evolve naturally. Understanding artistic evolution and continually asking why will help you uncover your true artistic voice.

I invite you to share your experiences and insights in the comments. What has helped you in your journey to finding your artistic style? Try some of the exercises mentioned here, like journaling about your preferences or making lists of what you admire in other artists' work. Let’s continue this creative journey together, learning and growing as artists.