How to develop a unique art style?

Experience shares in how I find my artistic voice.

Aug 28, 2024

I am often asked for advice on developing a unique art style, but I believe that we are all born with our unique style, shaped by our cultural heritage, life experiences, and DNA. Finding your individual artistic voice requires time and effort, and there is no step-by-step approach to discovering it. Instead of providing a specific "lesson" plan, I will share how I found my art style, which is still constantly evolving.

I was a film major specializing in animation in school. If you asked the twenty-year-old me, I dreamed of working as a character animator for a major Hollywood studio and, hopefully, getting to work on titles that would win an Oscar or Emmy. I never expected that someday I would decide to be an independent artist and writer.

After graduating, I worked at EA Games and Technicolor Animation as a 3D character animator on several popular and award-winning gaming titles. Though I learned a lot from these jobs, I started feeling mentally and creatively drained and uninspired after a few years. I missed drawing, painting, and, most importantly, being true to myself. While I could create epic and dynamic action sequences, deep down, I preferred cute, fluffy animals, rainbows, and unicorns to gore and violence. I loved heartwarming stories, not people chopping each other's heads. My friend suggested that I start a drawing blog (this was before Instagram and Facebook) where I could draw and paint just for fun without worrying about creating perfect pieces for a job portfolio.

I started a blog titled Ice-cream Monster Toon Cafe where I posted random doodles and sketches. Working as a 3D animator in a studio, I didn't get to draw. The first time I picked up a pencil and brush after many years of not drawing a single line, I felt very rusty. The early sketches were not very good. But drawing and sketching helped me decompress from everyday stress and feel warm and happy. I started making friends with other artist bloggers and joined local sketch groups. Over time, my drawing skills gradually improved.

I started feeling more confident and tried different art styles and techniques. One day, my co-worker told me about a Totoro charity exhibition hosted by Pixar, where they were looking for artists to participate.

I submitted this watercolor painting and was thrilled when someone bought it.

I got hooked after my first art show and wanted to do more. I started taking painting seriously and learned from my artist friends about how to prep watercolor paper and which paints to use for better results. I had been using beginner paints, which were okay, but to level up my painting game and learn more about color and pigment, I had to switch to pro-grade paint. I also took some painting workshops to learn how to paint properly. I submitted to local galleries, which began my gallery career.

I went through a phase of trying to use lines and shapes for background texture design. I discovered I love making paper-cut paintings and found that raw wood is an excellent surface for watercolor painting.

At the time, I still worked full-time in animation, and painting part-time after work for different shows. I try out different themes and contents, some of which were outside my comfort zone, while others challenged me to experiment with new techniques. Whenever I saw an art style or an artist's work that I loved, I'd try to study their approach or go at new styles and themes to see what resonated.

Not all of my experiments were successful. I had plenty of bad ones. But figuring out what went wrong helped me learn as much as what went right. Through trial and error, I realized things I didn't know about myself. For instance, I don't like making variations of the same themes, and I prefer making art for kids more than for grown-ups. When I'm painting, I'm not thinking like a typical painter. Instead, my thought process is more like a storyteller. I don't do as well when I can't see a story in my painting.

After participating in many art shows, I realized I could not envision pursuing gallery art as my primary career. Instead, it has helped me discover my passion in illustrating for children’s contents.

Whenever I participated in art shows with children's books or story themes, I had a lot of fun creating the pieces. Eventually, through some of these shows, I was invited to participate in a collaborative book project. I gradually discovered my strengths, voice, and vision as an artist.

I did not know I wanted to be a children's book illustrator back then, but starting an art blog and joining local artist communities was a game-changer for me. It exposed me to an array of art forms. I learned different creative techniques from artists who specialized in areas very different from mine, which helped me grow and discover my artistic style.

Tips to help develop a distinctive art style that's unique to you:

Dare to step out of your comfort zone.
Every drawing you make, whether good or bad, is a learning opportunity.
Create from your heart and the things that inspire you.
Connect with local art groups and communities to meet other artists and share your work.
Everyone has their unique style, so take the time to explore and discover yours.
Be patient with yourself as you practice and hone your skills. Remember, it takes time to get the hang of things.
Your art style will naturally evolve, so embrace the changes as a sign of growth and exploration.