Style Development: Some Insights!

Following my previous article about "My 3 Most Useful Conclusions after Years of Making Art" Today I wanted to write three practical tips about style development that I've learned over the years. Subscribe to unlock this!

Study and borrow selectively: Analyze artists you admire, identify specific elements you love (like line quality or color palettes), and incorporate them into your work. Example: If you like Hayao Miyazaki's soft, expressive faces, practice simplifying facial features while keeping emotional depth in your own characters. I did this for a while, inspired by most Ghibli movies.

I bought the storyboard books, checked the movies' behind-the-scenes features, and tried to develop a few projects that matched his vibe in order to understand by mimicking his style. I gotta say I learned plenty of things. Action is key for this step.

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Explore through thumbnails and variations: Always sketch multiple quick versions of a design before refining one. This helps explore ideas without commitment. Example: For a warrior character, thumbnail 10 different silhouettes, armor styles, and poses to discover what feels most unique and readable.

Many beginner artists don't explore outside what they think is their style, but style comes as a consequence of exploration. Think of this like collecting features through techniques and ideas. Don't limit your potential.

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Maintain a reference swipe file: Collect inspiring images, textures, and real-life photos in a dedicated folder or board. Use them as starting points, not copies. Example: Build a folder of vintage clothing photos to inform period-specific character outfits, mixing elements to create something original.

Think of this like an extension of exploration, but not through execution but through research. Some artists prefer to isolate from any kind of external influence. I think that's good to do once you are rich in knowledge to some extent, but if you are just starting, nourish your mind with information. Become an art consumer.

Let me know if these help you in some way. Happy holidays!, thank you so much for your support.

Let's enjoy today's art. Next Friday, I'll be sharing the process videos, files, and brushes.