Most artists who are starting out has this goal of finding their “own Style”,
Their own way of making art that’s recognizable.
And they spend most of their time trying to watch videos and tutorials to find it.
And I was one such artist who spent most of my early years trying to “find my art style” only to realize the harsh reality,
Which is:
Style is not found, its built. ✏️
A Fun Story
The word “style” actually came from the Latin word ‘Stilus’ which referred to a writing instrument that was used to carve letters on wax tablets.
Then, the meaning slowly evolved to mean “The manner someone writes in”,
Which then slowly evolved to “Any Characteristic Way of doing something in any field – like art and fashion”.
Which means, the word style is defined as “A way of doing something” ✍️
when you apply it to art, it comes down to ‘How you do art?’
• How do you draw?
• What do you draw?
• What themes you prefer
• How do you show it?
• What tools do you use?
• What process do you prefer?
• What kind of mediums do you like?
• What kind of things you’d like to create?
These are all questions that gives birth to your style.
Your WAY. 💪
The very way your art looks likes.
And every different answer leads to a different combinations, thus giving birth to different styles. 😌
Example:
Let’s ask the question of “How do you draw and represent people?”
Different artists choose to answer that question in different ways.
• Miyazaki would use somewhat realistic proportions with a mix and blend of Japanese anime aesthetics to it
• Whereas Gendy Tartokovsky should use extremely bold shapes and exaggerations while maintaining a more “real” appeal.
• Art Germ would draw them in cinematic Hyper realist way.
• And Piccaso would use the same bold shapes, loose the realism and draw people in the most abstract fashion.
4 artists
4 different ways
1 Same question.
The Harsh Truth
The reality is this – the answers to these questions ART NOT found.
They are CHOSEN.
You choose to answer them however you want.
So the idea of “style is something that’s within you that needs to be found” is not entirely true.
You just have certain ‘inclinations’.
And as you lean into them, your style emerges.
Thus making your style – something that you BUILD, not find. ✏️
Hope this idea saves some headspace.
Tomorrow, I’ll share the 2nd Art Truth I wish I knew – which is “Drawing is NOT art”.
Till then,
Kesh.
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