Discovering Your Own Unique Artistic Style Part 3 Other Artists

“Get In my Belly” 2B Pencil study on light weight paper. In this drawing, which is the subject from my previous post, I have begun to add my own personalized tweaks as I continue to work on studies and begin to make it my own.

OK ya lil’ creatlings, So you have been hard at work gathering images, poking around in books and magszines and have created your own morgue file.

Your pencils have been worn down to nubs and your last pen has run out to ink. That is all good news!

Your eyes and mind are now getting in the groove of being more aware and tuned into the world around you and you are also becoming more cognizant of your own feelings and emotions when it comes to your own personal taste!

So what do you say we now start bringing in the influences of other creatives who’s work you admire and resonate with.

Go on and gather up some images from artist’s who artistic abilities and work you admire. While looking them over and absorbing the visual stories they tell, ask your self the following questions.

• What is it about their work that I am most attracted to? (colors, subject, style, emotion, techniques etc.)

• What are some of the qualities of their work can I emulate and bring into my own work?

• What are some of the things I can change or add to make these qualities my own?

  
  

“Get in My Belly” Black sharpie on printer paper. After creating the pencil sketch, I took a picture of it and printed it out. I then continue to refine ideas, identify challenging areas and work out and refine the light and dark areas without worrying about possibly trashing the original sketch.

I have been a long time fan of the underground comic book artists of the 60′s. These artist include Rick Griffin, Robert Crumb and Ted Williams.

In my drawing above, I taken the high contrast look and detailed line work that is pervasive in the comic book style and have begun to flush out my ideas further using techniques that I have picked out from the millions of comic books that I have studied and read over the years.

Figuring out what you like and dislike about work of other artists you admire is a fantastic way to help determine a direction that you would like to see your own creations take or avoid.

I am not at all suggesting copying! What I am suggesting is the borrowing of ideas, techniques and mediums used and making them your own by instilling your own personality likes and dislikes into them.

 “Good Artists Copy, Great Artists Steal”…Pablo Picasso

While there is some debate about the ethics of the above statement, I do believe that creativity does come in part from the inspiration found in work that has come before as well as from creative ideas that surround us in the now.

The lesson I take from the always outspoken Mr. Picasso’s quote is that there is no creative value in simply copying another person’s work.

However, to take another artist’s style, method or preffered medium and then mold them into your own creations is how innovation and new ideas are born.

“Get In My Belly” A quick sketch on a piece of scratch paper using the CRAPPIEST ball point ink pen in my collection. This is a more stripped down version closer to the look and feel of artists like Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett, and the other artists who have worked on animated cartoons that I still enjoy watching.

Well now it is time to stop reading and start looking and studying some of the fine folks who create art that make your eyes sing!

Don’t get discouraged if you are unable to get the same exact results or look as the artist whose art you admire. Just keep practicing, studying and experimenting!

Most Importantly, HAVE FUN AND DO NOT CRITICIZE YOURSELF !

Comments? You know I love them so let me know what you think or if you have any of your own techniques to share.

Are you diggin’ my content? If ya are, help support my creative addiction by purchasing some niftiness out of my Esty shop. I also have been known to take on commission for those who want some custom art made in the Chongolian style.