Hold on to your paint brushes, because in the wild and chaotic world of art, the quest to develop your own unique style can be as overwhelming as it can be thrilling. According to some art journalists, once you’ve embraced your own distinctive approach to designing, a whole new universe of expressing yourself through art opens. Taking a few minutes to ponder over the use of language, colors, and shapes could very well assist you in creating your own unique style that resonates both with you and your potential audience. I mean come on, wouldn’t it make sense that Tinder offers enhanced experience for its users who not only have a well-defined profile but have a set of engaging images too?
Likewise, according to a paper in the Journal of Visual Arts, artists who take the time to define their persona tend to have more engagement when it comes to social platforms while being able to check in on what they’ve created in the past. While this may seem trivial, these artists are known to get almost 35-40% more likes and shares than the less favored style. In terms of reach and visibility, this advocate studded how understanding your artistic persona as an artist can help the artist cater to the audience better.
Why Does Knowing Your Art Style Make a Difference?
Having an understanding in knowing your art style plays a huge role in determining how you want to brand yourself within the art community. With such in-depth insight, you can:
- Bring Identity: When you know how to create great images people like then fans will know what to expect from you and be able to remember you. Your audience will also have a more relaxed experience finding you.
- Know your Target Audience: Having a unique style gives one the advantage of knowing what type of audience to cater to who can appreciate a unique style of art.
- Perfect Your Skills: If one is able to understand their style it enables one to narrow down and perfect specific techniques that are important in ones art.
- Enhance your Brand: Constructing a brand can be greatly impacted by having a unique and recognizable style which differentiates one from the competitors.
The Chicago Art Institute amply delineated that a certain characteristic or a particular style exhibited by an artist would propel him or her to be more successful in exhibitions and galleries while their sculpture or painting incurs any positive reception sixty percent of the time. The amusing part is that this type of painting is considerably more likely to be sold thirty percent of the time compared to non distinctive paintings.
With all of that being said, let’s see different painting styles starting with Abstract paintings.
What is Abstract Art
Traditionally, Abstract is defined by an Art work’s use of color, shape or texture without reference to a recognizable subject or even an variation that holds to the Portrayed. Instead of expecting paintings and sculptures to depict realistic scenes or objects, abstractionism eschews representation entirely emphasizing color and shape.
As an example, bold colors and captivating arrangements are at the core of abstract art. They use these tools to add a layer of emotion to their works too. According to a research in Harvard University, people who view abstract art tend to conjure up more intense feelings than those who view realistic art, since it provokes their imagination.
Popular Abstract Artists
Both Wassily Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock played key roles in evolving the style of art known as abstract. Kandinsky’s use of bold colors and shapes shows how unapoloegetic abstract art can truly express a variety of different emotions. Pollock used chaotic drip structures in his art which illustrates how an artist’s mind works beneath all the noise of daily stimuli.
Wassily Kandinsky: His abstract forms and bold colors are on display in the painted’s such as Composition VIII. This serves to illustrate how stunning deep emotions and complex concepts can be expressed through abstract works of art.
Jackson Pollock: He painted No. 5, 1948 with an emphasis on kinetic energy transfer through paint- splattering revealing his inner emotional world.
Realism Understanding Realism Realism involves seeing things the way they are, noticing the fine details, and picking a paint color that is true to life. This style pursues an accurate likeness of people, animals, and their environment. Most depictions of realists possess striking details and accuracy as their primary focus is to reproduce the world as the artist sees it. Realism is a technique that utilizes details to achieve a certain remarkable appearance. A report from the Museum of Modern Art mentions that artists that specialize in realism paintings put a lot of work into preparing and undertaking a project, frequently doubling the duration spent on the project in relation to abstract pieces. The time spend and effort allows for a comprehensive and authentic emerging realism in the painting.
Gustave Courbet: He was noted for his depiction of real people and scenes that are completely lifelike. Because of this sole reason, he rejects the artistic conventions of the time.
The stillness and detachment of the life of the city captured in Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” is fortified with explicit lighting and shadows to appear more realistic and emotional.
Impressionism: The Heart of Impressionism.
Impressionism is the painting style characterized by an emphasis on the effects of light on a scene and captures a moment in time. It has a unique set of colors such as blue and orange.
Impressionism is a style of painting that originated in the later part of the 19th century in France, and focuses more on capturing the feeling of a scene rather than detailed accuracy. Impressionist artworks usually focus more on light and the atmosphere, incorporating a bright, vibrant and sometimes wildly clashing color palette to the art, giving a more spontaneous feel to the moment. A painting style like this focuses more on the general feel of the owner’s perception as opposed to true realistic details.
