I’ve been struggling with something with my artwork for a very long time. Most artists that I know, love, and respect have a very recognizable signature style.
I… don’t. Or at least I feel like I don’t. I guess that my simple pen-and-ink line drawings are somewhat of a signature (even though I haven’t done one in forever). But I can also do more realistic, more detailed, more ‘cutesy,’ more freeform. I’ve always thought that I shouldn’t start to market myself as anything until I’ve got A Style. A Rebecca Style, where someone can look at it and say “oh yeah, that’s ohrebecca, definitely!” But more and more I’m starting to resent that line of thinking. Why CAN’T I do simple line drawings of everyday objects AND realistic shaded graphite animal portraits AND cutesy acrylic paintings? Why can’t I be renaissance artsy-craftsy girl?
So, I’m going to dip my toes into that. A little bit of this, a little bit of that, a little bit of the other thing. I’ve been haranguing myself so much into trying to manufacture a signature style that I don’t even want to draw. If I open my mind a little bit and just focus on drawing – no matter what it is, no matter what style it is – maybe that signature style will come naturally. Or maybe it won’t, and I’ll win some kind of Miss Versatility pageant award. Hmmm.
I got a book/journal to kind of jumpstart my foray back into drawing. It’s called 642 Things to Draw and I’m really hoping it will bring back those creative juices. I know it’s kind of lame to feel like I NEED something like a guided journal to get back into it, but that’s where I am right now and that’s how I’m going to deal with it. I’m going to mix media in it and mix styles. Hopefully, there will be some posts in here with sneak peeks at some of the projects.
😀
Tagged as: art, drawing, inner battles
Published by oh, rebecca in: Art & Illustration Illu
4 comments to “Versatility versus Recognizability”
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BY sharon on December 3rd, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Feel free to send me art, if you need an outlet for all that drawing! 😀
BY oh, rebecca on December 7th, 2011 at 12:02 am
When I’ve made something worthwhile, you’ll have first dibs 🙂
BY Lara Eichhorn on December 19th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
I’m way late in commenting, but I don’t think style has to be defined so narrowly. There’s a style to your work that’s not necessarily due to technique. For me, my photos aren’t always the same technical style (black and white, off-camera flash, soft and sweet), but I think there’s something there that’s definitively me. It’s more about the emotion in the photo and the viewer. There’s always going to be something that’s you in your work, and that’s your style. It’ll become more defined and obvious to others with time.
BY Xepherys on January 3rd, 2012 at 1:04 pm
I definitely understand the issue with having your own style. I suffer that same ailment when it comes to my photography – there’s no signature that is truly mine. I assimilate ideas and concepts from others, and modify them to make them my own, but no two shoots end with the same results. Generally I’m pleased with the results, but I feel it’s hard to market “cool” as a signature.
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