What’s Your Signature Art Style? 7 Steps To Finding Your Own Signature Art Style

Go On An Art-viewing Binge

Go explore everything, not just your typical #drawings and #paintings: books, museums, social media, website, art and craft fairs/ festivals and pretty much anything that is dedicated to art. Make a note of the things that make you ask, " where can I see more?" That's your first clue to the kinds of artworks that may end up inspiring your own signature style.

Hit The Art Gym and Learn The Basics

Learning how to draw is like working out: If you want to be fit, you need to exercise regularly. You should learn the basics of drawing, such as pen-stroke techniques, shading and drawing with perspective , will set you on your path. That way, when your own style starts to emerge, you'll have the skills to back it up. Daily drawing practice will strengthen your skills and bring out your style.

Bite Other Artists' Styles and Sketch

You never want to plagiarize art. But especially when you're just starting out, copying other artists just for practice stretches your skills as you explore your own ways of expressing yourself. What might start out as mimicking can evolve into a style that's uniquely yours. You can't beat sketching when it comes to honing your skills and carving out a personal style. As you sketch, you're not just improving your hand-eye coordination. You're also working in a free-form way and doing artistic problem-solving, even if you don't realize it.

Step outside of your comfort zone and Listen to your inner voice

Let's say you challenge yourself by drawing in a style that scares or intimidates you. Stay with me here. Exploring styles that feel unnatural can teach you about what you do want to draw and what does feel natural. Even if you start out a drawing with a certain idea in mind, give yourself the freedom to change course. Pause for a minute, and be honest about what's working and what's not. Often, that little voice that says "Stop now" or "Draw this here" is your personal style trying to be heard. Turn up the volume.

Stop Drawing

Your brain processes ideas during this time "off," and the break can make you a better artist. You know how people say they come up with their best ideas in the shower? Channel that spontaneous creativity, and put down the pen and ink for a second.

Evolve

When you find something that works artistically, you're tempted to stick with it forever and ever. That may be great for some artists, but many others like myself develop their styles over time. So just see where your instincts lead you.

Rinse and Repeat

You might get frustrated and want to give up — totally normal, I feel this way from time to time— but please don't. Try to do your own art style challenge. For some people, developing a personal style will come quickly and naturally; for others, it can take lots of time and experimentation. And hey, you might have more than one style in you. Stick to the process and over time, you'll see results. Promise!