finding your style

[ElizaLeahy]

Because I now tremble too much to do relistic paintings, I'm looking for a new "style" and having some problems thinking about it.

Am I overthinking it? Is it something that will just happen after upteen paintings or should I do something else to find out - exercises, zen yoga, smoke pot...!!!

Actually I hate exercising, can't bend well enough for the yoga, and I'm pretty certain that pot is still illegal.

But any other, more sensible comments on this tricky subject? I don't want to be a clone.

:confused:

[CarlosBS]

it will come as a matter of personality, likes, favourite painters, lifestyle... dont think too much about it.

[CareyG]

In a word, yes, you are over-thinking it. :)

Unless you really try hard intentionally, it's almost impossible to be a clone. Try doing a master copy and that will quickly become clear. :)

What you need to do is try various ways of working, research different techniques and give each a try, find what works for you. That in combination with your own inclinations of subject, composition, color, etc, will guarantee that you will automatically find your own "style" along the way. "Style" develops from a great combination of things and I believe that the only way you can be unique is to be yourself. You could, I suppose, say that you want to paint like So-and-so, or you want to be an "insert an ism here", but where would that get you?

"Style" is something of a nebulous thing, anyway. Do you really need a label?

Concentrate on technique, on drawing, on values, on color mixing, on composition. Those are all things you can deliberately make decisions about. Of course, having a physical limitation changes things, but some of the greatest artists in history were burdened with physical problems, so take heart from that. :)

~!Carey

[NancyMP]

Eliza, your style is not dependent on your physical limitations. If you prefer realism, it will out no matter what -- it's just that hard edges and exact photorealism will be evasive with tremors.

Booze is legal, but with the drawback of impairment in judgment, you might just want to try laying out a couple of paintings and diving in worry-free. None of us paints a smashing success every painting we try, at least to ourselves, and if you just do it for fun like a child would, and not expect too much from yourself, your style will evolve on its own.

Brush mileage will get you there, and as fr as I know, it's the only thing that really works!

Stop pre-judging yourself -- that's called prejudice!!!!!!

[DAK723]

Intentionally trying for a style is almost always a shortcut to falseness. Just paint as best you can with whatever limitations you may be faced with. If you can no longer paint details, then just do the best you can to portray the illusion of detail. I'm not saying it will be easy, but the answers you come up with to get around your limitations will become your style.

Best of luck to you!

Don

[ElizaLeahy]

I think you are right, just painting over and over - like learning to paint again - and something will eventually happen.

Thank you

[!becca]

I think you have some great answers here, and time and practice will take care of most of your concerns. It is most imortant to just remember to paint like yourself.

[Wassie]

I say, "Let your trembles work for you." Let them create your style. Don't try too hard to create a style. Just have fun.

[CarlyHardy]

Have you experimented with pouring color? Using oil sticks (the big ones) instead of a brush? Think outside the box....and let your imagination run wild with new ways to put paint to canvas. Your creative instincts will take over!

As long as I've painted, I still feel that I have no style! and that's ok. Art is a journey that I'm still on!