When you’re just starting out, it can be hard to figure out your own art style or even what that means. Many artists, however, have been in the same position before and have gone on to define their own art style in order to stand out and develop their own voice as an artist, which in turn helps distinguish you from your competitors and allows you to more easily connect with your audience.

Finding the right style may require a bit of artistic research on your part, as well as some artistic inspiration in the form of starting points and examples of what you like and don’t like about other artists’ styles.

But how do you develop this style? What makes up an art style in the first place? In this article, we’ll discuss 5 aspects of artistic research that will help you develop an authentic, unique art style that stands out from the crowd.

An artistic style (or signature style) is a distinct type of visual art that reflects certain techniques, forms, meanings, and/or ideas. Artistic styles are associated with cultures and inspired by historicism, such as Renaissance, Rococo, or Romanticism. They often have characteristics in common with other artistic movements. A style may include modes (as in the mode of expression), objects (materials used), and techniques (how something is done). These elements are sometimes used to classify types of art into genres.

Your first step to defining your art style is to identify and study your main subject matter. We’re not suggesting you become an expert in all things artistic—even Monet was only a master of one medium (paint). However, it helps if you hone in on a subject that interests you and focus on getting better at it, which makes it easier to develop your voice. This will come with practice and careful observation of trends.

The first step to defining your own art style is by studying the work of artists you admire. You’ll quickly see what they’re doing and why it works. Here are some suggestions: look at the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh; how does each artist use his or her artistic skills in his or her work? What about these artists interests you, draws you in and makes them stand out from other artists who have come before them?

Keep a journal with your thoughts about these questions as well as any ideas that come to mind when looking at other artwork. If there's a particular technique or approach that really stands out for you, write down everything about it—the colours used, brush strokes, materials used—anything that might help give inspiration for your own artistic pursuits.

You may have a basic understanding of what you want to draw or paint, but that won’t help you stand out from other artists. By experimenting with new techniques and mediums, you’ll develop your artistic research – and make sure it’s not simply a carbon copy of others in your field. Finding a unique artistic voice is incredibly important if you want to create high-quality work.

This is easier said than done, but it's important to understand your artistic preferences, strengths, and weaknesses before you choose a style that may be an exaggeration of one or more of those attributes. Understanding yourself as an artist is key to standing out from your peers—but without turning your back on what makes you unique. One way to stay true to yourself and simultaneously stand out from other creators is through artistic research: try out a number of mediums, techniques and styles until you've found one (or several) that reflect who you are in both content and form.

If you are feeling stuck, take a break and go back to examine the basics: revise colour theory, study lines, shapes, texture and space. Use artistic research to answer questions that excite you most about your art, such as: how do I apply my artistic interest to a larger audience? How do I take my painting from personal to professional status in order to start selling it or showing it professionally? How do I integrate all aspects of who I am into my work without losing myself in all of it?

You can attend art workshops to gain a refreshing perspective on your work and debate with other peers or seek advice from art professionals. At Image Curators, we can help you achieve clarity in their artistic research and guide them towards discovering their true artistic signature style.

Start working towards finding your unique art style now by checking out our 2 Month Starter Plan today!