Hop on Board the Style Struggle-Bus

I think that one of the most prominent struggles in any artist's life is finding our style....our art identity, I suppose.

"Find your styyyllle."
"What's your styyyllle?"
"Style style styyyllle, style style style styyyyyllllle!"

As an art teacher to jr. high and high school students, I'm asked this question (or the discussion just kind of comes up) quite a bit.  After working through this and finally coming out the other side (not that I've "arrived" by any stretch of the imagination), I truly think the only way to find your "style" is by creating -- drawing, painting, cutting, pasting, sculpting, whatever.....

Create and create and then create some more!  Just enjoy it!  Do not try to fit yourself into someone else's mold, either, except for copying (for purpose of improving, not stealing, of course). 

Eventually, you will see it!  You will know what you like and don't like -- what tools you prefer, what colors, what-whatever you prefer!  Your art will have your unique quality. Even your lines will look a certain way.

Then, as you continue working, guess what? Your style will most likely change, at least a little, or maybe a lot, as you develop as an artist.  That's okay! That's normal! You don't have to find one style and always stick with it.  YOU ARE AN ARTIST. YOU CREATE. YOU GROW. YOU CHANGE.....

WAIT!? Doesn't that happen to all humans???  Oh yeah! I certainly hope so.

Ok, so go create something you'd like to create....something that brings you JOY!