E24: Do You Even WANT An Art Style???

This is The Twenty Fourth Episode of the Visual Scholar Podcast - With Tim Mcburnie.
Perhaps a redundant question.... but is it? Lets dig in and unpack this question. I think there is a lot of important insight you might not have considered about how style affects an artistic career and an artist's development!
Below is in Automagically generated summary so you can check out the content and also to help with search functionality! (These are not bad at summing it all up... but do sound a bit strange and not in my voice)
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In this Episode we explore the complex question of whether artists should strive for a unique art style, especially considering the career implications in the art world. This topic isn't merely about creative freedom; it's also about how having a distinct style can impact business opportunities and job prospects in the industry.
The art world often leans towards a homogenous style, a trend visible since the 1950s when most illustrations served commercial needs uniformly. This pattern continues in various forms even now. While a unique style sets artists apart, it also presents challenges in meeting the industry's standard expectations. The real dilemma lies in choosing between blending in or standing out. Reflecting on the past, many artists in the 1920s -1950s,, despite their technical prowess, are forgotten today because their work was indistinguishable within the era's commercial style. This raises a critical question: is it better to have a unique style or to fit into the prevailing trends of the industry?
Developing a distinct style is a journey that takes significant time and involves exploring various mediums, techniques, and influences. This process of exploration and self-discovery is rewarding, yet it might not always synchronize with commercial success or consistent job opportunities. It took me about seven to eight years of serious dedication to art before landing my first significant job in the comic book industry, which forced me to crystallize my style. The challenge here is immense - as you experiment and try to express something new, there are many failures and moments of doubt. It's a path filled with trial and error until you find that balance where your style not only represents you but also functions effectively in your chosen medium.
Another aspect to consider is the commercialization of one’s style. Making a unique style commercially viable is not straightforward. It involves convincing clients and art directors to buy into your vision, which can be a significant hurdle. People in business, linked to a hierarchy, typically seek reliability and prefer styles that are successful and widely accepted. This tendency leads to a homogenization of styles in art. For example, in my own experience, I faced numerous challenges in this aspect. There were instances where I was close to significant projects with big publishers, but things fell apart because my style didn't align with what they were seeking. It's a tightrope walk between adhering to your unique style and adapting to the demands of the job market.
In conclusion, not everyone will appreciate a unique style. The more distinct and pronounced your style, the more polarizing it can be. This means potentially limiting your audience but also finding a more dedicated and appreciative fan base. It's crucial to understand that while a unique style might limit some opportunities, it also opens doors to more personalized and fulfilling artistic endeavours. The key lies in balancing your personal artistic goals with the practicalities of the art industry. It's about aligning your style with your career aspirations and finding that sweet spot where both can coexist and thrive.
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This Podcast is designed to help you demystify the world of Art, Productivity, and Creativity. So you can get better faster, and enjoy your Art Journey. We discuss Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Entertainment Design. Along with Productivity and Career Advice.
The Visual Scholar Podcast is designed to help you demystify the world of Art, Productivity, and Creativity. So you can get better faster, and enjoy your Art Journey.
We discuss Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Entertainment Design. Along with Productivity and Career Advice.
Find Visual Scholar as an Audio Podcast Here:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6VbdwbiZqy8nqb90ruKQCX?si=21b9c1d02c85419f
Show homepage on The Drawing Codex:
www.thedrawingcodex.com/podcasts/the-visual-scholar
Learn more about Tim Mcburnie:
Learn Drawing and Illustration at The Drawing Codex: www.thedrawingcodex.com
Check out The Drawing Codex KZbin Channel:
/ @thedrawingcodex
Portfolio: www.timmcburnie.com
www.artstation.com/tim-mcburnie
timmcburnie
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[@Tim-Mcburnie]

Ok I'm curious Do you actually want a unique style? Let me know down below. (My whole art journey started with admiring artists who had a unique style... so it seems a very natural to me... but I'm keen to know what your aspirations are!)

[@anthonywyndham]

I see a lot of my students adhering to a 'style' that can restrict their growth (I believe you see the same thing at CDW). Having them break out of their comfort zone can catalyse growth. Thus, having a style can see a person's art stagnate and diminish their chance of finding their true 'voice' and being able to further not only their skill but prospects. The thing about people is that they often do not have the perseverance to pursue such a task.

[@zup9819]

I haven’t watched the video yet, but to answer the opening question: what I want isn’t exactly an art style. What I want is to be able to draw using techniques that I like so much and use so often, they they become characteristic of the way I draw. I wanna fall in love with my methods.

[@duncanli966]

Thankyou Tim! Love this talk

[@philsawyer9903]

Having to be 'self-taught' over the last decade has organically led me to have my own style, though it's not one i'm completely happy with yet. An art education would have helped shorten the time it took me to get where I am now, but there's something almost exciting to be said about a uniquely developed style and the potential to be a trend setter, later down the line.

[@superemeralds]

art style talks are always very interesting to me because personally I can't imagine only having one definitive style because I love to experiment a lot and I always try out a new technique or two with new illustrations. There are some defining ticks that I have in my art of course but it's fun to challenge them and turn them around. I get a little self-conscious about it sometimes when I do client work because I don't know if they're gonna love the new thing I'm trying out but so far no one complained yet haha though to be fair I only do small scale private commissions. My teachers always told me to render more but I'm a super impatient person I just want to explode on a canvas and move on most of the time :P With my comics it gets me much stronger than my illustrations though, because I always feel like comics need to be somewhat consistent throughout. I'm doing a webcomic that spans over many years so of course that looks very different, but even just between two recent pages I try out new things. I feel like I get away with that much better on the webcomic though, and I end up being stiff on my book project because of that. I often joke that inconsistency is my trademark, but I don't know if that is just me being insecure about my process or true fact. Though maybe I feel this way because I'm still at the beginning of my journey, being young and just 2 years out of art school

[@The_WanderArt]

Hey Tim! I would love to know the details of how you went about developing your style.

[@luciluziel2946]

This talk is so Important to me! I've been struggling with just doing what is natural to me, and not forcing myself into a burnout just so I can be another cog in the machine. It'll be hard, yes. But I am no longer afraid of just taking in the challenge and just doing things my way. Now it is time to go all out and actually be the Artist I've always wanted to be!! Thank you again, Tim!!!

[@darasto2023]

AI comes to mind, there's plenty of amazing artists out there with amazing skills that have very similar styles and rely monstly on one industry. I'm not sure this is a position one would like to be in say in 5 years.

[@torrentthom4734]

Everyone wants a style until they try to copy a pro artist to quickly find they need bare basics to begin with.