Don't try to find your art style (Do this instead)

I write a weekly newsletter about becoming a better creative, without burning out or going insane. Subscribe here: www.louisestigell.com/subscribe
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ABOUT
Hi, I’m Louise: an artist, writer & creative solopreneur from Sweden. As a multi-passionate creative, I have spent my entire adult life avoiding traditional employment and instead making a living off of my art.
On this channel, I talk about everything I've learned along the way: About art making, creativity, mental health, and making a living as a creative. Dealing with perfectionism, fears, and overwhelm. Staying sane and productive among stress and distractions. And much more.
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[@harvey8138]

Since this craze on art styles, which I also participated in, I've since realised one's style isn't necessarily a certain look/aesthetic, that you "find" or even aim towards. It can just be the way in which you best express yourself. It occured to me that my themes are very inconsistent but my preferred process is "Intuitive" aka Automatism meets Pareidolia.. whatever my hand wants to create, with which ever colour or product IS the style. The end result, the image with subjective symbolism is the byproduct (artwork) of the style (intuitive automatism)

[@LouiseStigell]

Very true. A personal style can be so many things, and it can be big and obvious or it can be small and subtle. Haha, had to look up the word "pareidolia". That's so cool. Process is definitely also a form of style. Just in choosing what to draw or paint, we have a style. Having a personal style is really inevitable, if we just let ourselves follow our inspiration and intuition. 😊

[@a.humphries8678]

Yes, well said! I'm an artist and I love diving into all kinds of thing. :) Different moods take me to different things.

[@mariakapatos9545]

Let yourself follow your inspiration and intuition this really hit a note, and also listen to you soul it knows the way I find this helps too.❤

[@shastabellagirl1435]

Oh beautiful lady, you are so right! Just paint, explore, have fun

[@Thepats00]

I literally watched every "find my own art style videos" but yours totally inspired me. As you said: "it's a journey and a process and all you have to is experimenting!" Thank you so much Louise.

[@Saskia728]

Don't find your artstyle, let it find you! Thank you for your natural approach, very helpful.

[@Saphia_]

That is what I've been doing. I am stuck between trying to develop a style that matches what I see in my head vs. just playing with it and letting it come naturally. I hope one day just playing with it leads to me making what I see in my head.

[@artbymui]

I dont know if I have my own style or not, and try to find it. And in your video you tell your obsession to draw birds, and I realise I have an obsession too, drawing cafe. After so many project I do, or any style that I try, I always back to draw cafe and cafe again 😂. Sometimes I wonder why I only draw cafe from pinterest, but I realise I still back to it, no matter what.

[@loyisuding7299]

The best advice video on finding art style! We will never know until we do it and and find out whether we like it or not! Find what work and what you enjoy the most is the most important. And that’s what I’m doing now, to JUST DO IT! And learn along the journey.

[@TmHudsonArt]

I'm glad I was developing all of this as a child when I really just didn't think about this stuff at all. I just drew what I liked in a way that i liked. Wasn't overthinking about style and all that...just experimenting. The adult mind is a totally different kettle of fish. What I learned as a child stuck with me with the art and so even now, I can just mess about and gradually come up with a way of working I like with a new medium and a style develops without me thinking about it. As you say, overthinking this does not get results.

[@LouiseStigell]

So true. I feel like the older I've gotten, the more I've been overthinking things. 😅

[@TmHudsonArt]

@@LouiseStigell Sometimes helps to distract.....do some doodling for example when listening to something or watching TV or something. Get your self into the habit of just putting onto paper without really thinking about putting onto paper and not worried about how it turns out. Another good idea I saw from Jess Karp was to just make random splodges and things with paint or whatever...and then afterwards make some character or something out of it. You can concentrate on creating then without overthinking..

[@stellarartanddesign]

I love this perspective on art style! Trying to stick to a specific style feels so restictive. Your work is lovely. 🖤

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you so much! 🖤🙏🏻

[@IdeaGrazer]

Being an Artist is about improving your craft over time (whatever your craft is) and as long as you are doing that you are an artist.

[@normg2242]

Sometimes I think your style is only visible to others, but not to yourself...

[@AJourneyFromNothing]

Interesting, I can see that

[@williameldridge5991]

Thanks for putting into words what I have been feeling. I guess I just needed to hear it to believe it. Your art is beautiful and inspiring. Bill Eldridge

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you so much, Bill. 🙏🏻😊

[@lzal9204]

You are telling my exact story. I’m a nurse and started getting into art less than a year ago. I’m taking all the courses and trying most of the mediums. I still haven’t decided what I love but I am also leaning towards watercolor, ink drawing/ line and wash, and charcoal. I’ve tried gouache, colored pencils, acrylics as well, but idk. They don’t really do anything for me. I won’t try oils because I have asthma and don’t have a studio with good ventilation. Right now I’m just enjoying trying new things. Came here from your Skillshare class! Thanks for the encouragement and realization that I don’t have to figure out my style right this second.

