Finding Your Illustration Style Through Iteration

In this video, I share a drawing exercise that really helped me in the beginning of my illustration career. It's based on the idea of iteration, and involves drawing the same reference over and over again, while making changes with each version until you reach a desired "style."
Hopefully you get something out of it and use it to make discoveries with your own work! Enjoy and thanks for watching!
Music by J Rizzy Gets Busy
Website: www.gregkletsel.com​
Instagram: / ​
Twitter: / gregkletsel​
Etsy shop: etsy.me/2AhYJvn​
Email: gregkletsel at gmail dot com

[@Peem_pom]

This is GOLD. This feels like somebody unlocked something for me.

[@GregKletsel]

:) Glad you found this helpful!

[@bronxkies]

I wish this channel would come back! He’s entertaining and I like his illustration style.

[@GregKletsel]

Back with a new video very soon!

[@bronxkies]

@@GregKletsel YAY!! Can't wait. This is super exciting news!

[@Sharperthanu1]

I'm wondering if he painted that t shirt he's wearing

[@ximenancs]

Finally a video that really teaches you how to find your style. Thank youuuu 🌈

[@TrueJuxis]

This channel is everything I've ever wanted. The video editing , illustration, and everything = supreme. Thanks for making your content!

[@Goldiewashere]

I wish I could like this video seven times!

[@GregKletsel]

haha I also wish you could! :)

[@littlefuku]

That pointer is the best.

[@mewbunnies8822]

This was the exact video I needed, thanks! The “study artists you like” doesn’t help me at the stage I’m in, so this was quite helpful!

[@NelaDunato]

Thank you for sharing this technique. I've been trying to draw stylized people and scenes from photo references but they always came out too realistic, not like the stuff I draw from imagination. (I already have a style, but I have difficulty enforcing it while I'm looking at references.) I understand now that I've tried to skip steps! I expected to achieve my goal in drawing #1 or #2. The impatience always comes back to bite me :)

[@jmardesign]

Love this. As a fellow artist and illustrator, I love seeing how other brains work and their processes for creating.

[@GregKletsel]

Thanks Jason!

[@NWong]

So helpful for us overthinking types. Thank you.😊

[@XchelRocks]

Hey Greg, I really enjoyed this tip. I'm gonna start incorporating it into my practice. I usually draw the reference one time and call it a day -- but you're right, drawing it again help the drawing feel confident. Can't wait to see 4, 5 , 6 & 7 of my drawings and see what I come up with.

[@GregKletsel]

Thanks Xchel! This really helped me out so much, and I hope it does the same for you. Depending on the reference, you might need to draw it 10+ times to capture what you're going for, but the important takeaway is to not stop at the first version. Sometimes it might be the best one, but you find out what's special about it from doing version 2, 3, 4, etc...

[@frederikkenielsen1233]

Plz come back and do more vids. Love your art style and you humor ☺️

[@glitteresque]

More videos please, I really enjoyed your videos so far, keep on the good work. PS. That pointy hand is so neat.

[@ashleychang1077]

Dude this is the best practice about style i have seen on this vast wilderness

[@MANNA-LUCY]

The art teacher I needed

[@andydotorg]

This is so helpful. Thank you buddy

[@GregKletsel]

glad u got something out of it hermano! it's a fun process

[@kristynaplihalova]

That pointer! I am here cause of that orange hand.

[@thehumanatelier]

Iteration - swish, ping, pung, swoosh! Cool video, awesome artwork 😎

[@mathieuhains]

I love this. I figured out a few years back that my first character designs are always trash, but after like 12 versions I love what it becomes. I'll try your trick for sure! I love your channel!

[@alikarim5162]

Thanks for sharing a simple idea that " Awesome " !

[@matthewsmith-mattsmithmake6182]

hey man- thanks for making this! i just turned 32 and i’m still all over the place and looking for work- loving painting and drawing the most but missing that secret sauce that’s just mine. gonna definitely do this this weekend. hopefully make some magic happen. thanks for doing this! so glad i found your shit!

[@GregKletsel]

Thanks for the comment! The secret sauce is always hard to find, I'm still looking for it. But every exercise or experiment you do helps you get closer. I think it's a lifelong search. Hope this helps in some way!

[@aliciagattis4408]

I’m teaching Studio for a Master’s in Art Therapy program this summer and I definitely used this video for an exercise with my students! Love it! 🙌

[@GregKletsel]

That's awesome! :) It's such a helpful exercise, especially for students!

[@ant11368]

SCHWING! COOSCH! thanks - great idea - love the sound effects!

