☆ ASK VICKI ☆: HOW DO I DEVELOP MY OWN STYLE? (Patreon)

Hello loves! (.=^・ェ・^=)

Welcome back to another installment of Ask Vicki! The series where you ask questions about all things art and I do my very best to answer. I'm excited to share today's topic because it's a frequently asked question amongst all creatives and something that I regularly think about myself. Fellow patron Alex asked: 

• Q: When did you feel you started making a transition from kinda replicating images/what you were being taught to developing your own particular artistic style? Was it something you did actively, or just found yourself doing bit by bit over time?

A: I’m choosing to interpret this question as finding one’s own style and growing from others’ artwork. I think it’d make the most sense to break this up into three sections to illustrate how I went from copying drawings I liked to where I am now. Short version of my answer: change is something that happens both actively and gradually. Full answer? Read on! :D

☆ Vicki discovers manga (literal first grader aka a baby-6th grade)

When I first started drawing in grade school it was more or less about copying the work of artists that I liked. Back then it meant copying drawings from my favorite manga series and cartoons. Seeing the art in Tokyo Mew Mew, Fruits Basket, and Pita Ten were really the first time I thought “Oh, that’s pretty I want to make pretty things too!!”. I don’t have any examples at hand because they’re all either at my parents’ house or I got rid of them out of embarrassment, but trust me a lot of my drawings consisted of redrawing manga panels or my favorite characters. There was very little experimentation in terms of making something my own and more so about how do I do what that artist is doing? I think this makes sense too looking back because when you first start out your vocabulary and capacity to produce something that feels like your own voice is really hard. You have very little to no experience with the act of drawing let alone conceptualizing a new piece of artwork. I think it’s helpful to get acquainted with drawing by learning how others before you approached it. It’s all about becoming familiar with your interests and seeing what your eye is drawn to before you have concepts about what makes art “good” or bad”. 

Takeaway: Just have fun with it! Try all the things and get to know yourself through the media you enjoy. 

☆ Gathering inspiration, pick n mix (middle school-high school)

I entered this second phase around middle school and started to become more conscious about making something that had more of my own voice. Is it a coincidence that these phases mirrored the general arc of growing up and maturing? Hmm food for thought perhaps. I wanted to separate myself in a way that felt noticeable. If anything there was a bit of stubbornness about wanting to feel unique and different. I’m kinda starting to sound like an 3dgy t33n which...honestly is the truth. MCR 4eva!! Haha. But yeah, there was a distinct and newfound effort of growth and separation that didn’t exist in the previous phase when I was just learning about drawing. I started taking time to differentiate between art I liked and didn’t like, curating a tangible list of artists I admired, and experimenting with a myriad of styles whilst all trying to inject my own voice somehow. I think there are actionable steps to take here, but a lot of it also relies on one’s own desire and motivation to change and think about creating in new ways. 

Takeaway: Think about what you like about art. What stands out to you? What themes do you enjoy? Which artists' work do you keep coming back to and why? Start implementing those elements into your own work, experiment and play around with what feels right and what doesn't. 

☆ Refining, growing up (college-NOW!)

And that brings us to today! :D I think now I approach style as something that is very fluid. I liken my current state to that of a sponge, I’m open and receptive to ideas and anything that may change the way I view art. I find that remaining open in this way allows me to continually shape and mold my “style” closer and closer to what I want it to be. Part of me also acknowledges that I’ll probably never make a piece that 100% looks like what it does in my head. And I don’t fault myself or the process for that. I think humans change massively over their lifetimes and as a result the art we produce undergoes similar ebbs and flows. 

When I feel stuck creatively, I find myself going back to the question: Am I having fun? Whether or not I’m enjoying what I’m creating is a good metric to see if change is needed. When I’m feeling bored or unsatisfied with what I’m creating, I try to listen to myself instead of getting frustrated. I’ve found that it’s usually growth’s way of knocking on the door and telling me that I need to change something about my art. From there I’ll play around with a variety of things like line weight, colors, lineless painting, shapes and tweak them until things start to feel right again. I’ll also voraciously take in work by other artists to redefine what excites me about art and draw inspiration from new sources. I’ve also found that trying a new medium can really help to shake things up and force you to think about creating in a different way. Creating limitations for yourself can sometimes lead to really cool artistic breakthroughs. I know that taking to my sketchbook with just a pencil and eraser have been some of my most productive sessions in terms of experimentation and growth. 

Just know that you are always changing whether you’re conscious of it or not and that change will inevitably lead you to want different things from your art. I say embrace it and enjoy the process of continually getting to know yourself. <3 

Takeaway: Style is a fluid concept. Allow your style to change and remain open to new things that excite and inspire you. Art is ultimately about having fun and self expression and that's a feeling only you can create for yourself. There's no pressure to adhere to one style or the next, change can and will happen. 

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If you have any questions of your own, I'd love for you to comment it on this post and I'll answer in the next installment! Or if you have any answers of your own to these questions please share your insight as well! I think it's a good opportunity for others to offer their solutions/advice. I believe everyone has something to offer and that we can all learn something from one another. ^u^<3

Vicki