[@BexEtcArt]

Only time art styles necessary is for someone like an illustrator or designer who is a professional as art directors need to know what to expect if they hire you. It’s not necessary for everyone 😊

[@carolineeccel5387]

As one who was looking for a style, thank you.

[@brasilecoms6297]

Precious 2 cents!! Thank you

[@danastavney5687]

Hello! I just saw this here on the first day of 2024. I love your encouragement to just do it, don't worry about a "style". I also love your birds!! I have tried to paint birds in watercolor, my preferred medium, although I would love to try others as well. I hope you don't mind if I try and copy "your" style. My birds don't always turn out the way I want. I don't want photographic paintings, but a looser more relaxed style. I have been painting since I was younger ( I am "older" now!). I still don't think I paint very well, although sometimes I share a painting and someone will say they like it. I just need time to paint more, duh. Thank you for sharing your video and your emails. I just signed up and am looking forward to what you will be sending out.

[@mariastigell7776]

I´m in a battle with my self over this topic. I feel like I´m not creative and interesting because I like to paint flowers. They have to much color for the Swedish taste too. But I just love to meditate over them while painting. So I waste my time and talent doing so. :) Love your birds!

[@LouiseStigell]

And I feel boring for only painting birds. 😂 I think a lot of people feel that way about their art. Which is why I believe the most important thing is to create what makes YOU feel good. Because then it comes from a pure place, and that will shine through. There will always be a crowd of people out there that feel the same way you do, and that will "get" you/your art. You are _not_ wasting your time or talent. ❤️ (+ Thank you! 🙏🏻)

[@fuzzydragons]

I think people put way too much importance on if they have a style or not, every artist has a style, its how a person is creating at that moment. style develops and evolves with time, practice and research. and a person can have more than one style, if one pays more that usually develops more than the others, and most people are going to draw what makes them money lol

[@LouiseStigell]

Agree 100%. Everyone already has a style , even as complete beginners. It's inevitable, since we're all unique individuals. The real question is whether or not we _like_ our current style. Which we rarely do. 😂 Better then to just enjoy making art, and do it in a way that makes us happy. Because then it will probably make other people happy as well. 😊

[@katpaints]

Fabulous birds! I get so excited when I catch a bird in flight to or from one of the feeders! They can be so quick that actually capturing them is not always easy. Strangely, I tend to paint flowers or landscapes, and not my birds! Hmmm... need to think about that! I agree about style - and that's not just subject matter, but how the paint does its magic under your brush! I've never really thought much about it for myself, more taken up in the delight of the process. I've not really thought too much.. or enough about selling or giving away what I paint, either. I'm working on changing that. :D

[@mariannedelaforge5922]

This is so right and true! I used to be obsessed with drawing style while starting again to draw a few years ago (watched too much of those videos too, although most of them were fun). And now that I gained some experience, coming in a way much closer to actually having a style (not matter what that means), I don't really care about it anymore! Thank you for your videos!

[@LouiseStigell]

It almost feels like a rite of passage for artists to go through a phase like that. 😂 I agree and feel the same way. Having a style feel more and more like a non-issue to me. Building my skills and exploring themes I'm passionate about is much more interesting. Thank you! 🙏🏻

[@mariannedelaforge5922]

@@LouiseStigell A rite of passage, right, exactly! And as such, it is supposed to be difficult to figure out. What is funny with "style" is that it evolves and is never the same thing exactly, although looking back you can still see a continuity. I linked this seemingly recent obsession with style to marketing, the more recognizable you are, the easier you will get sales, although we know now it is not that easy. And as you said very well, this can be a terrible prison too.

[@debbiedillon7117]

Thank you so much for this. I'm a new subscriber :) I really enjoy your natural, no-nonsense approach in sharing from your heart. I am a photographer, but so much of what you share can be applied to my journey, as well. Again, thank you and have a beautiful day.

[@sja2719]

Thanks Louise. I just found you today and I’ve just watched a few of your videos. Thanks for keeping things real and making me feel normal. Your work is lovely. I love birds too.

