Help me with my style please.

[shadegray]

Hi, im a noob. I have always aspired to be an artist but as i grew older i was presented with a "problem", some would call it that anyway. I believe I draw decent compared to other artist's whose 1st drawings blow me out of the water, but unlike those artists that inspire me, I have no style. Not in a sense that my drawings lack style, but most all artists have certain tendencies with the way they draw. I however, draw completley different everytime I pick up my pencil. I don't believe I could ever acheive employment in the market without a calling card or set style. I need this to be taken care of before any of my other flaws are picked upon. I will upload some sketches as soon as I can, but in the meantime any feedback will help. Thank you very much,

Julez C.

[Elwell]

I need this to be taken care of before any of my other flaws are picked upon.
No, it is the absolute last thing to take care of. There are several recent threads on just this issue, read them.

[Dizon]

Why are people in such a hurry to find a style??? Let it come to you man. Don't look for it.

LEARN the rudiments of making art first! It will take years before you actually discover you have style, so don't make that your sole objective!

[rasdasa]

Alright, everyone above is right but I'll tell you how to develope your own style... I promise this will work... ready. Draw alot from life and the try to replicate it from memory. I'm not fucking around, this'll make you a better artist, make you better understand the world around you, make you a much better observer and finally, by trying to replicate it from memory (such as study gestures) you'll actually develop your own perception. Style is the last thing to focus on, besides, it never stops evolving as long as you push yourself. Since it's your way of self expression, if you try to force it it'll never be honest.
IF YOU TRY TO FORCE IT IT WILL ONLY HINDER YOU. Sorry, but try to keep that in mind.

Aside from that, don't study other artists all too much, believe it or not it hinders development in my opinion. It's not to say that you shouldn't admire other work for inspiration, but that your true study should be from everyday life not anothers canvas. If you chose to study primarily from others examples you're mostly looking for shortcuts. Don't jip yourself.

ras

[DavePalumbo]

a while back somebody asked me why my band plays the type of music we do and the only answer I could think of was "it's all I know". I know what I like and I apply it to however much skill I possess. If the end result is a style, then I guess that's how you get one.

Same for my art I guess, if I do indeed have a style (not something I really think about). I just do it like I know how

[Dizon]

Ras,

After your reading your post, I was reminded by what the artist Harold Speed said.

"Originality is more concerned with SINCERITY, rather than PECULIARITY." - H. Speed

[poise]

that is a good quote Patzon, it remind me of a quote by Jeffery Jones, well a few really,

"Art is all about communication. It's about what we have in common, not our differences"
"If you look at art and you feel good, it's because you feel a part of something, not because you feel excluded"
-Jeffery Jones

Shadegray: I have gone through how you feel right now, and like everyone says, your style or how you do things will come to you naturally. Just keep looking at artist you admire, old and new, and draw from life. Keep practiceing.

"Making an Instrument worthy of playing is craft. Art is playing it."
-Karl Gnass

[THUNDERCOCK]

i think that many people looking to find an artistic voice they are comfortable wiwth tend to think that finding one is going to be the solution to all their artistic shortcomings...the trick with art is the song sings itself really. like others in the thread have said style is the least of your worries....some artists that have a distinct style find themselves pigeon holed is some cases because they have been artistically type cast...which can be good in a financial sense but I'm sure they are bored as hell with painting the same kind of shit all the time.the truth is that a style will emerge from within you and it may be a combination of lots of various stylistic pieces from all artists you've admired and even tried to emulate...it's just a matter of doing art and learning as you go. everybody screws up now and then...I mean even some of the most intimidating artwork on this forum can be picked apart if you really wanted to. This isn't an invitation to find complacency in your mediocrity...don't ever be satisfied with your work or else you'll stop progressing as an artist. just accept the flaws, learn from them and try not to make the same mistake next time....that's the way we all do it. It helps learning first hand from someone you admire...if you can sit down with them and watch them draw or paint or whatever it will alleviate many of your questions...but of course more will come sooner or later, as they should. Just do your best. Then next time do it better. Now if there is a particular style that you have in mind the best way to master it is to study it. study the flow of line. the handling of shapes the blending of colors the use of colors....everything about it. Just when you think you have it...study it some more. be relentless....
otherwise just pick any random person on the forum and jock their styles if you want the easy way out....just not me cause my shit sucks....hope this helps....

[rasdasa]

Ras,

After your reading your post, I was reminded by what the artist Harold Speed said.

"Originality is more concerned with SINCERITY, rather than PECULIARITY." - H. Speed

Patdzon, thanks for the quote, that's a keeper.

ras

[Labpizza]

"Don't Try to develop style. Ignore style. Just concentrate on the drawing and style will occur" ~quote from The Animators Survival Kit by Richard Willams =)

[the_allejo05]

i do believe learning from the masters is a really powerful tool (at least in your student state)..as long as you are using them as to learn not to imitate.. .remember..perspective and anatomy will never change..nor the world around you..is just different times..but the same language need to be learnt..history repeats itself...

[shadegray]

I thank you all for your words of wisdom and especially some of the more worthwhile quotes. Let it be known that i didnt believe that this one aspect of my art would make me a better artist, rather it is frustrating for people to ask" did you draw that one too?" because the style is completly different. I do appreciate the suggestion about drawing from real life though, i dont do that often. And also i must saty that, while I admire the work of other artists, i have never made any attempt to copy theyre work. Theyre imagination is theyre's to keep, and I would feel intrusive upon theyre intellect if I were to try and copy it. Thanks again for the advice you all helped me greatly.