ONE style?

[Lunatique]

Excellent topic!

This is a complicated one, because I do not believe all art directors are the same. I for one do keep in mind when an artist is well-versed in multiple styles, but they better be really good at ALL the styles they tackle, or else I'll only mark them as being good at particular styles and not others.

There are many aspects to consider in this topic:

1) Amount of work available (or competition) for each of the styles you tackle, and consideration for earning potential.

2) How good are you really at each style? Does one style you do stand out as being better than others you tackle?

3) How much self-promotion you're doing for each of the styles you tackle? For example, the avenues for self-promotion when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy illustration would be different from cartooning.

4) What you love the most (in the case where you end up having to pick one).

For myself, not only do I tackle different art styles (from anime, comic books, to realism), I also do music, writing/directing, and photography, and I tackle each of them passionately. So far art has paid off the most, but I really want the music and the writing/directing to catch up, because in many ways I enjoy them more than art, and it'll be up to me to create a demand for my music and writing/directing, just as I had created a demand for my art. Photography eventually became a personal thing and I stopped thinking about making a career out of it--this is due to having done some pro gigs and realized that big shoots are very demanding physically (as bad as shooting a feature film sometimes, but ultimately not as satisfying).

[NateOwens]

Excellent topic!

This is a complicated one, because I do not believe all art directors are the same. I for one do keep in mind when an artist is well-versed in multiple styles, but they better be really good at ALL the styles they tackle, or else I'll only mark them as being good at particular styles and not others.

There are many aspects to consider in this topic:

1) Amount of work available (or competition) for each of the styles you tackle, and consideration for earning potential.
There's always competition, and each person's vision of what they like or can use is different... a reason why I like to present choices. One of the most brilliant marketing men I ever met said "... fish with all your worms."

2) How good are you really at each style? Does one style you do stand out as being better than others you tackle?
My humor illustration has been the winner hands down for the best of the 40+ years I've been in the biz... also the most lucrative.

3) How much self-promotion you're doing for each of the styles you tackle? For example, the avenues for self-promotion when it comes to sci-fi/fantasy illustration would be different from cartooning.
This is my weak point... I promote, but I don't have a clue how to do it correctly. I mail cards... I have several for each style/method - humorous illustration - serious illustration - tech work (3d art of installations, etc.) I realize they are different avenues, but I kind of just fire off in the dark and hope for something to pop up - not much of a strategy.

4) What you love the most (in the case where you end up having to pick one).
Definately the humor. Based on results and the amount of emails and letters I've gotten over the years from people who have seen the greeting cards and other stuff (including a former cartoon editor of Playboy) - it is a popular subject and style. Marketing it is the major issue.

For myself, not only do I tackle different art styles (from anime, comic books, to realism), I also do music, writing/directing, and photography, and I tackle each of them passionately. So far art has paid off the most, but I really want the music and the writing/directing to catch up, because in many ways I enjoy them more than art, and it'll be up to me to create a demand for my music and writing/directing, just as I had created a demand for my art. Photography eventually became a personal thing and I stopped thinking about making a career out of it--this is due to having done some pro gigs and realized that big shoots are very demanding physically (as bad as shooting a feature film sometimes, but ultimately not as satisfying).
I fully understand and appreciate your passion for different avenues. I do photography on occasion (shooting for the local ballet company in a bit). Apparently with your clientele, you have had success in your marketing efforts for your illustration.

Thanks for you kind and very thoughtful reply.
It is encouraging to know that I'm not the only multi-tasking artist around.

[Archeus]

Greetings, new member here. I knew I had a bag full of discussion as soon as I saw the title for this thread. :)

One thing I've always debated over while growing up was "I need to find my own style", it was the one thing driving me towards becoming a better artist, or so I thought at the time. I looked at other people's works and I saw a defining line between their work and anything I've seen before. And then I would judge people (in my own mind) when I would see their style resemble a lot of other styles I have seen before.

But of course, later on you learn to accept a lot of things. One of them being "everything has already been done", the other being that you can't force a style on yourself without having repercussions. So it goes without saying that if I see a style resemble something, it does not necessarily mean they are copying them, but rather that's how their art style has developed or been influenced.

But I have been confused for a long time, especially the time I spent after high school. That entire "what am I going to do with my life" part of my life was 3 years length and sketch less. A lot of time wasted.

Then in college I met several professors, who's idea of style vary greatly and the one that striked me the most odd was the one who said "you don't need a style", to which I responded "but that's impossible, you have to have a style-a defining identity for the art you create." Then he went to explain that you can draw in any style you want, but you should not settle down with one style at all.

All in all, you've all heard this before, it's okay to have one identifying style that you choose, cartoon, comic, manga, cg, realistic, fantasy, humourous, serious, but never settling with just being able to do ONE of those.

So what I've learned so far in my experiences is that diversifying increases your overall skill and influences the art that will help identify you. So no matter what style you do, it will always be yours.

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