How to Define Your Artistic Style

 

Artistic ideals have been part of human culture for thousands of years. From the Renaissance to today, people have expressed their personal vision through art. We take this art form very seriously. How we view and practice our craft directly affects how we view ourselves, and ultimately, how others see us. Working out exactly what your painting style is can be difficult, especially if you are a beginner. Here, academic painter Hillel Selznick shares some principles that will help you define your artistic style:

 

Define your artistic style early

The key to good art is finding the essence of your work, and then expressing that essence through the medium you use. The foundation for all creative endeavors, including your artistic style, is a solid understanding of yourself as an artist. Artistic practice is really about you and your work. Put your feelings into it, express your ideas through it – whatever makes you happy, and then try your best to duplicate that feeling in your work.

 

Avoid comparing yourself to others

We are all unique, and while there are many ways to express yourself, there is no one way to be an artist. As a result, finding your artistic style will be an individual process. As an artist, you will not be able to accurately copy the style of anyone else. In some ways, this is a good thing -each of us has our own unique voice, and the more open-minded you are, the better off you will be, explains NYC visual artist Hillel Selznick.

 

Be original

An artist isn’t just a copyist – he or she is an original. While there are many ways to express yourself as an artist, there is no one way to be an artist. Art is a stylistic reflection of the artist’s time, culture, and personal vision. What one person sees as a brush stroke, another may see as an abstraction. What one person recognizes as a signature, another may see as a logo.

 

Stay flexible

Everyone’s style changes over time – yours will, too. The only way to stay on top of your game as an artist is to stay flexible. This means being open to feedback, and willing to try new things, adds Hillel Selznick. If you have always worked with a certain type of paper, or used a certain type of pencil, you need to be flexible enough to let go of those habits. You need to be willing to try something new, even if it means rejecting a few times before finding your style again.

 

Be proud of your own work

We are all unique – our individual styles will vary from piece to piece, from project to project, and from person to person. With that in mind, it is important to express your pride in your work. It is a wonderful feeling to create art that you are happy with, and that people enjoy looking at. It is even better when those people are you!

 

Summing up

In order to define your artistic style, you will have to look inside yourself and see what you enjoy doing. Only then will you be able to recreate those feelings in your artwork. Once you have a handle on what makes you tick, you will have a much better chance of success when it comes to self-publishing a book or working on a project that requires a unique style. Art is the ability to capture an audience’s attention, hold it, and tell a story with it. How you do that is what makes art an artistic endeavor. There are many ways to define your artistic style – and for each of them, there are going to be pros and cons. The main thing to remember is that whatever you choose to call your style, you need to be true to yourself and your vision. That is what makes art great – the ability to create something that is uniquely you, and that means something to you.