[@ASMRyouVEGANyet]

Not having a "style" and perfection are what's kept me from getting back to my artwork. It's been 12 years. 😢

[@theglittercorner]

This is beautiful. I can feel your joy through the video 🥰

[@crow_fashion]

This is so lovely, I will be sharing this with my class :) You framed this in such a gentle and inspiring way

[@1969kbl]

Exactly what I believe. So eloquent and on point. Thank you.❤

[@Lacroix999]

I don’t understand where this question even comes from as your style is just the way you make art. Who is out there trying to tell artists that they don’t have a certain style that they even need to find one anyways! Such an odd thing to say/imply! You don’t ‘find’ it, it’s just how you make art doing it how you do it and it changes over time depending on which medium you’re doing as there’s just different ways to do each one so it’s not going to carry over the same way anyways. It also changes as you learn more ways to be able to advance and push your particular mediocre time and also your influences on what other kinds of art/ist stile your interest or lack thereof. Once you learn what you like/don’t, it helps you figure out more of what you want your art work to look like as well. Even if you can’t copy it (not that you should) it’s still going to have your spin/techniques/preferences on how you prefer to do things in your own way to the best of your abilities to be able to do so. I think this question is kinda funny since it’s almost as if to suggest that if you don’t have a certain established style that recognizable to you/others as being unique to you, you’re less of an artist as if that’s even how it works.

[@kaitlinhoyt]

Love this so much! I think we all have a tendency to overcomplicate everything. Just gotta stop focusing on what everyone else is doing and follow the fun! Your birds are lovely. :)

[@pamelasusanne22]

This was so helpful. Thank you! Beautiful painting!!

[@MsGnor]

Louise, your birdies are gorgeous! Can see why you're obsessed! Thanks, so many useful gems in this video. My art practice reignited (from zero) during pandemic. Making art has become my shiny joy, even if result is unremarkable. Take care & good luck with your channel 🥰💖🐦

[@cyborgzulu2011]

Finding this video was almost scary for me because the same words you used were every single question I had for myself!! I really appreciate you sharing this. It feels like a philosophy quarrel I have with myself "finding my art style"

[@therantcommunity5863]

My search ended with your video. You explained my situation perfectly. Thank you for this perspective!! ❤️❤️

[@SM-yz7xd]

I just found your channel and love what you say about finding your style. I have been restrictive in what I should be painting and now have become bored. I am going to try different mediums as you suggest and have fun instead of thinking everything need to be perfect. Your birds painting are beautiful 😊

[@dianecharest8365]

Thank you. I needed to hear that. And your birds are nicely done.

[@IndiraLuz_art]

Love your videos. They soothe all the noise around.

[@Jun_Kie]

thank you for this ❤

[@deborahmeyers551]

Louise your thoughts on this subject is profound love your philosophy thanks for sharing dear Louise 💜💜

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you so much, dear Deborah. 🙏🏻😊🖤

[@damianvila]

Great advice! Follow your obsessions and paint, paint, paint... Your art style will develop by itself (it is actually inside you, and will surface by doing, not thinking). Cheers!

[@kinestet_art]

I also can't choose only ONE style, because I love both oil pastels and watercolors. But their are on opposite sides of art techniques😂 So I decided just do what I love to do. Maybe I only group my artworks by the topic) And also I'm in love of creating content. Thank you for video!

[@pixelpura]

Thank you. I can't say it enough.

[@sonyaoart]

Good advice. And a lovely painting ❤️

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you! 🖤😊

[@elektrikshoks]

this is really good advice. thank you

[@cherzaimaart8619]

Oh my gosh this was sooo relatable. I'm at the point of not knowing what to focus on. I ha every medium imaginable but I still haven't figured it out. I'm getting discouraged because I feel like my art is all over the place.

[@maryamezz8848]

AMAZIIIIING LOVE YOU

[@jayboehm3382]

I can't believe how satisfying it was to watch you open that packaging! Ha! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Very helpful, as always. And I love how the birds in flight series is coming along!

[@LouiseStigell]

It's the most expensive watercolor paper I've bought so far, so I kinda had to film it. 😅 Thank you so much! 🙏🏻🖤

[@bijee78]

Great video as always... I'm one of your silent subscriber from India... All the paintings are beautiful 💕

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻🖤😊

[@ingridcoke1360]

Thank you so much for sharing the wealth of your "2 cents worth". 🙏🏽💖✨💐

[@larssonmh]

Ramlade över den här videon idag och blev så glad!! Jag är just inne i den där "hitta-stilen"-krisen just nu, och jag behövde exakt höra just det här. Det gav mig ett inte lugn! Tack!❤

[@LouiseStigell]

Åååh tack! Det gör mig så glad ju. 🙏🏻😊

[@leyahruizdeloreto6420]

Beautiful art, generous helpful content

[@JenniferKastelic]

this was very helpful. thank you

[@patriciajung9157]

Beautiful

[@Zebrashark758]

Oh my god you said it!! I love too to paint birds❤️

[@shephherd]

Thanks for this 👍🏽

[@youssefggking1232]

Very nice ❤

[@christineh5997]

I've recently discovered your channel and all your videos feel so heartwarming and cozy💙You're talking about so important things, which are really simple but so hard to understand and accept sometimes... Thank you so much💙will subscribe to your email for sure💙wish you luck🥰

[@LouiseStigell]

Thank you so much, and welcome! 🙏🏻🖤😊

[@mieczyslawapascoe7234]

I love your birds.

