One of the things that people look for in an artist is their sense of style!

I know this may seem like a no-brainer but for creatives who are just starting out, this is one of the toughest things to master. Sometimes it even takes well-known artists YEARS before they can finally settle down with a style that defines who they are and what they stand for.

For example: Everyone knows what a Van Gogh painting looks like, what a Keane painting looks like (those Big Eyes!) and for upcoming artists in this generation, you know what a Banksy piece looks like.

Artists have their own signature to their work so that when audiences from all over the globe look at their art pieces, they know exactly who made them.

But how do you find your own style?

I’ve worked with so many types of themes, art mediums and styles just to see which one really resonated with me and what makes me feel like myself (and in some ways I still am). And it took me a while to realize that in order to separate your work form the rest, you need to work on it.

Here are some simple exercises that you can do that will help you find your style and separate your artwork from the rest of the up-and-comers:

1. Find Your Inspiration

If you have an artist (or artists) in mind that you admire or you really love their work, just make a list of their names or cut out some images and keep them around. Look for similarities in these artists and why their work resonates with you.

If you don’t have an artist in mind, just write down words that you think represent who you are like dark, or mystical, or happy. Search these words on Google images and see what comes up that catches your attention.

2. Experiment & Exploration

If you are working in a certain art medium and realize that you can’t seem to find your own originality in it, change it up. Instead of sticking to photography, try painting. Or instead of working solely in water color, take a pottery class.

Remember that finding your own sense of style will sometimes take you out of your comfort zone. But the more you try new things, the closer you will be in finding your artistic signature.

And on days where you want to take a break from creating, take a look at local galleries (most of which are FREE entry) and check out what the art world is up to. It’s always good to explore new places because you never know when inspiration will hit you.

3. Remember The Most Important Rule In Art!

This is very common in emerging artists who are trying to figure out what type of art work they want to create: Sometimes in the process of finding inspiration, certain creatives tend to mimic and copy other artists artwork.

Now I know some of you are saying “But how can I learn this technique if I don’t copy what they do?“. Which is true! Here is the difference: If you are just beginning in your artwork and you want to copy/mimic a piece of art from another artist for learning purposes, then it’s okay.

However, if you copy/mimic another artists work to-the-T and claim it your own to sell – that my friend is a no no!

So while you are creating your final pieces, remember to take a step back to look at your piece and ask yourself “Is this ME or is this someone else?

Now it’s your time to shine!

Which of these exercises resonate with you? Pick one out of the three and apply it to your work! Let me know how it goes in the comments below!

Til next time – keep creating!

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