Finding Your Style in digital art.

Starting out as a digital artist can feel like diving into a sea of endless possibilities. So why not embrace the chaos of it all? Have lots of fun experimenting with various different styles, colours and media.

First up, let your curiosity lead you. Try your hand at different art styles like realism, anime, cartoons, or even abstract and surrealism. Each one has its own vibe and can teach you something new about technique and expression.

Also feel free to create whatever you like. Whether you’re into portraits, landscapes, character design, or something fantastical like sci-fi and fantasy, give it all a shot. The key here is to not box yourself in. Each genre offers unique challenges and rewards.

And tools, oh boy, that’s another world to explore! Get cozy with different brushes, textures, and software. Maybe you’ll find that Photoshop suits your intricate detailing needs, or perhaps Procreate’s intuitiveness wins you over for sketching on-the-go. Clip Studio Paint might just be your go-to for comic-style artwork.

The secret ingredient to all this exploration? Don’t stress about consistency! It’s perfectly fine for your style to look a bit all over the place at first. This is the exploratory phase, where you’re gathering the pieces of what will eventually become your unique style puzzle.

🎨 Learning from the Masters: Studying Influential Artists

Diving headfirst into the digital art world? Look to those who’ve walked the path before. Setting up a ‘style board’, whether it’s on Pinterest or through a physical scrapbook, helps you gather pieces of art that resonate with your aesthetic sense.

This is more than just a collection; it’s a personalized museum of what inspires you. Dissect what draws you to each piece. Is it the dynamic linework, the mood captured in the colors, or perhaps the subject matter? Digging into these details helps sharpen your eye for art.

Here’s a neat exercise: style studies. While it’s all for practice, try mimicking parts of the works you admire. This isn’t about replication for display—it’s about understanding. Replicating good technique gives you behind-the-scenes access to your favorite artists’ methods.

Now, give your preferences some thought. Are you more attracted to looseness and expressiveness, or is a cleaner, precise style more your flavor? Identifying these inclinations helps define your artistic personality.

Let your admiration inspire your evolution, without pressure to immediately measure up. Every piece you love helps guide your growth and shapes your journey.

🖌️ Creating with Intent: Cultivating Your Unique Artistic Voice

So you’ve absorbed all this inspiration and dabbled in countless styles—now it’s time to channel that into intentional creation. As you put pen to tablet, take a moment to reflect. Notice which parts of your art process feel effortless and which fight against you. This awareness helps you lean into your strengths.

Keeping track of recurring elements in your work can be enlightening. Are there specific themes or shapes you gravitate towards? Maybe you often use the same colors, or there’s a mood that shines through your pieces. These patterns are like fingerprints of your emerging style.

Also don’t be afraid to try out colours and media that you have never used before. You never know it could take your art in a totally different directio.

Repetition is more than practice—it’s a way to discover your personal brand. Revisit subjects you love, whether that’s fantastical creatures, urban landscapes, or even mundane objects. Draw them again and again, trying out different methods and styles until something clicks.

Mix and match the elements you’ve picked up from various styles and artists. Maybe combine some anime-style characters with bold, graphic backgrounds, or blend a touch of minimalist linework with vibrant, impressionistic color splashes. This hybrid approach can carve out a distinct niche for you.

Document your journey. Keep a sketchbook or digital record that logs what you’ve tried, loved, and learned along the way. This ongoing chronicle not only shows how far you’ve come, but it can illuminate where your style might be heading next.

Finally, let go of any pressure to be original right from the start. Your style isn’t about rigid definitions—it’s about how you weave your unique perspective into your work as it grows and transforms over time. That’s where your voice really shines.