Many artists talk about their personal style as if it was the “be all and end all” of success. I contend that even if an artist  consistently mimics the work of another, in time they develop their own personal style. For artists that wish to grow, it is important to develop many approaches and looks. The personal style will develop, and the artist will be much better off for it.

Generally, when one is trying to develop their personal style early in their career, they tend to approach their painting by working on one small area at a time. I feel this the wrong approach and will lengthen the time it takes to develop one’s style. I think an artist will be much better off if they develop all parts of the painting simultaneously. In this case, if they are working on a painting in its early stages, they can reach a moment where they can make a decision to leave it alone as a simple stylized or impressionistic piece, or continue to work on it further for detail and complexity. The results can be very unique. Somewhere between the decision to do one or the other will allow for determining personal style.

If artists will not continue to experiment, they may never develop their personal style they are seeking. They may miss out on becoming the artist they dream. I think the constant seeking and experimenting is the driving force of all great artists. How did Pablo Picasso change from the artist on the left to the artist on the right?