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Illustrators are often encouraged to develop a style. It will help you create a brand for yourself and show art directors that you can work consistently. Finding the right style is an elusive task, so here are a few ideas to get you started.
Style does not mean drawing the same way all the time.
What good does it do an artist to stick himself into a rut? One should always be experimenting, trying new mediums, and filling sketchbooks. A real style will come naturally as a result of continuing to learn and developing your skills. If you fail to do this, any “style” you may have will quickly grow tiresome and dull. An artist is always growing; even after a style develops, it will continue to evolve over time. Some artists become frustrated that their style keeps changing all the time, holding on too tightly to their commitment to consistency. But if this evolution serves to make your artwork better, why fight it?
Style is not an excuse for poor drawing skills.
Many artists will simplify hands using cartoony lines and glove shapes; some artists use circles or dots for eyes. This is not wrong in and of itself, but I can always tell if the artist is either using it as a design decision, or merely avoiding the subject matter. Every artist has to gain some kind of drawing skill first, which means recognizing and tackling weaknesses and learning the basics first. Then you simplify from there. You’ll have a more solid understanding of what you are drawing, and it will show. With real knowledge, even the simplest of marks will evoke more emotion, character, and expression than if you just slap on a few simple shapes and declare it your style.
Style doesn’t come from copying other people.
You don’t find a style by looking at the work of Mr. Hotshot Artist, and then seeking to repeat his success by doing the same thing. That is a bad way to approach this problem, because ultimately you are doomed to an existence where you are always second best. I’ve seen illustrators try to draw in the style of Drew Struzan, Brad Holland, or Brett Helquist and am always left with the same impressions: 1) This artist has many flaws, which are freely evident because it is hard not to compare it to the original, and 2) Does this artist have a mind of his own? It can be hard at times for illustrators; there’s a big temptation to follow whatever kind of work is popular in order to make a living. Pay attention to trends and let others influence you, but don’t let it overshadow your own voice. In the end, it is your one biggest asset that will set you apart from the competition.
Style does not depend on medium.
Sure, there are certain effects that you can only get with certain methods and media, but you don’t paint in watercolor, and just decide that you have a “watercolor style.” Or sometimes in a vain effort to force a style, an artist will refuse to work in a certain way because it doesn’t work in his favorite medium. That can be a very harmful and limiting way to work. I think style comes from the artist’s mind and how he decides to solve problems. The style will come from an artist finding a way make good design decisions, and it becomes sellable when he can do it reliably. It does not come from choosing a method, and expecting the consistency to come as a result. If you master a medium, it can be a great asset, but realize that it is not the only thing that gets an illustrator hired.
How to Find a Style
Simply put: Draw, draw, draw.
I think there is a pattern in a way an artist develops. First, he learns the basics and learns to copy the world around him, probably in a very realistic way. Eventually, he is influenced by other styles and artwork. He develops taste and a better sense of design. As all these bits and pieces of information start to flow together, the artist begins to learn favorite shortcuts and ways of doing things. At this point, images start to come more naturally, and the artist begins to have fun and experiment. It is not conscious or forced — it just comes naturally as a result of drawing over and over again and constantly seeking new ways of doing things. A real STYLE, in the true sense of the word, is born.
The frustration for many artists is that they simply aren’t at that place yet. They think if they analyze their work hard enough, a style will magically appear. My advice? Keep doing what you are doing. Have diligence and patience. Pay attention to what you like and dislike. Learn new things and let it influence you. Again: draw, draw, draw — and have faith. The style will come.
Have you found your style? What kind of advice would you give to your fellow artists? Discuss your own successes and failures by leaving a comment on this post at DaniDraws.com.
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November 28th, 2007 at 11:31 am
thanks dani, that was the best one yet!
November 28th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I will second the statement “draw, draw, draw” but add, give yourself permission to break the “rules.” I struggled for a long time in finding my own style because I never gave myself permission to draw whatever I felt like, whether it was silly or weird or didn’t make sense. Of course, I’m not talking about rules of perspective and proportion and such, but giving your muse the freedom to lead you where ever it feels. If you think there should be a weird feather-thingy coming out of that elbow, then do it! If you want to mix watercolors, acrylics, colored pencils, and grape jelly, go for it–there is no rule that says you can’t. Give yourself the permission to fill your sketchbook with the weirdest stuff you can think of. Experiment with colors and subjects matters. Let your hair down and have fun. Do that often enough, and I believe your own artistic voice will emerge.
November 28th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Well said Dani,
I stumbled across your website a couple weeks ago cause I wanted to ink in AI, and very few people do that. But your tips helped me out alot. Now this issue about style is one thats key to making or breaking an artist.
They say the artist is his/her’s worse critic, and thats the hump we got to jump. We all want to either do what others are doing, do stuff according to the rules, or what we think people accept. But really it comes down to individuality and comfort, which both lead to consistantcy.
Last few years I wandered into the manga style cause personally I like it. But my art has no identity of my own, and also I felt constrained by rules. What I’ve done is gone over old sketches, lots and lots of books full of my old stuff and rekindled my original style, before I went into the manga style.
Not only does it have its own identity, but I feel less constrained by rules, it feels like my art. And now the manga style is nothing more then a memory. Course this is all recent, but it feels good to find your way through self discovery.
I always use Matt Groening as an inspiration cause he as a unique style all his own. Not that I’m copying him, but how he came to feel relaxed and proud of his work even though others can see errors.
I feel every artist has to go trough that at some point. My advice is if you feel like something doesn’t feel right, investigate it. Doodle, go over old stuff, even try a new medium.
Once you become comfortable in what your doing and how you’re doing it do, your imagination takes over and the sky’s the limit.
November 29th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Many thx for this great post !
I totally agree with drawing as much as possible so you can be confident in your decisions, and always aiming for new discoveries in your art, not being afraid to try new stuff.
On the other hand I think that soemtimes you have to constrain yourself to some method to deliver consistent work, indetifying charcteristics and design decisions that you’ll have repeat over and over to make the entire body of work tuned together.
It’s like coming up with a visual language that you’ll be speaking while working on that particular assignment. A style guide for yourself , on the medium of choice , compositions/framing, a library of forms, a palette and so on… I think it’s good parctice to keep a lookout for these.
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:41 am
Dear Dani,
Your advice and Marta Dalig’s advice in the pages of ImagineFX Nov. ‘07 issue are very good morsels to chew on during this time of transition for me. Attila’s advice is very helpful as well. I need to kick myself in the caboose and get to work on something. Thank you all.
December 27th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Thank you for this really great explanation for developing an artistic style. Developing my own style is something I’ve really struggled with and continue to struggle with so this advice is very reassuring.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Thank you so much for this advice & your post on the great portfolio. I sent in my portfolio into Tugeau 2 and I knew after I read your portfolio article that I was probably not going to make it in. I sent in so many different styles instead of going with what I am most comfortable with. I also didn’t show enough narrative. Mine were more ‘portrait’ like. I felt very silly but I’m glad it’s a mistake I made that I can learn from. I’m now going to be sending in my version of a fairytale with my portfolio. Thanks for the great advice! I absolutely love your website!