[@c32kvs]

It is very important to learn to add as many images as we can to our mind. If we also apply iteration to "drive" the image to our style, we can face any challenge. Thank you very much for this tip Greg, I am looking forward to seeing more of your videos. Greetings!!

[@GregKletsel]

Well said! Thanks for watching and commenting! :)

[@misterpizaloner]

Thank you, the only cool vid out there on findng your style til now

[@Lazulee__]

Thanks for this video and for using the word iteration applied to illustration and art. My partner is a computer scientist and he said to me several times about iteration being the word for this kind of process and we talked how people commonly think it is a waste of time and judge your time management as wrong and don't understand the development process. This way of thinking destroys a lot of possibilities.

[@meghiesinger8544]

This video was recommended to me by an art teacher. I’ve only done the exercise once so far, but just doing that has made my dislike for drawing people shift into a curiosity and sense of fun. I already see how doing this even a few more times is going to help me find my people drawing style after many years!

[@user-cp6lv2ox8n]

Crazy advise, subscribed from one video i saw, you know it's so much value from one video

[@ruhii0102]

Thankyou, and i really like this idea, im innthe beginning stages of learning art (stuck with same face and same pose) and i think this is really good to make changes , and slice up my art

[@nirubansatchithanandakumar3266]

Gold. Just pure Gold. Thanks Greg, you probably taught some of the most most important lessons I have learnt in doing art.

[@TumbleCreatures]

This is so great. The best actionable steps to get your style. Great video 👏👏👏 I hope you come back and make more

[@kylaestoya]

Ok. I just wanted you to know that I first watched your zine videos and then I made like, 2 zines and sold copies of them in an art event. It was sold out. Thank you for making these videos.

[@molay92]

OMG, I've been looking for tips to find my illustration style for years now and this is really helping me. Simple, and yet it works wonderfully

[@freedomcrow]

Really great piece of advice! Love your art-style and techniques! And awesome channel 🔥 I hope to see more content uploaded 👊

[@nickiluzada4341]

get it my mans!!!!!!

[@bo-banski2883]

i rewatch your videos often because they genuinely inspire me!! i really hope you make more videos eventually!! if not, thank you so much for what you have given the art community :))

[@piampoo5626]

wow dude!! you are rocking it with the way you explain all the techniques in your videos. this is so so so helpful!!

[@samandy24]

Thank you for this tip! I got so pissed off by an 18-minute art video I watched before this that was useless for me, and this really helped better my mood and an actually helpful tip! I hope I can use this. :D

[@nb7345]

Awesome advice! Thank you 😊 Thank you 😊 Thank you 😊 I've been frustrated lately in my journey to "find" my style. Your share will help me break through!

[@momo-xh3bm]

Love the way you present ideas, quick and neat. ❤you deserve more likes

[@mooshookatie]

Thank you for making this video. I have not thought about drawing through iteration with this kind of mindset. Much appreciated 💛

[@LuluxuStudio]

Totally gonna try this out!!

[@tommyRARAful]

Love all your videos mate. Great style, tips and really gets me picking up my sketchbook

[@maggiefreeman6513]

Thank you so much. I really enjoy your videos. More please!

[@hannehjmark894]

This exercise is straight to the point! I have sort of also started my illustration journey recently. I've always been drawing, but in my start twenties I was super focused on becomming a good graphic designer. Now that I have that, and a stable income, I want to go back to drawing like nuts and make it part of my career. Feels like I've been turning my back on my most creative soul for years. I really appriciate this video, thank you!

[@catvomitsoup]

You are amazing, Greg.

[@mekuriko6814]

Found this channel today and thank you so much for these videos. So helpful! 🌻

[@hellagreen2734]

This is awesome. I'm trying this. Thank you!

[@beardeddragona210]

Thank you for sharing your process, and going over your own personal set of specifications regarding the technique in practice. Super helpful and applicable to my own process. TY for the work you put out, your work has paid off. :)

[@GribenPige]

Your videos are so good, they are so helpfull and perfect for quick inspiration or exercises!!! Thank you!

[@artbyvru]

So excited to try this! I have been illustrating since a year and I feel like I hit a roadblock now. I am not content with my art style anymore and I want to improve. This would be such a great step to start from! Thank you! 😊✨

[@whatsnextcleo2308]

This really helpful. So glad I found your video. I'm trying to find an illustration style and stay out from realism. Thanks!

