How do I find my artist’s style?
Finding your style as an artist
No one really knows the exact steps an artist takes to hone an art style. There is no exact recipe because an art style is totally specific to each person. Yet, we still can be inspired. So it is great to discover each path separately and individually.
Here is a selection of the artists who are telling us about how they found their style:
Dimitri Likissas’s artist style
A full-time artist known for new era pointillism (His IG)
Geometric pattern
“I did find my art style after the years went by. I always loved polka dots, the geometric pattern, but at the time I felt it was enough just to paint that, so I always juxtaposed a colored silhouette of a subject on top of the polka dot pattern.”
Polka dots style
“Later this evolved in the silhouette becoming a part of the polka dot pattern by merging the tonal values of the underlying dots with the silhouette with the same color but darker or lighter, where you could still see the silhouette but also all the polka dots, then the next transition to my final style was where the entire polka dot pattern got each individual colors that then made up the entire subject and that is my current style, this took me around 25 years…”
Our note
There is control here. The technique is mastered, it can always progress because it is never-ending but it reached a level few artists are reaching. We can see the work is consistent and the photos also are perfect, the visual communication is at a pro-level. Many galleries would dream about this professionalism if the niche is fitting theirs. So here is the weakness: Dimitri might be too dependent on his social media.
Instagram dependency
If one day the rules are changing he might disappear from the Internet. Because his niche is very precise and he is probably one of the best in this one, Dimitri should make a website and own his communication, his image, his audience. I would clearly set a series of articles related to the artworks, explaining his approach, and get to be the 1st on search engines in the world about his niche. Then if the key is getting galleries or museums, dedicating a page about the logistics, contracting, etc…
Kina Crow’s artist style
Mixed Media Artist and Chubby little white woman on the brink of total insanity (Kina Crow’s website)
Showing vulnerability
“I found my artist’s style by just being myself and trying to think my way out of being a crazy bitch. I try to expose the things about myself that feel the most vulnerable, but I tend to do it with humor, so it takes the edge off. When I find someone who looks at a piece of my work and says “me too” I feel like a little part of me has been set free. Most of my work carries some prose & is often silly and light-hearted. I make what I am interested in and what I like. It’s not for everyone, but my voice does resonate with enough people to support me as a full-time artist. I’m lucky.”
Recognition during evolution
“I think it will evolve, it already has over the years, but what I do like about my “style” is that it is for sure distinctive. I work in a couple of different mediums and am currently working on a new body of work in a new medium. But there is a thread of cohesion to everything I do, and as a working artist, I find that is a good and helpful thing. I think also, collectors, at least mine, enjoy being able to recognize my work even as it evolves. It works for me. I truly love trying new stuff, but I don’t think I can ever get “stuck” as long as I have something to say, or think about.”
A new body of work
“The only thing I am currently stuck-in is finding extra time to actually complete this new body of work. I have built an art business for myself; that does need to be supported by my sales, which only come from work that I currently have to make with my 2 chubby little hands, so it is a bit of a hamster wheel.”
A psychological reason
“I feel like it found me, about 14 years ago and has just evolved, like me, with practice and age. It’s weird, but it’s given me a lot of insights into my personal bewilderment with being a human. There’s a psychological reason why my figures have big heads, why they look like children, why I gravitate to texture again and again, and why my subject matter is always about human behavior. But they are my own personal reasons. My “style” is a cumulative result of my self taught skill level, my lack of education, the baby boomer era that I belong to.”
Life experience defines it
“My 25 yr career in the film industry and my adoration of color and design. So in short, I think my particular life experience shaped what I call my “style””
VPG commenting:
As for Dimitri Likissas, the previous artist in this article, everything is well-done here. Consistency of work, mature technique, precise identity, great photos and the body of work is presented with a clear relation to his owner. This is about life here. So perhaps this relation in the communication could be improved without flirting with the voyeurism but to give more authenticity. Then pragmatically the website isn’t secure and it has to be done (seek SSL) especially if the website sells something (a book in that case). It isn’t really a problem if the design is a bit amateur because it shows that the artist Kina probably spend her own time on it. But the info given in order to sell online (steps, shipping, how is the package, etc.) should clearly be explained. Once this done for the book I would integrate the artworks on sale in the website instead on Fine Art America only.
Taufik Ermas’s artist style
Art from trauma (Find him on IG)
Cavity art
“My Artistic Practice focuses on memory empowerment about the emptiness and isolation feeling. I have been started this project in 2010 till now. I create a cavity on my painting that reveals the surface of the wall where it will be installed, together forming the complete subject matter displayed. This cavity is formed by a “deconstruction” of the canvas panel and stretcher. Forming a customized stretched canvas – containing a cutout silhouette of a figural composition. I am influenced by simultaneous art theories: Pablo Picasso, Anthony Green paintings and Optical illusion by M.C. Escher.”
Yogyakarta’s earthquake
“My style is derived from my personal experience when Yogyakarta in 2006 was hit by a very strong earthquake. More than 5400 people died and 15000 were injured. I was trapped for a while, without oxygen and close to death. Bellow the ruins of my house, I’ve got hurt in a way that never showed on my body, with wounds that are deep than anything that bleeds. Trauma changes a lot my paradigm and views about many things in life, transform into the ground motivation and inspiration of my art.”