[@acdevelopart]

godsend. Thank you

[@kreavix]

Everyone will go through this at some point as an artist. We compare ourselves to others, mostly those with great success. And get desperate when we don't feel we have a destinct style of our own. Those who have a certain art style have developed this over a long period of time. I don't have a style of my own yet... And then again, there are little hints and details in what I do, that I recognize from time to time which make me feel that I actually have a budding style. I've realized that it's not an aim for me anymore to have my own art style. It makes me relax more when drawing and painting etc. Thank you for this video, you have excellent points. I really enjoy your relaxed and sensible approach to being a small art business. It's very inspiring. Mange tak 🤗👍

[@LouiseStigell]

Exactly, I feel the same way. It's a common theme in everthing nowadays, this hurry to "get somewhere", and barely knowing where to and why. I often feel that way myself and have to really remind myself to be content with where I'm at. Thank you for those kind words! 🙏🏻🖤

[@desertpotter1003]

Beautiful bird😊

[@Vitterbarn]

Jag uppskattar verkligen din video! Den här "identitetskrisen" du beskriver är något som slog mig ashårt för någon kväll sen så igenkänningsfaktorn är hög. Jag har ritat hela livet men ändå så känns det som att jag inte har en egen stil. Har börjat göra det du just pratar om, att bara släppa taget och samla på sig och teckna det man gillar. Lustigt nog känns det redan bättre. Och ja jag tycker definitivt du har en stil, jag kände igen dina vackra fåglar på thumbnailen! ;)

[@LouiseStigell]

Awww tack! 🖤 Det är nog rätt vanligt bland konstnärer tror jag, att man inte "ser" sin egen stil. 😊

[@aryaie233]

Oh, i feel exactly the same way

[@CLOUDSINTHEKITCHEN]

This!!!!!

[@philhofler5910]

Hi Louise loving your videos. Can I ask what pencil are you using there to draw with? Thank you!

[@chonkychookie3369]

Omg I make bird drawings too!!! I love birds they are amazing little creatures😊

[@spiritualflowyoga_with_Sonja]

🥰

[@desertpotter1003]

I think working everyday on art may bring out the artist in you.

[@Saiiddesigns]

Very helpful video. Thank you so much. I have a question, I don't know what It calls but Whenever I do some design work and post it, first I feel good about it, after sometime I delete it hoping I can do something better. Is that normal ?

[@rexgrl3]

You have a style; you lean towards birds in flight.

[@samanthathompson9812]

Regarding the feathers, do you try to represent the exact number and shape of feathers depicted in the reference photo, or do you approximate using license? Do birds have a particular numbger of wing feathers? I get stuck on the drafting stage when dealing with animals and plants due to the complexity of organic shapes.

[@LouiseStigell]

I do try to do that. I've noticed that unless I do, something just tends to look "off" with the bird. Each type of bird has a set number of wing feathers and tail feathers. If they're all folded in, it doesn't matter as much of course. But for birds in flight, when the wings are outstretched, I always stay as accurate as I can, even though it can be a pain in the ass to sketch. 😅

[@samanthathompson9812]

@@LouiseStigell wow that's hard. I find the proportions seriously challenging: getting all the parts to fit with each other and the whole. Video? 😉 Thanks for responding.

[@evelyne7071]

Beutiful

[@nadinemicoleau8799]

Wondering if you are still offering emails? Not sure how to find the link.

[@robsonhenrique3329]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@editaedita473]

@art by Louise I thought you quit you tube how you dramatically announced.

[@readthetype]

Anyone focusing on what their art LOOKS like… instead of what their art COMMUNICATES… is a failure as an artist. Start over, and/or choose a new path.

[@editaedita473]

And also WHY would one want a following? Theconceqt is so invantile.

[@readthetype]

You're attempting to provide an unnecessarily complex explanation to a very simple observation/problem. The only "artists" who lament re 'what's my style?' are not artists at all. They're little more than narcissistic children, concerned more with social media attention than their artistic integrity (or lack thereof). That's why you keep coming across it on KZbin. I find it helps to use camping as an example: People who like camping go camping. Narcissistic children record and upload "bushcraft" videos. Try this: Ask the next 'KZbin artist' you meet "would you still be making art if you weren't allowed to boast about it on social media?" Better yet, ask them why they make art in the first place. Spoiler alert: If they can't answer those questions, they're not artists.