How to Find My Artistic Style

discover your own individuality in painting

stop trying to find your "style"

Styles are made by others, seek your own individual voice. You are different to any artist that has gone before - find that difference and shout it out! Easier said than done yes and it is hard work but the reward is in your grasp. You will paint your way - you will not have to sign your paintings to be recognised, people will know it is yours.Do not seek to paint in a particular genre

Beware of aiming to join a group or particular style such as realism, surrealism, minimalism and the others. You will naturally explore them as you find your own voice without realising you are painting an "ism" until someone points it out to you. In other words if it feels right do it, enjoy and move on when you are done with it. That is what happened to me - I found myself painting surrealism minimalism geometry and figures. I soon abandoned realism. All my work is original abstraction, I leave it to others to describe what type it is.

Do not paint to sell

If a painting sells that's fine but remember purchesers do not influence you - why should they? Many artists are bewitched by sales and abandon their aim for individuality to follow a different goal - sales. Keep striving for your own voice and then people will buy the painting because it is  "yours"

Build a support group of like-minded artists.

You are setting out to find your own voice (style as was). Being individual can be lonely even isolating but you are not alone. Artists like you are out there, the right tutors exist. I was frustrated for years with artists and tutors wanting me to paint their way. That frustration drove me to the USA where I found long lasting art buddies and enlightened tutors. I am in the UK and I teach - Find Your Own Direction and Get Heart in Your Art - my  students have their support groups now.

And most of all...

Find your inspiration from within yourself

Inspiration is your driver as an artist, it's what makes you want to paint. No one can give you your inspiration - lLook inside yourself to find what you feel passionate about. Forget about what will look pleasing or clever and paint your strong emotion or driving idea. Abandon any thoughts of making it look "right" just chase "making it feel right".  It took me a while to find my own passions but once I started to find them I was making paintings with feeling . For example my artistic reaction to war and conflict became a series exhibited in a London exhibition, a series on my concern for our environment flowed out and my love of aviation became visible in my art.

More about the artist - art tutor

I have been a serious painter for more than 25 years, I have studied in the UK and USA and I have heard truckloads of advice and tips for artists, a lot of it has been valuable and some downright harmful. In other words I have had a normal education.

I have forgotten the bad advice and hopefully absorbed the good. Some tips really hit the spot and are truly memorable. Maybe I heard them at the right time or respected the tutor who said them, it was probably both, but whatever it was they had an impact that has given me real impetus. I have a list of my tips for artists in my art studio-gallery, here are some, I hope they help you too …

How to find my artistic voice -a selection of helpful pieces of advice

"Don't bother with Does it Look Right, just ask yourself... Does it FEEL right?"

My mentor and friend Topher Schink said this and it has helped me so much. As his advice took hold I felt "released" from getting it right, I could focus on how it felt. It was easier to do and far more satisfying. I never looked back. I used to write it on the top of my painting so as not to forget it, I don't have to do that now, it is ingrained in me.

 every painting is an experiment.

I hear myself saying this artists tip a lot at workshops to painters who are besotted by the need to create a good one.  I say it to myself from time to time when I am in a similar mind set. This artists tip reminds me that the painting is an experiment so I am going to do something I have never done before. Experiments fail sometimes but they also lead to wonderful discoveries. I have given myself permission to fail and to make new advances in my work. What a combo?!

Find your passion! -

Alex Powers whom I admired immensely said this to me and other students at a class -When we paint something that really interests us it shows and we feel good. This artists tip was more of a command from Alex and I am English so I don’t talk much about passion except in hushed tones 🙂  but seriously, if you think about what you really care about long before you start painting it begins to crystalise in your mind and then on paper. And then you are flying! And better, you don't have to land!

Getting Quirky? No worries.

If you think your painting is getting quirky just think of the greats like Picasso and you realise you have a long way to go

As I moved away from realism into uncharted territory I got to thinking that my paintings were becoming whacky. I was reluctant to push on and then I heard this tip. Now I can be as whacky as I like.

Look at the work of artists who really draw you -you will probably paint with their influence.

Many great artists influenced each other, Matisse and Diebenkorn for example, it did not limit their own identity but enhanced it. We can do the same and it is easy to find the work of your favourites thanks to Google. Enjoy their artwork and sometime later you may well find it has influenced your own work - and that's fine!

You don't have to be well known to make great art.

Us lesser known artists can make great art - yes we can! Genuine original art is made by those who really want to irrespective of who they are. I manage something special about once a year and always when I am not trying to do that.

Technical perfection is not great art.

We concentrate on how to paint - get it right and it will be great - that is wrong. A painting needs a feeling and technical brilliance is no substitute for that.