Finding your artistic style is one of the biggest challenges artists face and it’s something that every person has a different opinion on.  My opinion may resonate with you or it may be the exact opposite of something you recently heard. That’s the beauty of this world, we all can, and do, have different opinions as well as artistic styles. 

I’ve always heard that it is important to create an art style that is consistent and recognizable and while I do agree with that, I’m also a bit torn. 

I’m known for my black and white art which is something I’ve been doing for years and is used in designs that go on mugs, wall art, and surfaces but, I’m also known by others at art exhibits for my pieces that are very colorful and feminine that are reflected in my watercolor designs.  Then, there is my own personal style in my home which is very minimal in color and is more “clean and tidy”.  My abstract art doesn’t reflect my personal style at my home, which goes against the thought of “consistency”. However, this has lead people to start to recognize my art regardless of the colors used within. So, while sometimes I feel envious of others’ consistency in their art, I’m extremely happy that I get to switch it up and have successfully created a style based on more than color that allows others to recognize me. 

Your personal style is your consistency in your artwork so that others can recognize you.

This can mean: color, strokes, specific marks that can be found in a large selection of your work, motifs, and even orientation

In this blog post, I am going to share with you how to create your own style as a beginner letter or artist. 

Practice and Observe

Finding your own personal style doesn’t just happen - you must express your art through practice. This doesn’t mean you have to be spending hours on end practicing, but you need to be consistent with your practicing. If you can’t get to it 5 times a week set a more reasonable goal of 20 minutes 2 times a week. Make time to practice, but also make sure it is attainable so that when you sit down to practice that time is solely dedicated to that. 

During that time you should be creating a few practice pieces.  Do things like: make your favorite marks, use colors that make you happy or paint things that speak to you. 

Pay attention when painting: 

What commonalities do you notice throughout?

Are there colors that you keep using again and again?

Are there marks that you always include in most or all of your pieces?

Or are they motifs? That can be seen throughout 

Continuing to do the above will not only help you find your unique style but will improve your skills and confidence. 

How to relate this to calligraphy or lettering

Use the same method of consistency and practice but while doing your work think about these questions: 

Are you always making your lettering look bouncy and flowy? 

Are you drawn to that style? 

Do you love modern calligraphy that has breaks between letters and has flourishes as accents?

Then continue to practice these things over and over again until you see marks and lines that are consistent in your lettering.  

The only way that I was able to develop my artistic calligraphy style was by consistent practice, building that muscle memory and repeating the same strokes, lines, shapes and words over and over again until I LOVED IT!

Do the work until you love it & then share it!

Don’t look for validation from others.  Do not wait until your friends like your work. Do not wait until anyone on social media likes your work. Create the same lines, strokes, objects until YOU love what you have created. Then share it proudly.  The more you share the more you will begin to see consistencies in your work.  

Your own artistic style is how you bring your favorite elements into your works: 

• Through the use of colors that are consistent in the majority of your pieces, 

• Through the shapes that you use often

• Through the line marks, weight of lines, brush strokes and flair that are apparent in your work

• Through common motifs in your work

The process of finding your artistic style and voice is a journey. It won’t happen overnight and it won’t happen by wishing and dreaming.  Take your time, develop your skills, build your experience and a body of work and enjoy the process.

The process of creating, painting, lettering, is most often the hardest part of creating but it also brings so many positive benefits… it’s meditative, falling into a practice that makes you happy, connected to what inspires joy. It promotes confidence and opens you up to other experiences.  It leaves you with pieces of work that you, and your hands brought to life.  When you look back 6 months from now, 1 year from now… you’ll soon forget any fears, struggles or even what creating was like before you had developed your own artistic style.

You can listen to me get even more in-depth and share my own personal stories while finding my artistic style in my Podcast Episode # 3 of the Life i Design Podcast - “My Secret Tip”.