The Cephalopod Method
From time to time other artists ask: Hey, Eric should I have a unique style? How can I find my style? Is it important to have a style?
I have my answers, not all the answers. But this is a big topic for me because there is so much misleading advice around this online. I’ve run into other artists - even locally - who are critical of artists who do not have a distinct, “noticeable” style they’re known for.
DISCLAIMER: I know that for many, art and illustration are two different things. Art is personal some say and illustration is commercial. I understand the differences, but just know I sometime use the two words interchangeably. In the end, one cannot be an illustrator without being an artist.
Okay, time for me to get spicy!
Keep Things Flexible
There are lots of art “personalities” online who yap about artists needing to have a single, recognizable style. This is bogus thinking and outdated advice. Artists do not need to have a single style to work in. Some may choose to work in a particular style for a number of months or years, or may have a favorite style. But exploring variety is what stimulates growth. Change challenges us to build on what we know.
When I was finishing college I heard a lot of advice about developing a “distinct style to become known for,” and that this would lead to more commissions and work. At that time, 2000’s, the art / illustration scene was much different. Having a noticeable style was easier to do because the internet wasn’t what it is now, which is a giant ocean of ripped off work mixed with real work.
For me, adapting my style and learning new techniques has helped me grow. Its also helped me get work as a freelancer in recent years.
Time has shown that illustrators who develop their skills and techniques have a competitive advantage. We all know it – what the public likes from year to year changes. Some art styles are hot and then not for a while. And some artists just enjoy mixing things up. It’s been my experience that cultivating flexibility leads to more opportunities.
Cephalopods Know Change
Ok, I don’t have the secret to “great success” locked down. But I have a way I tend to think about creativity and it’s never let me down so far. Study cephalopods. Octopi. Squid. Those kinda creatures. Intelligent beings of the deep which not only change the color but even the texture of their skin depending on the situation called for.
If an octopus could be an artist, I imagine it would use mixed media when the need arose. It would favor digital art when scalability and efficiency were needed. And it would revert to analog tools when a project brief called for hand-crafts and a sense of speciality to be present. Flexible thinking = flexible creativity. I want to be more like a cephalopod.
It’s Ok to Be an Anomaly
When scrolling through apps and browsing online, it’s too easy to compare ourselves to the seemingly perfect Insta-profiles and YouTube content we see. We can find ourselves looking down on our own creations and believing less in our ideas. Stop! Stop doing those things! It’s ok to be someone who deviates from what is expected.
Here are some ways to embrace variety and shed the idea of only developing a single style.
Experiment – Use different tools without fear. What’s the worst that will happen? You’ll learn you don’t like to use watercolor, but you love acrylic. Then apply your own sense of mark making using that media.
Commit to Yourself – You don’t owe anyone a reason for the art you make. Trust in your instincts. Grow by challenging yourself. Be yourself. (And be cautious about seeking out too much inspiration on social media. There are a lot of people with no experience who want you to believe they know what they’re talking about.)
Smile, You’re an Artist – Many are comfortable working in a single style and do not find it limiting. Fine, great, good! However, if you’re someone who wants to work in other art styles – that’s awesome too. Enjoy it. Be proud of your creative voice. You just might encourage someone in the process and gain more confidence too.
My doodle style looks nothing like my World of Rynaga art. I kinda like that. You know?
Art isn’t about rigid rules. So stop listening to people who invent rules or take principles to extremes. Single style or multiple, you’re an artist. Be happy about that. In our day and age, real art from real people is special.
And realness will be even more special in the years to come.
–E