[@shraddhasinha6005]

Your channel is GOLD

[@MrJangojim]

Dude! This is awesome. I wish I had known this years ago :)

[@DianaDiaz-np2gy]

OMG! You unlocked something in my brain 😍 it’s feels magical, thank YOU 🙏

[@ramise5932]

Great exercise! ❤️ now I just gotta try it and repeat!

[@soniamorarka]

Such a great idea, thank you so much for sharing :)

[@catastrophe3205]

Thank youuuu, you're so kind it really motivates me to draw 😭

[@HaroArtist]

This was awesome. Thanks for making this video. I have to try the 7 time drawing method.

[@adeadgirl13]

Thanks so much for this. I have been trying to figure out how to improve at simplification. I've gotten okay at copying stuff realistically and when I try to simplify and stylize it, it always ends up sucking quite a bit. After watching your video I realized my mistake was trying to jump straight to number 7. The images I was trying to stylize, I wasn't drawing them realistically even once. Realistic drawing was a whole different exercise for me. What you've shown makes a lot of sense! Thanks!

[@nickdutton6218]

I love this exercise! Great channel man.

[@burnout-d]

Great idea/tip. Thank you.

[@BforBooksetc]

I'm so happy that algorithm recommended me this channel! Greg, you're amazing! Thanks a lot. Greetings from Belarus!

[@Mehdi-Benabbes]

what an amazing exercice to develop your style. thanks for the tip :)

[@Radiowias]

Love this, very helpful

[@dopytheangel]

This is awesome!

[@jtgraphicx]

I think this is why forcing myself to leap into animation has made me a better artist overall, you're forced to draw the same subject over and over at different angles/perspectives/movements. I noticed I made a lot of progress with shading,portraiture, and perspective accuracy, in my own style of course. Just my way of saying EVERYONE SHOULD TRY ANIMATION!!!

[@beaubergeron6369]

Iteration my dude!

[@KaritKtana]

Love this! ❤ I hope you're OK and hope you'll keep making videos!

[@blackcat138]

Alright! Sounds like a solid tip 👌

[@saskia1467]

Muchas gracias Greg! es un muy buen consejo

[@Jennwiggs]

Wonderful thanks!😊

[@DavidStartsArt]

Thank you for this video

[@Kaleidoscalp]

The best advice on finding your style

[@jamieseroogy766]

i love this and I know i need to do this - just draw the same thing over and change it! its so simple and yetttt idk somehow i still havent done it lol goals

[@fudobakari]

i like your art work.

[@tonikenner9093]

I will try this

[@fev3rdre4m]

Big fan of your art/channel, I just subscribed !!

[@ellettcheyneArt]

✍️just✍️keep✍️drawing!✍️ But seriously, great exercise and good tips. Thanks!

[@cricketfiddler]

The best! I’m on it!

[@GregKletsel]

sweet! Hope it helps in some way!

[@phrysma]

GOLD!

[@rl2117]

valuable tips

[@joonieb]

love it

[@pplsmyl]

good stuff.

[@flintlockbeithir4823]

i'll take the advice to heart cheers pal

[@JesseNickelltheFourth]

You are a cool dude!

[@isaiasxd4453]

Maaan today i find your chanel , its feel like wen two brthers find each other jeje , greath video , i love your style

[@SHAUMBE.]

super sick

[@fafal9836]

v helpfull vid thanks dude

[@luvbeefy]

who knew greg kletsel was so handsome

[@AlejandroSanchez-pf5qw]

*Applying the iteration whatching the video like seven times to absorb every ton of knowledge in it*

[@wetterschneider]

Excellent and on point. Question, what would a graph of your satisfaction against your fatigue look like. One takeaway is for artists to work on their stamina, how to hold focus and energy without forcing ourselves into burn out. It's hard to keep going, especially when there's a "pretty good" on the page. Especially then.

[@GregKletsel]

I agree. Burn out is real, but use your judgement based on your overall goal. Sometimes good enough is better than trying to achieve an impossible “perfect” outcome. Keep going until you come up with something that feels right to you.

[@Jared43219]

The people want more GregTube

[@iAmReallyCool6000]

I just found you yesterday about the zines, now that I visited your channel, your last post was 2 years ago, but your vids help me a lot ❤ Where are you?? 😂

[@GregKletsel]

Help is on the way!

[@RIQO-AG]

Good video

[@rocketbird1]

Veeery nice video

[@jaydeehervey2145]

Iteration... do it!

[@TheOlguindaviher]

nice video

[@d.l.loonabide9981]

Lee Perry! Now you're talkin'.

[@jeansantos8866]

Cheguei agora no seu canal e amei ❤ faz mais vídeos por favor 😢