I love etnic, free, naive art as a sort of pattern.
O.k. I would really appreciate some help here. I’ve been dealing with this problem for quite a time now, bother different artists with questions, tried many things to see where I feel most comfortable … Yes, I do have style issues.
Decorating trees is one of my obsession.
I like many styles, I do feel comfortable doing designs in many techniques and many styles. I love ornaments and ethnic stuff, love naive patterns and simple decorative icons. But in the other hand I rediscover my lof for illustrations and painting. As I am still at home with my kids I decided to try many things and I tried mixed media and collaging as well and – yes- I loved it!
I tried mixed media and I loved it!
And I got really many different ansewers when I asked if it’s better to have only one style or is it better to have several if you want to offer them for licensing. Maybe the most useful one came from artist friend Paula who said that it is good to be versatile and have more than one style as long as you have a nice, well rounded collection in each style. I also liked Matis one that it’s ALWAYS good to explore, but to establish yourself as an artist, you need to generally have 1-3 distinctive styles that people recognize as yours. Hm, do you see why I am becoming a little bit comfused here. Any help and advice vould be appriciated.
Illustration could easy be my additional offer ...
So is it good to have different styles in different mediums and motives or is it better to stick with one or two? What do you think?
11 Comments
Petra, jaz se na to res ne spoznam, lahko pa, če že sprašuješ, povem samo svoje skromno mnenje
Huda škoda bi se delala, če bi svoje ustvarjanje “skrčila” na en sam stil!
)
Bistvo je, da ustvarjaš iz sebe, ker tako bo vedno vse “dobro narejeno” 
V treh alinejah
1. – citiram: “it is good to be versatile and have more than one style as long as you have a nice, well rounded collection in each style”
2. – spet citiram: “it’s ALWAYS good to explore, but to establish yourself as an artist, you need to generally have 1-3 distinctive styles that people recognize as yours”. Osebno sem za 3, vsaj pri tebi
3. – Bistvo ustvarjanja je itak ustvarjanje! Ustvarjaj, kakor pač čutiš tisti trenutek! Talent imaš neverjeten, znanje tudi, ideje tudi, sky is the limit!
Sčasoma se bo pa itak samo od sebe izkristaliziralo, v katerih treh stilih si najbolj doma (treh, ne enem
Kaj od vsega tega boš ponujala naprej v “biznis”, se boš pa že sproti odločala
To je to – kot vidiš, si si v glavnem že sama odgovorila in naših globokoumnosti v resnici sploh ne potrebuješ
Enkrat, ko se vsi pocajtamo in se končno kaj vidimo, ti bo pa Zoran lahko še kakšno pametno povedal, meni ne nese daleč, sploh pa ne tako na hitro
Ne obremenjuj se preveč in raje uživaj v tem, da lahko ustvariš, karkoli ti srce poželi – jaz bi, če bi imela tak talent
Lp vsem,
Katja
I wish I could understand what Katja wrote. The first lines that are translated has important information for your concerns, Petra. It is important to have styles that can be remembered as yours no matter which medium you work. Artists has to expand their creativity and then focus in order to maintain a style. We can change the medium but if we stay true to owrselves we will have different styles that can be recognize as ours!
Yes, sorry about that, I just write faster in my own language
I’ll try to translate my comment for you:
Petra, I wouldn’t know anything about it, but since you’re asking, I can only share my humble opinion with you
In three bullet points
1. – I quote (from your text): “it is good to be versatile and have more than one style as long as you have a nice, well rounded collection in each style”
2. – I quote again: “it’s ALWAYS good to explore, but to establish yourself as an artist, you need to generally have 1-3 distinctive styles that people recognise as yours”. Personally, I’d say three, at least when we talk about you
A serious damage will be done if you shrink your creating to one single style!
3. – The point of creating is creating itself anyway, so, just create how you feel at the moment! You have an amazing talent, knowledge also, ideas too, sky is the limit!
Eventually it will appear itself anyway, in which three styles you feel “at home” the most (three, not one 
) Which of many different creations will you then offer into business, you can decide along the way anyway 
What is essential is, that you create from your heart and this way it will always be “well done” 
That’s it – as you can see, you’ve already answered a lot to yourself and you don’t REALLY need our philosophising
Some day soon, when we all get well from viruses and finally get together again, my husband can tell you some wise ones – I’m not smart enough
So, don’t worry about this too much and, instead, rather enjoy the fact that you can create whatever your heart desires – I know I would, if I had such talent
Best regards to all,
Katja
I struggle with this one too – I like to do every single thing I try. But as I do more and more work and look back over it, I see a style emerging. And it’s only been by trying it all that I’ve come to see what I love MOST.
I don’t sell that much art so maybe I’m not the one to listen too. But what is your goal? If it’s doing what you love, then do what you love. If it’s making money in addition to doing what you love, maybe you only put a select style or two on your site or maybe you show different styles at different shows.
I truly believe that you have to try a lot of things before one smacks you upside the head and you KNOW it’s the one. Kinda like dating – not everybody finds THE one on their first date!
This is a great question. One I often ponder myself. I like many different things as well and just today was thinking maybe you don’t have to have one look only. Who says? I do think that people that are “successfully selling” their art do have a particular look/motif/medium etc. that people then just associate with the artist. That is what they come to love and expect but I guess the trade off is that they can then get a bit boxed in. And I am afraid I would get really bored. I don’t know if their is an easy answer. I agree with Sherry about just trying tons of things and make lots and lots of art and I think it will just all come together. I hope.
Thanks ladies, these advices are very good.
Elizabeth – thanks for mentioning focus. I think it’s very important and hard to maintain.
Sherry – my goal is making money in addition to doing what I love. After my maternity leave I will send designs as offer to different companies to license. I love the comparison with dates
Dana – thanks for mentioning boredom. I could really relate to that.
Katja, midve bova pa itak osebno, ko pobijeva vse viruse
I think it all depends. If you want to establish yourself as an artist, I would agree with Mati. If you just want to produce designs for production, its a good idea to have a range of designs in different styles so that there is more variety for clients to choose from. You also need to create collections of co-ordinating designs based on themes, taking in to account market and colour trends and the end use of your product. Sometimes you have to adapt your style to what the customer wants. I also love many different styles, and I think its great to explore them all! Artists are constantly being inspired by many different ideas and evolving. Hope this helps! Wini xo
if i start something that is not quite my style- i try to lump it together in a “series”. i generally do several drawing or paintings in a certain style- if it feels good i do more, or put it aside if it’s not working. i don’t think you have to limit yourself- you are an ARTIST! i love LOVE your trees and patterns. reminds me of Romanian or Latvian patterns.
Petra, this is such a good topic for food for thoughts! I used to wonder that too but i came to realize that i like to explore and exprerement with different mediums and try out different styles. Exploring and experimenting with different mediums and styles inspires me and as time slowly went by, i discovered that these have helped me shaped my style, essences and creations.
Your paintings are gorgeous and i love that piece with the flowers and stars. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to yoU!
It’s always a struggle but when you stop struggling you may as well give up-right? ALL of your work is beautiful so keep doing what you are doing and what makes you happy, the rest will fall into place.
xoxoxoxoxpaula
Hi Petra, I really struggle with this question too, I have many styles that are so different most people think they are done by different artists. I am just now getting interested in becoming a licensor and getting my work out to the marketplace. It is a time when I am focusing onto a more consistent style. Exploring mixed media has really helped as it’s always exciting and I never get bored. Your style appears to be very consistent and well suited to licensing! You have so many lovely designs, I’ll be interested to see how it goes for you….. keep us posted! <3 2 U