20 April, 2021

Does every artist have their own “Style”?

Funny that most every well known artist has a recognizable style which is so strong that other artists imitate them. Certain quirks and actions in an artist’s work might be recognizable as their own style. Galleries tend to promote artists who’s work appear similar or repetitive maybe due to style the gallery can promote for collectors. I am guessing that if you do not produce a natural recognizable style then you can consciously create one you can call your own. In my case I do not know that I have a certain style because I work both subjectively and in abstract. This turns galleries off but I don’t care if it does because many galleries turn me off.

What style do you have if any and how important it that to you?

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12 Comments

Fred Rousseau 21 Apr 2021

Vincent.Your question if any or all artists have their own style is both an important and interesting question. I will answer this question soon....well as soon as I could get away from painting my own paintings with my own style.To make you curious and to do some thinking and research in the meanwhile....my question to you is: "Do you have a name and have you heard of the Alphabet? "

Coming soon! An answer to Vincent's question.

I would like to blog about all these art matters in such a way that all members of ArtWanted.com could read my blogs.Perhaps the Staff of ArtWanted.com could share some ideas about this.

Vincent von Frese 22 Apr 2021

I apologize because I think I have failed to state my meaning of “style”. By artist’s style I am talking about the individual look of any art work a particular artist produces which clearly identifies this artist as the artist who made the art. For example here is a pic of a work by an artist who has chosen a particular style in his method of expression which identifies himself as original in all of his works weather it be black and white or color oil paintings. Birger Sanzen. One of his works recently sold in an auction in Utah for a half million. His style is clearly recognizable as his own work although it is impressionistic in genre. Likely it is that Birger made a conscious decision to create this particular look.

Mark A. Lembo 23 Apr 2021

Vincent, that is a question that has intrigued me for a while, as I re-launch my artistic efforts.

Personally, I prefer the freedom to experiment and choose the path(s) that interest me. At this point, you may call it searching for a style, or hiding behind 'expanding my range.' My quirk/action would be the hand-drawn margins that appear on most works (somewhat an homage to an early teacher). Whatever goes inside those margins is fair game. Not sure if that is a style or a recognizable technique.

To answer your question with a question, does being labeled/categorized limit one's range? Only if you allow it, right?

Cheers, MAL

Vincent von Frese 23 Apr 2021

My example shows the aesthetic style of Birger Sandzen and how strong his particular style shows itself in every one of his works.

Mark A. Lembo 23 Apr 2021

His palette would certainly be considered unique and distinctive.

Vincent von Frese 23 Apr 2021

Most of the really well known painters have such a strong style based upon their methods. Like George's Seurat for example. He used little brush strokes and colored dots. Jackson Pollack used a system of layered splattered and dripped works. Thomas Hart Benton employed figures and basically all objects in his paintings and murals in such a way that they appeared to be flowing like water in a circular pattern. This style was used by some Renaissance painters who painted religious paintings. These artists knew what they were doing. If any artist employed the same look that the above mentioned artists employed then these other artists would be guilty of imitation. It is OK for students but not acceptable for any mature artists. In fact musicians are a great example of this. They begin by imitation and play in clubs songs that the public requests. But these musicians would never grow if they did not strike out into an original vein.

I myself love the works of many artists I see in museums and am inspired to work just because of their work.

The energy emitted by an artwork says a lot about the artist and their style as a direct result of the level of feeling the style the artist has employed affects people I believe. At least for me.

Another question worth pondering is does style exist per artist in their works of abstract expressionism. Mark Lembo for example. A consistent pattern of work by each individual abstract artist eventually stamps a fingerprint identity and reveals specific traits which would identify this artist. Elements of poetry appear along with surrealistic images like in the work of Charles Jones.

In the long run it is just fun to talk about anyway!

Vincent von Frese 23 Apr 2021

To Mark; No labeling never limits anyone unless one lets that happen by media or critics. And I doubt if there is any artist who owns a particular style either.

