Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Finding Your Art Journal Style


I've been thinking yet again about finding your own art journal style.  As you have noticed, I do not draw many faces in my art journals.  In the past I have said I do not do it because they are not "my style".  I take that back.

I do not draw a lot of faces because they do not appeal to me.  A doll face does not convey the message that is trying to get out of my mind and into my art journal.  I enjoy looking at the beautiful girl creations of others, but it's just not my thing.  I do have the odd face here and there in my journals however, because I like to practice.  The page above is an example.  I truly believe the best thing you can do is create what appeals to you, whether it's trendy or not.

I looked up the definition of style.   What I found really interesting was this:

 9. a particular, distinctive, or characteristic mode or form of construction or execution in any art or work: Her painting is beginning to show a personal style.

What makes your art distinctive?  Should it even matter to you if it is?  When I first started art journaling all I worried about was finding "my style".  Looking back, and looking at what I create now, I can clearly see that it didn't matter.  What matters to me is that I am creating, and that I am creating what appeals to me.

The more you play, the more you do it, the more pages you create; that is what will help you see the "style" you are looking for.  Trying to find your style while you are creating may cause frustration, and that's not what art journaling is all about.

Let go and create, your style will find you.



Much Love!  xo

PS... I'll be back tomorrow with an update from the surgeon.  Thanks so much for all the kind words and thoughts.

12 comments:

  1. Excellent article. I think many people new to art journalling try so hard to emulate the styles of some of the more well known journalers. They don't spend the time finding their own. Emulation is OK to a point but there comes a time when you have to exercise your own artistic bent. It only comes by doing...and doing...and doing.

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  2. Very insightful Paula. One of the many things that draws me to your art and way of teaching is that you always encourage PERSONAL expression. For those of us that follow your journey, you have NEVER suggested your way is the only way.Instead you have encouraged us all to play with color, patterns, textures in a way that pleases US.You have a very special gift and you so graciously share SO much of yourself with others. Thank you so very much! Julie

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  3. Hi Paula -

    What a great post today! I don't have a style. I enjoy experimenting with a lot of things. It depends on how I am feeling when I sit down to create. I don't like to pencil myself into a particular box by limiting my creativity to a "style". I make what feels good to me.
    I hope everything goes well with the surgeon. Sending good thoughts your way.

    Elaine Allen

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  4. Great post! Glad to see you getting back into the blog! Sending positive thoughts your way for the dr visit tomorrow.

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  5. Beautiful pages Paula. I love all the textures and colours.
    My style? I definitely agree with your last paragraph. I used to put pressure on myself to find my own style and was always frustrated because it just didn't 'work' for me. Only when I let go of that expectation did I start producing art that now looks like 'me'. A lot of my style has come from happy accidents. I don't have one style at the moment but there are styles that I don't tend to do a lot. I find that I have a certain style depending on the medium and surface I am painting on. It (my style) is coming but to me it is not the first thought in my mind when I sit down to create.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts
    Lee:)

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  6. What true words. I have only been art journalling for just under a year and the first thing I noticed while looking at others work was that they all had their own style and I just dont seem to be able to achieve that! All my pages are very different and I love to try new techniques and learn from them... I will stop worrying about style and just concentrate on the art! x Love your stuff by the way, I am a shy commentor but I do always swing by your blog x

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  7. I would feel this way too--looking for my own style--so when people say to me that they recognize my style--I'm like--I have a style??
    We can't help create what appeals to us the most, regardless of what it is. This is what Mystele helps us with in her Gut Art class--finding our authentic voice in art--great class!

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  8. Best to you tomorrow....and I always wonder if I have a 'style' yet...k

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  9. I've thought a lot about style . . . mostly I study the things I created that I really like to look for similarities. I also do try to experiment with new things.
    Rinda

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  10. I tend to wonder about my style of all different things. All in all style comes from within not from following along with others.

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  11. Great post Paula, love your journal page flip too. I think we find our style while we are on the journey of creating. It makes it's appearance while we sling paint and let our intuition guide us. If I focused on finding said 'style' I think it would jam me up creatively.

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  12. You know what Paula, talking of style, when I got a copy of the Art Journaling magazine your article and art were in I was flipping through the pages, looking at the pics and not yet reading I found your art and recognized it by your style!
    Too cool!
    Kimber

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