This is so wonderful. A couple weeks ago I went on a creative retreat and we did printmaking and worked with inks in a way I never had before and I was kind of beating myself up about it thinking that I really need to focus on one area of art. At the same time the weekend brought so much joy and opened my eyes to a new way of seeing. On the drive back I had these same thoughts, why do I need to stick to one medium or style? Why can't I do pottery in the winter when it's cold and I feel like hunkering down in a warm studio and spend my summers sketching wild places outdoors in my sketchbook. Why can't one inspire the other? Especially since I'm not a professional artist selling my work, why does it even matter at all? Why not just do what feels good in the moment? So before I headed home I stopped at the art supply shop and bough myself some basic printmaking supplies!
Yes! I love that! Buy the supplies! Give it a go! Whenever I find myself trying to talk myself out of buying the supplies and giving it a go, I stop and ask myself: Whose voice is telling me that, anyway? Probably it's a voice I can ignore.
I'm 100% with you. I think too many people worry about style. As someone who loves to draw ( different from an illustrator in my mind) , I think of being stylistically versatile as having different tools and voices I can use to create different atmosphere and mood. And why would I limit those? Also, without even trying, most people that make a lot of work end up with recognizable mark-making anyways.
I agree make enough work and the style will make itself. But I also think it really helps to know what you like and take little steps in the direction that makes you happy.
Style shouldn’t be a crutch or a handbrake; every sometimes it’s healthy to just experiment and learn something new.
Actually, as someone who has been a freelance journalist forever, written for all kinds of publications in all kinds of styles, and then decided to pursue a Masters degree in rhetoric and composition, I really think it's not a matter of style, but of voice. Indeed, I suspect that voice is what Richard Hockney was hinting at when he says his latest piece "will" look like a Richard Hockney.
I firmly believe one can write or draw in any style and, in the end, it's the voice which will define the piece as belonging to a particular author or artist.
I thought the discussion of voice versus style at its end was particularly pertinent to Amy's thoughts:
"Your voice is what naturally comes from you; it is your essence given form in words. If you ever feel like your writer’s voice is getting off track and you need to corral it back into shape, what you have is not a voice—it’s a style."
I’ve just sent this to my art students to read. You can practically feel the tension of expectation when they sit down in class and I just want them to enjoy the feeling of mixing paint! Thanks for the wise well written piece. X
Oh this is exactly what I need to hear!! I’m a multi directional maker and sometimes feel a bit of a misfit in art & craft online communities where folks are dedicated to one thing. It’s so encouraging to be reminded that it’s ok to dabble in all the things
This home cook metaphor is super useful to me. Thank you! If I want to get good at a style, think of it as a signature dish, the thing I can confidently make for guests because I practiced it a weekly for a season. But keep reading cookbooks and messing around and don’t forget the magic of combining leftovers…
Love the message of your post and especially the picture with the autumn trees, might steal the idea (this way I have the perfect excuse to buy new supplies ^^)
Yes I see a lot of courses and FB groups pushing people to ‘find their voice’. I’m very happy being a meandering, still learning, amateur artist. Not looking to pin anything down, I’m not looking to sell anything (thankfully) just purely enjoy the act of creating visual art.
Definitely go with the flow!
"Niche down" is a lovely turn of phrase!
Totally agree! “Enjoy yourself right where you are”. Simple, solid advice and yet, sadly, scandalous-sounding these days.
Totally!
I read the book and was fascinated by the gardeners and the art they created. Mighty inspirational.
This is so wonderful. A couple weeks ago I went on a creative retreat and we did printmaking and worked with inks in a way I never had before and I was kind of beating myself up about it thinking that I really need to focus on one area of art. At the same time the weekend brought so much joy and opened my eyes to a new way of seeing. On the drive back I had these same thoughts, why do I need to stick to one medium or style? Why can't I do pottery in the winter when it's cold and I feel like hunkering down in a warm studio and spend my summers sketching wild places outdoors in my sketchbook. Why can't one inspire the other? Especially since I'm not a professional artist selling my work, why does it even matter at all? Why not just do what feels good in the moment? So before I headed home I stopped at the art supply shop and bough myself some basic printmaking supplies!
Yes! I love that! Buy the supplies! Give it a go! Whenever I find myself trying to talk myself out of buying the supplies and giving it a go, I stop and ask myself: Whose voice is telling me that, anyway? Probably it's a voice I can ignore.
I'm 100% with you. I think too many people worry about style. As someone who loves to draw ( different from an illustrator in my mind) , I think of being stylistically versatile as having different tools and voices I can use to create different atmosphere and mood. And why would I limit those? Also, without even trying, most people that make a lot of work end up with recognizable mark-making anyways.
I agree make enough work and the style will make itself. But I also think it really helps to know what you like and take little steps in the direction that makes you happy.
Style shouldn’t be a crutch or a handbrake; every sometimes it’s healthy to just experiment and learn something new.
Actually, as someone who has been a freelance journalist forever, written for all kinds of publications in all kinds of styles, and then decided to pursue a Masters degree in rhetoric and composition, I really think it's not a matter of style, but of voice. Indeed, I suspect that voice is what Richard Hockney was hinting at when he says his latest piece "will" look like a Richard Hockney.
I firmly believe one can write or draw in any style and, in the end, it's the voice which will define the piece as belonging to a particular author or artist.
Here's a link to a good article talking about voice:
https://www.scribophile.com/academy/what-is-a-writers-voice
I thought the discussion of voice versus style at its end was particularly pertinent to Amy's thoughts:
"Your voice is what naturally comes from you; it is your essence given form in words. If you ever feel like your writer’s voice is getting off track and you need to corral it back into shape, what you have is not a voice—it’s a style."
I'm totally satisfied with this answer.
🙌🙌
I’ve just sent this to my art students to read. You can practically feel the tension of expectation when they sit down in class and I just want them to enjoy the feeling of mixing paint! Thanks for the wise well written piece. X
Oh that's so great! I hope they let themselves off the hook!
Oh this is exactly what I need to hear!! I’m a multi directional maker and sometimes feel a bit of a misfit in art & craft online communities where folks are dedicated to one thing. It’s so encouraging to be reminded that it’s ok to dabble in all the things
It's more than OK! It's a healthy varied diet :)
This home cook metaphor is super useful to me. Thank you! If I want to get good at a style, think of it as a signature dish, the thing I can confidently make for guests because I practiced it a weekly for a season. But keep reading cookbooks and messing around and don’t forget the magic of combining leftovers…
Yes, that’s a great point!
When you don’t think that you have anything to sketch, the view is always right in front of you 🙃
So true!
Love this! Love your art too! Beautiful ❤️
Thank you!
It is very simple. Whatever I do is my own unique style and just keep it up.
That’s it exactly!
Ah just love this perspective. I do pretty varied work and style as the mood and season shifts. It is silly to feel I couldn’t for some reason.
Love the message of your post and especially the picture with the autumn trees, might steal the idea (this way I have the perfect excuse to buy new supplies ^^)
Yay!
Yes I see a lot of courses and FB groups pushing people to ‘find their voice’. I’m very happy being a meandering, still learning, amateur artist. Not looking to pin anything down, I’m not looking to sell anything (thankfully) just purely enjoy the act of creating visual art.
Thank you.
Exactly!