Rick Corbett 23 Apr 2021

This is such a great topic. I like to think that I have a certain "style" I enjoy working in a more tight, realistic style. My work is very emotional, I think that is also a part of my style. I believe that as artists, the more we learn and grow, our "style" develops naturally. I used to want to draw like the great pencil artists of today whom I consider modern masters, Armin Mersmann, Dirk Dzimirsky, Adonna Khare, Emanuale Discanio, to just name a few, but I realize that I can't draw like them, I'll never be able to draw like them, because I am not them.... I can take bits and pieces of their techniques and practice and eventually take what I learned and add my own approach and philosophies, thus my style develops. I am still learning, I am a lifelong student of art and as I grow, so does my style.

Cheryl Garman-Andrade 24 Apr 2021

I think there are two things going on here. Style vs technique. There are a limited number of techniques and tools out there but it's how those techniques are applied that identify an artist's style (if that makes sense). Like Georges Seurat, I mainly work in dots. It is how those dots are expressed that identify style. As far as imitation, my inspiration came mainly from MC Escher in the early days. I love how he pushed the darks in his ink work. His work has many rigid edges but also has a soft effect. But does my work look anything like his? No. Because I create my own designs and have my own way of expressing the stippling technique. I think any good artist should have their own style, a reflection of what is going on inside of the artist. I have been accused in the past of copying the techniques of ancient Aboriginal dot art. Not only are my designs completely different from the Aboriginal "style" but people fail to realize that a man named Geoffrey Bardon taught the Aboriginals dot art in 1971! Not so ancient after all. Yes, we employ the same techniques but the outcome or style is very different. I am in a couple of Facebook portrait groups where some members have admitted that they cannot produce any artwork in their own particular style because they lack the basic skills of imagination and creativity. I'm referring to photorealistic work. They simply trace the outlines of photographs (someone else's artwork really) and proceed with their technique only. Don't get me wrong. Some are very, very skilled in these techniques and the end results are simply mind blowing! But... They lack any style of their own. I have also begun to notice that once these folks reach a certain highly skilled level in these techniques, the artwork produced all starts to look the same. You cannot tell who did what.

Vincent von Frese 25 Apr 2021

Rick Corbett ;

I am am replying late because I have no computer but a cell phone which barely gets online. As well the phone wants to spell my words it's own way, not mine. Researching your admired artists I noticed that they are hyper- realists. Portrait painters and drawers use photos in illustration as I do but looking back. I have found that live and eyeballed drawings have much more character. I have tried photo realism by detailed drawing and love it however only for animal illustration work. I try to compose using several or more photos to make it original and not a photo copy in fine art. Doing reptiles or birds however requires 100% accuracy.

I love your portraits! Your style is your energy in graphite work I see!

Vincent von Frese 25 Apr 2021

Fred Rosseau;

Looking at your painting with the piano next to the ocean brought to mind the hyper- surrealism of Salvatore Dali. The style Dali developed was the realism embedded into dreamlike scenes with lots of space. Another like this was Yves Tanguy. These artists inspired me after seeing their works in museums. As a rule I have developed my own direction which I have named "Hyper-illusionism".

I cannot provide a picture due to no computer but samples may be found in my art wanted portfolio.

Your wild work has emotional impact!

Fred Rousseau 25 Apr 2021

Dear Vincent.Thanks for your comments.I always appreciate.Yes,you have touched onto a very essential subject.I will still also answer my fuller view of any artist having his or her own style.This is a very safe place to dwell when you have your own style.Zero copyright infringements.Anyway,I am an artist and by way of general rules poor and battling with an old Apple that is even slower than myself,so....my answer will come.We all dream to be successful and wealthy but that only comes when you're dead.So,I am trying to change the rules and become wealthy before I have to depart to the happy hunting grounds....but it also means burning yhe midnight oil as I put a lot of planning and long hours of hard work into my art pieces.Meanwhile,stay well.Regards.

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