This is the statement that floats around in my head most of the time. Do I have a style? Do I need one? What do I want to be known for? Would I sell more art if I had a distinctive style?
Over the past 5 years that I have been exploring my art and slowly becoming the artist I always dreamed of being (this is definitely a never-ending journey) I have wrestled with this idea. The idea that I need a style, that the only way to become well known for what I create or a successful artist (insert your idea of success here) I would need to have a distinct tone of voice, look and feel or artistic style. The only way to get noticed by the galleries or retail stores is to be easily recognised and to have a style that is coveted by a larger audience.
I still believe that to be true, but I am becoming more open to what that could look like. How distinct does it need to be? Will that get samey? Or worse still I get so sick of painting that way I lose interest?
When I look an artist such as Anya Brock, I can see her distinct style a mile off. Take some time and look across her vast array of work and you will see the broad range of genres she paints. Abstracts, botanicals, figurative, birds and the list goes on. There is no specific subject or genre, but a distinct artistic style that is clearly Brock’s. The colour palette, the brush strokes, the way she thinks about values, form and composition are all inherently Anya Brock. Many have tried to emulate her subject matter and they way she captures it, but they can't copy her signature style.
Another artist that I admire so much is Anne-Sophie Tschiegg and again I can see her style, I can always pick when it is a Tschiegg painting whenever she posts new work.
Again, there is not one subject matter or style that they always paint, there is a plethora of subjects that are unmistakably Tschiegg, and I love that.
I feel that I am still in my infancy of being an artist and truly finding what makes me tick. I am in awe of artists that literally started in lockdown (publicly that is), about the same time as me, that appear to have already found their style, made it into a number of stores, and galleries, and often are in a position to work as an artist full time and just do what they love everyday. They have a style and they seemingly stick to it, commercially at least.
I said a few years ago that one thing I have become aware of as I get older is I am no longer a fast learner, I am no longer quick to pick up new tricks, but I what I am getting better at, is being more considerate, more understanding and I am definitely more patient.
As I continue on my artistic journey, learning new things slowly, and enjoying all of the new experiences and amazing people I meet along the way I find myself right in the middle of a crossroads. I have a collection of abstracts, some still life paintings and also a few new interior artworks and I question which way I should go. Am I a still life artist, or an abstract painter. After all that seems to be how artists define themselves. After listening to Laura Horn's podcast and Ros Gervay & Laura Day's, Paint Rest Repeat podcast, I am reminded that my style is whatever I am creating, if it is true to me. My art does not need to be a ‘specific’ style, subject matter or genre. If I am creating it, and it is my own, not copied or borrowed, it is my style. Using that as my motivation, I will continue on my journey, growing, and evolving, and continuing to explore all of the genres, as I go. Developing my 'creative style' in time.