Hi folks! I’ve got a new Paint ‘n Chat video for you where I will be oil painting one of my most detailed 3D paintings ever while discussing ways that you can learn to forge your own unique iconic style. PLUS I’ve got some exciting news to share.. for the first time ever some of my most popular paintings are now available on a variety of sweet merch like all-over totes, enamel mugs, journals, and even a tropical siren beach towel! Check out all the goodies here!
Finding one's artistic style is a journey of self-discovery, patience, and exploration. Here are some steps you can take to help develop your own unique style:
1. Encourage Experimentation: Encourage yourself to experiment with different techniques, subjects, and approaches to art-making. This can include trying out various mediums, styles, and themes to see what resonates most with you. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be so awkward it’s downright painful, but forcing yourself to try something new is the only way to grow. (Go make some bad art!)
2. Take Time for Self-Reflection: Reflect on your fave artistic influences, interests, and personal experiences. What themes or subjects do you feel drawn to? What emotions or messages do you want to convey through art? Self-reflection by sketching, journaling, or even just creating an environment where you can connect with your own thoughts without being interrupted can help you uncover aspects of your identity and vision that can inform your artistic style.
3. Study Other Artists: Study the works of other artists across different genres and time periods. This can help you identify elements and techniques to admire or find inspiring, which you can then incorporate into your own artistic practice in a unique way. Go out and look at art in person whenever possible from historic to contemporary artists.
4. Find What Sets You Apart: Try to identify what sets you apart from others. What makes your perspective or voice unique? This could be life experiences, cultural background, other interests, or unusual artistic techniques. Embracing your individuality can help develop a distinct artistic style, and can help you make your work recognizable and iconic.
5. Practice Consistently: Developing a unique artistic style takes time and consistent practice. You must be serious about dedicating regular time to creating art and exploring different ideas and techniques. With each artwork you create, you will refine your skills, further develop your artistic identity, and come up with new ideas, likely never encountering artists’ block again. .
6. Be Open to Feedback and Critique: As hard as it can be to hear the truth sometime, if you really want to improve you must seek feedback from peers, mentors, and art professionals. Constructive criticism can help identify strengths and areas for improvement within your work, ultimately guiding you towards honing your artistic style. This is when art school or even just art classes could really come in handy.
7. Embrace Evolution: Remember that artistic style is not static and will evolve over time. Embrace experimentation and growth, and allow your style to develop organically as you continue to explore new ideas and techniques. Do not be afraid to pivot, especially if you are trying to make a living selling your art. If you are just creating for yourself and not to sell, then no worries about who likes it. But if you are trying to support yourself with an actual career, then you need to learn to listen to/read your audience and figure out what they will like and buy. That being said…
8. Stay True to Yourself: Above all, stay true to yourself and your ultimate artistic vision. Developing a unique artistic style is about expressing oneself authentically and passionately through art, rather than conforming to external expectations or trends. If you want to sell art, figure out what your audience likes as well as what is fulfilling to you. It’s not an easy career, so it’s not worth it to build it doing a style or subject you don’t enjoy.
By following these steps and remaining open to exploration and self-discovery, you can gradually develop a distinctive artistic style that reflects your individuality and creativity and will naturally set you apart from everyone else. The ultimate key is to constantly be putting out art in one form or another. If you do that, everything else will fall into place.
Would you love a copy of ‘The Secret Garden’? How about on a tumbler or hardback notebook? Check out all my new merch here!
5.8.2025