styles

over the past few days/weeks (and if you kind of add it all together, the past few months), i've been trying to refine my artistic voice a little in an attempt to figure out where i should take my new work. i've still been trying to keep myself busy making new paintings and illustrations with whatever is inspiring me during the course of this searching, so i have a lot of (somewhat random) new pieces to share with you soon.

the main thought behind this post today is to make note of the "styles" i've noticed that i'm both drawn to in other artists' work, and when creating my own new pieces. i'm hoping this discovery is leading me in the direction toward more sense in my work soon! so, here are the styles:

botanical illustrations/studies:

(image via little byrd vintage)

basically anything that looks like it could be a plate in a dictionary or reference book. there's something so clean and fresh about an object in the center of the page, not complicated with any other elements.

 

folk art and decorative patterns:

(image via britt herman)

(image via kelim pottery)

folk art has been around me from when i was a wee girl - both in my parents' house and in my grandparents' house. so i'm probably drawn to it because it brings me back to being a kid :)

 

color fields and abstracts:

(image via blin gallery)

one of my favorite artists has always been mark rothko, and you can probably see a little bit of this style in my landscape watercolors.

conceptual illustration:

(image via holli)

i love the juxtaposition of different elements, and the linear quality some illustrations possess. it's a little whimsical, don't you think?

realism/still life:

(image via cathy hillegas)

now, obviously this is one of the most literal styles in the art world. you set up a still life, you get yourself a model, or you sit yourself down in nature and depict things as they really are. sometimes a thing or place is just so beautiful, that it doesn't need any other bells or whistles to be inspiring all on its own.

 

since figuring all this out, i'm starting to conjure up ways to incorporate these styles more cohesively into my work. i'm looking at it like a recipe - i have these ingredients in my cupboard, now how do i put them together to make a delicious meal? i think i'm headed in the right direction though. what do you think?

Comments

[Lisa Golightly]

yes, i have some of those same influences! i love seeing what an artists' inspirations/influences are. I love rothko, and my dad's work is very similar to that, then my parents collected folk art, so I'm sure I have that in there somewhere, as well.

[sue]

blimey oh reilly, good luck with that!! I really find it hard to incorporate new concepts/styles into my work too. I want ti to be recognisably mine, but want to spread my wings a bit and get away from black and white.... let me know how you get on!!

[mai autumn]

thanks so much for stopping by and for sharing, lisa! i love your work - it amazes me what you come up with all the time!

and thanks, sue! :) i've been struggling with combining all my loves into one cohesive style for a few years now. i doubt that any artists find it easy to do until they've got plenty of practice under their belts. i'm finding it helpful to just identify what i'm interested in for now, and it's been resulting in some pretty decent discoveries these days while i'm at it! :)

[The Art of Michelle]

oh i do love holli's illustrations! especially her alphabet poster. SO cute