I’m in the process of taking a deep dive and looking at my artistic style to see what kind of changes and tweaks I’d like to make. I like my style but do not LOVE my style. It feels more like something I fell into amidst the chaos of learning Illustrator, learning how to create repeat patterns, creating and building a portfolio, researching companies to pitch my portfolio, etc.
There was a lot going on for several years, with many spinning plates and I realized that “my style” doesn’t feel completely like me. So I’ve decided to do something about it.
I started by looking at dozens of YouTube videos about finding your artistic style. There was some good ideas but none rang true. So I’m just going to dive in and see what comes of it at the other end.
Finding what lights me up
The first thing I did was look at the work of other illustrators, pattern designers and artists that I like. Using one piece of work from each artist, I compiled all of these illustrations in one place. The easiest place was on a “secret” pin board using Pinterest.
Next was to understand why these pieces inspire me and light me up. This can get confusing because I might love the way an artist uses contour lines, but I’m not really drawn to much else.
I might like almost everything about a piece of work or only one thing – and that “thing” could be something obvious or subtle. So it was important to study each piece and figure out what it was that I liked about it.
Using Notion to keep me organized
I decided that what I needed was a “visual vocabulary” to help me figure out the connecting threads to understand what inspires me. To do that I created a Notion database using each illustration and a framework to evaluate them.
No need to reinvent the wheel here, so the framework is based on the 7 elements of art. Since I don’t draw realistically, I look at each of the 7 elements from the perspective of “stylized art.”
In stylized art, the 7 elements are simplified, exaggerated and/or distorted in various ways in order evoke emotion, mood, ideas.
My manipulation of these 7 elements of art creates an aesthetic (an art style) that is unique to me. My goal is to do this consciously instead of solely creating art I think someone else will like or buy.
If you’d like to follow along, keep in mind that for the most part I work digitally, but would like to incorporate more real art media into my work. Also, my natural style is a stylized or simplified way of illustrating as opposed to realistic or abstract. So the attributes I talk about will be from that vantage point.