In a study conducted by the National Gallery of Art, it was shown that Impressionist paintings like the loose brushstrokes and use of natural light evokes more feelings in the viewer than paintings painted realistically. Many Impressionists have created works that would encourage a sense of movement as well as capture beauty that is there for just a moment.
Key Figures in Impressionism
Color and light are the two main aspects through which Japanese artists, Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, have cemented their position as leaders of Impressionism paintings.
- Claude Monet: Monet’s paintings such as Impression and Sunrise (1872) are considered perfect examples of the Impressionist movement. He applied light in a natural scene with color of his painting using a loose brush stroke in a skilled manner. His style painted “en plein air”, which meant he painted outdoors, allowed him to embrace his subjects towards constantly changing atmospheres and lights.
- The one painting of Pierre-Auguste Renoir worth mentioning Luncheon of the Boating Party(1880-1881), depicts his love of interactions with people and the incidents around him. The ‘Impressionist’ spirit that sticks to renoir vividly colours and energetic brush strokes paints his compositions in a bright light. The colours and the compositions grew alongside the lively spirit of the impressionistic times.
Surrealism: What Makes Surrealism Stand Out
The dreamlike and often bizarre art is the result of surrealism; where reality is blended with fiction seamlessly. Surrealism began in the twentieth century where the reality and the subconscious were achieved, that is when starting in the early 1900s it became some of the best art galleries throughout Europe. The visual arts rely on synthesis of fiction, documentary, and extensive use of strange objects that subvert normal understanding of reality. This direction has set a goal not to simply reproduce, but to reveal the deep hidden layers of the subconscious. They emphasize new and often lurid and nightmarish pictures.
The investigation that was conducted by the University of California asserts the fact that surrealist art ultimately promotes a range of psychological and emotional engagement with audiences. The odd and oftentimes disturbing imagery compels the viewer to engage with self-image in an intuitive fashion.
Certain Prominent Surralist Artists
Salvador Dali And Rene Magrit, Great Surralists do solely believe in traditional with their inventions, structures and styles that go outside the box.
The theater of the surrealism embraces the likes of Salvador Dali, mixing, melting clocks with warped landscapes and weak structures the likes of which linger in the imagination of The Persistence of Memory (1931). A formula that combines hyper realistic detail with strange, dream-like effects exists within Dali’s work further highlighting his dedication to the surralism and never failing to deliver the goal of distortion of reality.
Rene Magritte’s likes and paintings do, like The Treachery of Images (1928 – 1929), include random daily used settings and articles displayed in unnatural combines. It also invariably possesses elements that transform into ordinary goods, like These costumes were featured and utterly encapsulated the essence Magrit’s depiction of conventional items in non conclusive environments as objects closely entwined to entertainment entertainment purposes.
It is paramount to note the following when searching for your style with paintings
Note down and Reflect on your influences: What Captivates you the most
Ask yourself what from, nature things, feelings and feelings or even another piece of art influences your own composition. This can ensure you on developing your own unique style.
In order to find your painting style, think of the things that inspire you. This could be:
- Nature – Looking at the shapes, colors and textures in landscapes, natural elements can give birth to a painting technique which is new or never seen before.
- Emotions –How you feel can determine the style of your artwork. More importantly, it can help you develop an art style based on your life experience.
- Other Artworks – Taking a look at various paintings of different styles through different eras can help pin-point characteristics you like and would like to use.
A research published in the Journal of Artistic Development indicates that artists who delve into the motives of their inspiration tend to possess a more developed style that is a product of their outlook.
The Key to Your Art Style is Experimentation
Using a variety of mediums and styles, such as oil painting, acrylics and others, will help you decide what you want to work with.
For finding out which style suits you the best, stepping outside your comfort zone is important. Some painting styles which you should give a try are:
Oil Painting: Known for its rich textures, and blending achieving an effect that’s detailed and layered oil painting is a great introduction into exploring varied art styles.
Acrylics: When they are used, the result is an impressive array of textures and finishes, and the good thing is that the paints dry quite quickly. This means one can experiment with different techniques and styles relatively easily.
It has been suggested by the Art Institute of Chicago that artists who make use of more mediums while working to identify their style are more likely to finalised their style as such creativity or technical skill building requires initial experimentation to some degree.
Respect the art of painting by respecting the process.