Our note:
Taufik your are grabbing our bowels with your art. Strong, emotional, I guess you nobody can be indifferent. But here the main problem that might be blocking many opportunities. The photography has to be improved! Only the last post on Instagram is ok, most of the paintings are blurred, the light isn’t ok. Once this solved there could be other steps. Not before.
Anne Plaisance’s artist style
French visual artist living in the US. Focusing on women and social justice (Anne Plaisance’s website).
Medium and process
“I found my style last an artist but it still evolves with each new medium I try, with maturation, experience, and time. My collectors and friends can recognize my style, especially for strong works where the mind, heart, and gut are engaged. A style is an ongoing process.”
My brush is my sword
“Many of my paintings have deeper meanings, are engaged, are touching difficult but important issues. For example in the series «Born to» it goes from Born to die to born to be raped. For lighter issues, I use humor, especially in collages and photography. I would say each medium allows to reveal a part of who I am, what I have to say and why. The journey builds up the style.”
Communication critic:
The website boat is sinking or has been taken by pirates. First, it isn’t secure (SSL and the website is using cloudflare so it can be easily switched to https) that means it won’t appear like 91% of the websites on Google. Secondly, when you are on it you go click on the central painting and Bam, it is bringing you to an affiliate (a book we advise not to buy here). My impression: this is a bias that came from the social media trend. Instagram today has way more impact than a website but this is a short term impact. What is posted is not viewed one year later. A website has a strong and quiet communication power and Anne you really should take this boat back and eject its pirates.
Jean Jean’s artist style
Lazy entitled millennial from the not-so-third world. doing the things with the colors and stuff.
It’s Jean like “Valjean” not like your pantsy.
Fitting in
“I think I might have come close to it before art school, and then kind of lost my train of thought. Maybe I was trying to fit in, or maybe the discussions I was exposed to did resonate with me.”
Going with the flow
“Now I think going with the flow would probably be a good idea for me: whatever my artwork needs in order to reach what I’m aiming for at the moment will inform my aesthetic choices. hopefully some years from now I’ll be able to identify whatever my style is.”
Victor Hugo would tell
The style, the identity, the quality is here. I don’t know if it’s because the work isn’t posted when it is done or because the work isn’t done, but there is a lack of consistency. And I think the key of Jean Jean is to find it and grow it. Every damn day at least one hour, create (creation doesn’t exist, this biblical term should be replaced by transformation). Posting it on Insta isn’t the most important because it can be posted later, so first Jean Jean find your long distance regularity. Because we really like what you are doing.
Abby Junge’s artist style
Artist influenced by life, Mexican culture, cynicism, humor and busyness of life
Only 2 rules style
“I would see artists with very distinctive styles, and completely different methods and be really bummed. “Why didn’t I think of that?” was the only thought I could think of while trying to draw and create.
And so I invented my roll of no judgment, where I drew on meters and meters of a paper roll. My only 2 rules were: no colors, and nothing is a mistake.”
Linoleum
“These 2 were things that always seemed contrary to what I thought “my style” was supposed to be.
This led me to linoleum, and after carving for a while, I once tried out a print on an old book, which I kept around in case I would find my style in collaging. And then, I squealed with joy, I laughed out loud, and saw that I had my “thing”. I loved doing it, and although I knew it would eventually evolve, I could finally stop trying to find a “style” that was mine, and I could just concentrate on creating my art.”
Technique as a media between the artist and her art
Technique and sensitivity is here. There is a website and in contrary of most of artists who are using Wix it is well done (I would just add more info about the shipping, the certificate of authenticity). What I would try to improve here is the connection between Abby and her art. The best advice I got in 5 years in Fine Arts is “Go to see a psychologist”: And don’t get me wrong, there is no mental problem here!!! But there might be a need of introspection for finding a way to have a style that can be recognised, different, fitting the artist. I am sure there is a lot to dig.
Jason Towne’s artist style
Duality is everywhere. It exists in the internal and the external world.
Finding the balance while moving
“How do I find my artist’s style? Whenever I find a creative direction or style to pursue it all originates from making lots of work. Like riding a bike, for example. It becomes easier to find balance and get moving if you pedal (aka work). Doing work leads to many micro successes and micro failures. Enough of those successes and failures stack up to become the sum total of what we would call “style”.”
Mistakes into ideas
“Here’s a failure which became a huge part of my style: I once spilled 91% alcohol on a painting and the oil-based paint from a paint pen ran all over, it looked terrible. I was SO bummed. Then I realized that the acrylic paint was undisturbed. This led me to try using alcohol with intention. Now I use alcohol for controlled deconstruction. It’s wonderful.”
Point of view about the Instagram account
There is a good mix between slices of artists personal life and the artworks shown. The main problem is that the artworks are not really well shot. There are some refection, yellow light, halo or blurry problems. Plus many of them are taken on the floor, giving a negative subjective angle and not the idea we should have of the artwork exhibited if we buy it. And because Jason is teaching workshops, he should make another account especially made for that, with its own hashtag, and asking the participants to use it. I don’t tell that the workshop content is hurting the artist one because it is good to show it. But the workshop should have way more content, using the local positioning advantage of Instagram.