8 tips on how to find YOUR art style!

Are you stuck in a creative block? Have you been trying to find your OWN style that makes YOU unique??

Well I am here to help YOU find YOUR art style and what makes you want to keep creating and/or selling!!

I also have another article here about how to show you how I found my style! Not everyone takes the same path, and this article is for me to help guide you through ideas on finding your own way, or maybe you just need that spark again!

Before getting into things, please follow me on all my social media channels! I am always posting tutorials and what I am up to:

YouTube: @justartbyshelbs 

Facebook: Just Art By Shelbs

Instagram: @just.art.by.shelbs

TikTok: @justartbyshelbs

You can check out my etsy pages too, I have apparel items and patterns listed there if you would like to support my creative journey 🙂 

https://justartbyshelbs.etsy.com

https://justpatternsbyshelbs.etsy.com

You can check out what I have for sale on my website here!

Now, let’s jump into things!

1- Be curious, but don’t pressure yourself

There is nothing wrong with wanting to research everything! You want to find something that will genuinely spark interest, and want to keep going, NOT what you think you should be doing. Trends can give you ideas, but you should not just be chasing trend after trend.

Pay attention and take notes to what really intrigues you. Notice what feels fun, weird, beautiful, irresistible, etc.

Take those notes, and once you start to put your pieces together, THEN you can gear aspects of your art towards various trends.

For example, I have been sewing just because I love it. My first big seller was my wine bags! I started out marketing them as fun and useful gift bags, but now I have been leaning a lot more into the eco-friendly and sustainable aspects. Sustainability is a huge right now. I don’t feel right calling it a trend, but you know what I mean!

2- Make and explore first, refine later

It is okay to be messy and inconsistent at first, you’re just experimenting. Style will emerge with volume, just keep creating! Try creating anything that seems interesting! Once you have a bit of work accumulated, then take a look back over everything..

3- Notice the repeats

Does anything stand out to you? Do you notice any patterns?

Maybe you notice common color schemes, subjects, shapes, themes, textures, etc..

4- Let your personality show

Lean into those similarities you saw in the last part! Your style isn’t just visual, it is emotional too. Lean into your quirks, obsessions, fascinations, or maybe even your insecurities if that is what intrigues you.

Putting your personality into your work will make it feel alive and let people know that is it YOUR work when they see it.

5- Avoid the comparison trap..

STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS!

Yes, I know it’s tempting to measure your progress against other people you know or follow on social media. This is a marathon.. your comparing your short little progress, to someone who has been doing this for probably years longer than you!

They have already been through these steps and found their way! Use these people as inspiration, NOT competition.

6- Embrace the phases and evolution

Creativity and your creative style isn’t something set in stone, it continuously evolves. Lean into the evolution, and allow yourself to grow, shift, and reinvent yourself.

I love making everything I can, and I usually just give them as gifts.. If you would have told me even a couple years ago I would be running my own handmade business and people actually bought my stuff at markets, I would have laughed in your face!

I tried something new, and took a huge leap 2 years ago and did my first market. I was literally blown away by the number of people who wanted everything I made!

Now, here I am with my own website, blog, and online store to go along with my in-person markets!

7- Find a community and support system

You can’t get very far without support. Originally, I did start this blog and website as a secret. It’s not easy, but it worked for a while when I was getting started. The more I was leaning into my in-person sales, I need more of an online presence.

I am a part of a ton of Facebook Groups. I have posted in many of them, but I get a lot of information from all of them! Seeing other people ask questions I hadn’t even though of yet, has definitely helped me.

Most of those Facebook groups have nice people who are especially willing to help. We all had to start somewhere, and they remember that!

Recently, I have started my online store in addition to my Etsy account. I like having more control, and the ability to do local pickups.

My boyfriend is probably my biggest supporter! He is all about pushing me to do everything I am capable of, but he has also been a voice of reason every step of the way!

8- IT TAKES TIME

Creativity isn’t instant or overnight, it takes time!!

I am here after YEARS in the making. I have tried just about everything, trust me!!

I still know that I am not in my final place either, I know I am going to keep evolving. And I am ready for when those changes start happening.

Some crafts I have tried just did not end up being worth it, even though I did really enjoy them. That doesn’t mean I’ll never go back to it, it just means I have more time to embrace new ideas 🙂