A unique style does not develop by itself without putting in the work and remaining open to letting new things influence your work. In fact your style is allowed to change over time, this is part of the artistic journey.
The development of your painting style is a continuously evolving work in progress. By following some of the practices below try to enjoy the journey:
Practicing Regularly: Practicing regularly helps one to polish and improve on the different elements of the style they wish to achieve.
Being Open to New Influences: Never shut your ears or eyes to anything by way of ideas and influences as this can only facilitate the development of your style and its growth.
FAQs
How Can I Determine My Painting Style?
To begin identifying a particular style, exercise this option by sampling a number of different art styles, evaluating who your influences are and innovating on your techniques further.
In essence determining your painting style is approached in many different layers.
Understanding Different Types of Art. One of the more useful approaches to appreciating art is by identifying and classifying the wide range of styles that exist. To put it simply, one can recognize several types of art. Impressionism centers on taking advantage of a moment in time and is accomplished using vibrant colors and cooler hues. Surrealism incorporates the idea of fantasy into reality by portraying elements of one\’s dreams.
What moves you and what ignites you to create? Is it the world around you or the emotions you feel or the art that has already been created? Remember how you feel about ready-made art, for example if you admire the depth of emotion in realism, you may embody this in your work by applying realism even in details.
It is vital to experiment with other forms of painting, oil canvases and acrylics for instance, to get a feel on what works for you and what does not. The more you experiment with different types of paints, the more you will learn the techniques that suit you. Watercolors, for example, will enable one to achieve fluidity and light-diffusing effects where acrylics will give one strong vivid colors.
A distinct style that reflects an artist’s artistic voice is more likely to be adopted by painters and sculptors that undertake a diverse range of art approaches and upon a question arms themselves with a range of styles.
Then, can you mix styles please?
Certainly! This is the reason as to why art is described as a blend of everything. It has been stated that combining styles will give your artwork life and be a niche in itself.
Artistic expression can take many forms but mixing styles of your choice could create robust artwork.
- Personal Expression: Letting your imagination roam free, allows you to create art pieces that reflect your real self. For instance, painting an artwork that is infused with Surrealism Ideals while having the Impressionist style at the center enables the painting to capture the dimension of light as well as the dreamy aspects of the art piece.
- Unique Artwork: Making amalgamations is one of the common approaches to ensure the final piece stands out, and so it is with many today’s artists. An example is fusing realist visuals with abstract techniques, when combined the end result visually is stunning.
- Creative Flexibility: The freedom that lets you combine different styles helps in demonstrating cohesive thoughts as well, changing one’s technique entirely to a different style can even have a positive impact on the vision one desires to achieve.
According to a currently published article from the Journal of Contemporary Art, blending different genres helps an artist not only develop a unique art voice but also aids the artist in developing a wider range of appeal for his or her final art piece.
What steps do I need to take in order to improve my painting style?
Don’t cut yourself short, always push yourself to think outside the box and take new inspiration, through this, let your style evolve.
Adapting your painting style can be a lifelong journey that will require you to actively:
- Trying Out Different Mediums: To always try various mediums and innovative techniques. For example, you can ace at oil and have it as your go to technique, but making the switch to acrylics or mixed media can produce entirely new creative styles and art pieces.
- Asking for Constructive feedback About Their Work: Constructive feedback about your work means to ask your peers, mentors or art communities and in a way it helps you see what can be done to the work so that the style could be explained and refined.
- Staying Open to New Perspectives: Over new sources of inspiration like other forms of art, devoid politics or even personal experiences that you went through. And this means to be open-ended which means to be creative and flexible regarding one’s style.
According to the Art & Design Research Institute’s research, it has been found that artists who are willing to experiment with their art style constantly while also being open towards further feedback are inherently more flexible regarding growth in their style.
Final Thoughts
Finding and perfecting your painting style is a never ending loop. So, participate in the process and let your heart do the speaking to form new ideas.
This journey is your own and it develops with every painting you make. So allow yourself to feel it by:
Trying out new Styles and Techniques: Don’t be afraid to mix and match. All the paintings you create only help you to develop further as an artist.
Making use of your Own Creativity: When you create or make Explore, reflect on your work and in the process, your style will morph into something entirely new.
Your uniqueness as an artist is best expressed through your art style. Always experiment, be receptive to new things, and allow your imagination to flourish. It doesn’t matter how close you are to finding your ideal art style because the process of looking for it is just as valuable as achieving it.
More Post
