What's style and what's taste?

[JinzouTamashii]

I just wanted to open this up as a general question. Why do you consider an artist's style and what do you consider as a viewer's taste?

[Chris Bennett]

Style is the surface fallout that results when an artist achieves a harmonic fusion of intent in all aspects deep within themselves.

Taste is the measure of preference within degrees of sophistication.

[Craz]

A style is a look (in the case of a painting) that the artist tries to create. A viewer's preference is what they think of the piece. I don't see how the two could possibly be confused in any way. The only connection they have is that people have tastes concerning styles.

I'm not sure what you're trying to ask.
All I can say is that a style is intended and consistent, and personal tastes are entirely subjective. There is such a thing as craft, but there's nothing to stop someone's opinion from flying in the face of that.

I hope that's an answer to your question. Could you give a hypothetical scenario in which the confusion you want us to think about could occur?

[dpaint]

Style is the sum of your abilities It is the equivalent of your handwriting while it can be influenced by others it will always have your personality.

Robert Henri said it this way
"Brush strokes carry a message whether you will it or not. The stroke is just like the artist at the time he makes it. All the certainties, all the uncertainties, all the bigness of his spirit and all the littleness are in it. "

Taste is the prefernce you show for one thing over another ie: My taste in art leans toward realism.
Hope this helps

[Ilaekae]

Style is a sardine-sauerkraut-fried banana and peanut butter on Kosher rye sandwich with fries and a pickle for lunch.

Taste is the National Enquirer you wrap it in to take it to work.

[kev ferrara]

Style is what results after the long term application of taste to your aesthetic learning.

Style is how you roll, your flair. Taste is what you dig and what you don't.

[JinzouTamashii]

Thank you everyone! =)

[TASmith]

If only every thread had such great replies!

One could add, style has to do with how one simplifies or obscures, exxagerates, and/or abstracts a concept. It can change over time, and some artists switch between different styles - for example the characters in Liberty Meadows are built on different levels of realism.

Taste is simply what you like and don't like. Most people suggest you try to expand what you like - Gombrich stated in his book there are no wrong reasons to like a work of art, but there are wrong reasons to dislike it. His examples include a painting by Caravaggio that was rejected by the monks comissioning him, because the saint looked too much like a peasant. Another example was Durer's drawing portrait of his mother. She's old and looks worn out, but you can see it's drawn with much love - it captures her inner beauty. Another example is a rooster drawn by Picasso - Gombrich says not every picture is meant to be beautiful. Some works want to be provacative, and sometimes being beautiful would get in the way.

If you're interested, I suggest the book: The Story of Art.

[DavePalumbo]

simply put:

style is what makes an artist's work identifiable and unique

taste is a surface composite of a person's likes and dislikes


what creates style is a combination of the artist's own personal taste, which could be more accurately described as artistic influences (any number of outside influences which affects their artistic vision, not limited to that of other artists' work) and level of skill over a broad range of time.

what creates taste is probably just a cumulative life experience. As they say, there's no accounting for it. I think taste tends to be a wide scale between love and hate, with nearly everything falling someplace between the two extremes for all kinds of reasons. Putting everything into boxes is oversimplifying. You might say "I don't like country music", but surely there will be some country music you dislike more than others and it's possible that you could find occasional rare examples that you do enjoy

[JinzouTamashii]

I feel like I understand now!

I was working on an article for a gaming magazine about making compromises and I wanted to know a little bit on what makes every work unique... I feel a lot better prepared to do that now, so thanks everyone, your discussion has been invaluable to me.

I'm my own worst critic and I'm always nagged by doubts about myself so maybe now I can lay those to rest... :mod:

[armando]

Style is what the image looks like, and what it communicates.

Taste is what people like to look at, and the messages that they like to receive.