How to Find Your Art Style – Methods & Tips
How to find your art style! Fast and easy methods to help you discover your personal style for drawing, painting, etc. Learn what defines a particular art style to better understand how to shape your own. Additionally, discover how to change art styles, create multiple, or even improve your existing style. Finally, find out if having an art style is necessary or important.
Understanding Art Styles
Before trying to make your own art style, it is important to understand what exactly an art style is.
An art style is a set of traits that define one or multiple artworks. Some artists have very distinct, consistent art styles. This can make their work recognizable as created by them. Likewise, an art style can be used like branding to help give a company a standard, recognizable look. Keeping an art style consistent is usually important when making certain artwork, such as animation, comics, and illustrated book series.
Art styles can be described mainly by their visual properties. For example, art styles can be cartoony, semi-realistic, realistic, etc. Additionally, some art styles utilize a certain color palette. Art styles can even be described by the feeling they give off: cute, scary, epic, etc. Also, art styles can vary in complexity, from simple to elaborate. Furthermore, they can use different methods of shading, line-art, and mediums.
Art styles can drastically change the look of a drawing. Below is an example of the same drawing, but done in two different art styles. Although the subject matter is the same, the drawings look very different. Now that it is clear what an art style is, continue reading to learn how to achieve the art style you desire.
Methods on How to Find Your Art Style!
To create your own art style, there are many different methods explained below. You can try using one or all of them to create an art style that suits your needs.
Collage Method
The collage method can be used to help you create an art style that is influenced by your favorite inspirations. To use this method, create a physical or digital collage of things that inspire you. This can include artworks, photographs, a particular subject matter, color palettes, etc. Next, try to incorporate those elements into your own artwork in a unique way. For instance, you may imitate the way one artist draws eyes, but use different color palettes than they do. Another example is liking the square brush an artist uses, and then trying out a square brush in your art style.
The collage method is super useful for developing characters or worlds. For example, I used this method when creating my concept art for my comic, Kindred Not.
Descriptor Method
Another way to help you create an art style is the descriptor method. To utilize this method, first try to narrow down what type of art style you want. It can help to write down your desired style with words, rather than just trying to picture it in your head. In the table below are some example art style descriptors. Try choosing from some of the descriptors you want your art style to have, or make up your own. Finally, attempt to create art that matches those descriptor words.
| scary | painterly | traditional | bright |
| edgy | computerized | modern | sophisticated |
| cute | technical | standard | pop |
| fun | loose | old fashioned | calm |
Style Guide Method
A third method to help you figure out your style is to make a style guide. Start by finding one of your favorite artworks – it can be made by you or another artist. Then, use that favorite artwork as your style guide. In other words, try to create a new drawing with the same stylistic properties. For instance, try to use a similar color palette, line weight, and proportions.
Whenever drawing, try to always incorporate elements from the artwork you chose as your style guide. This way, your style will stay consistent. Also, if you are not worried about creating an original style, you can use anything as your style guide. For instance, you could use a style guide from an animated movie.
Test the Waters Method
Another technique to help you find your style is to “test the waters.” Basically, the point of this method is to experiment. Try copying a bunch of different styles and comparing them side by side. Cross out the ones you do not like. Then, circle the things you do like. Pick your favorite style and try to draw your own original art with similar qualities. Or, you can even combine multiple styles together to come up with a more unique style.
Below, you can see an example of the test the waters method. A similar way to do this method would be by filling out an #artstylechallenge or #artstylememe template from social media.
Creating Multiple Art Styles
Some artists need or desire to have multiple art styles. For instance, they may want one style for making quick doodles and want another style for making more polished drawings. Likewise, they may need multiple art styles if they create in multiple mediums. So, decide how many art styles you want to work in.
Working in multiple art styles can be fun or useful. However, it can be hard keeping multiple art styles consistent and not mixed up. To help with this, try creating a style guide or model sheet for each particular style. For example, check out some of my tips for creating character reference sheets.
Improving Your Art Style
If your art style is lacking in quality or you do not like it very much, there are some ways to help improve it. For example, if your art style suffers from poor drawing abilities, you may want to take steps to improve your drawing level. This is because it can be helpful to learn the rules before breaking them. So, try spending some time practicing your fundamentals, and your art style will be likely to improve. For methods and challenges that actually help you get better at art, read my article, Actual Ways to Improve Your Art.
Another way to help improve your art style is to find and study your inspirations. Try to determine what makes you love them. What makes them look so great? Then, take steps to implement those traits into your own art style.
How to Find a Unique Art Style
You may have heard people say nothing is original. However, that does not mean you cannot create a recognizable or distinct style for your art. To achieve a unique look, avoid well known, big name styles. For example, avoid your art looking too similar to popular animations or famous artists. Additionally, try to combine a multitude of styles together. An example would be combining anime style eyes, Disney style proportions, and Marvel style line-art. Using these tips should help your style seem more unique.
As a side note, do not worry if it takes a while to find the art style you want. Creating art is a journey, not a singular event. Learn more about the process of improving and the journey to good art.
Changing to a New Art Style
Sometimes your current art style needs an overhaul, and that is okay. To do so, consciously try to break your old habits. Resist staying in your comfort zone and instead attempt something new. Do not worry about how your new art style will be received, do what works best for you. Furthermore, try to pinpoint what you did not like about your old style, so that your new style can be different. Soon, you will have transitioned to a new style.
Below is an drawing I used to help change my style. I used a much larger canvas size and thinner brush than I was used to. Also, I tried to more closely replicate my reference photo than usual. Additionally, I experimented incorporating a painterly, out of focus background. Moreover, I even attempted to color the drawing differently than I was used to. Trying all these different things helped me to break out of my comfort zone. Even if all these techniques did not stick with me, some of them did, and this helped to change my art style a little.
Now Go Make Some Stylish Art!
Now you have learned all about how to find your art style. I hope this article was helpful in your quest to find your art style. Nonetheless, do not sweat too much about finding your art style if you do not want to. Your art style will naturally come to you with time anyways.
Next, read some more art advice articles like this. Also, if you enjoyed this article, you can return the favor by sharing, commenting, or subscribing. Thanks! Finally, be sure to check out my comic, Kindred Not.
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