When someone, perhaps a stranger, stops by to look at the art created by an artist and says "that has to be so and so's work", then I think a style has been established. Even as that style shifts and changes, there is still a recognizable "something". I don't know about know about anyone else, but I find that exhilarating. Gives confidence to keep on keeping on.
What popped on to my mind was "through line". There's that something that feels so familiar even when you change mediums and play with new concepts. I love that Lane Smith says his style is in using texture. His artwork can be very different from one project to the next and yet, you see it and think, that looks like Lane Smith.
I love how you've approached the subject of style! It is so true that as I've looked internally rather than externally, my art gets better -- not better in terms of being like the best art in the world but better as in MORE ME. And my favorite stories are always the ones that feel so uniquely the creator.
Also as a long time fan of your newsletter, I just wanted to say that it has been fun to witness you explore your newsletter/writing voice -- I'm LOVING the humor and the visual language! Your posts have always been full of gold and so fun to read -- I just also want to acknowledge that every post feels even more YOU (which is very fitting for a post on being yourself)
Thank you, Rachel 💪 - I think that’s true and I’m glad it’s getting better. I feel more at ease which is awesome. I really enjoy sharing and finding some community round substack. Lots of hidden gifts I didn’t know I needed.
The comment section for this is like 5 ideas for more writing on style 😂
That's a really good way to put it, Rachel. As the more you write, the more YOU are revealed. Good reminder for being here, and to keep going with all our newsletters as such a great way to become better writers as well as you become comfy with your writer voice..
💯 true and one of hopes I had starting out. It absolutely mirrors the process of finding yourself in illustration. “Just get better” applies to newsletterin’ too I guess!
Ooh, I love that — being revealed! And yes, it can be difficult and even scary sometimes to post. But it shows that even if not a single person reads it, it could still be worthwhile for the practice and that revealing of you.
Oooh good series! I've come to hate the word "style". Maybe it's because it's one of the main questions I hear/get. And I want to scream, "JUST MAKE WORK! YOU'LL FIND IT!" and "DON'T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO KEEP CHANGING ANYWAY." I've become somewhat jaded and also hypocritical because I do like how my *style* is developing right now. haha
Ooh a juicy topic Jacob and I can feel your enthusiasm for it, I think finding the joy is absolutely key ( and the bad drawings on the way) great stuff - looking forward to the next instalment ☺️
I am constantly unsure if i have a style. But I must. We all must - right? And anyway, its like you said: Just. Get. Better. Style comes out of that, I think. Great post, as always!
I think we do all have one naturally and the making of things and practice kind of pull us towards a more clear version of that over time. Unintentionally or intentionally… I don’t think there’s a right or wrong. And just get better 💯💪
This is so well put, thank you Jacob. I’ve been ‘finding my style’ for five years and every time I try something new hoping this will be the lightbulb moment, I make a new folder on my Mac. I have 11 folders now! This did make me depressed but recently I’ve got to thinking that they show my journey, with each folder I’m getting nearer to working out what I want to say and how I want to say it. I’m enjoying the self discovery.
Thanks, I'm glad it helped. I think the folder idea is brilliant and an absolutely great way to see your journey. I keep thinking of this process as our style or true artistic self kind of trapped in ice (this is an imperfect analogy, but bear with me!) and we are chiseling and melting chunks off as we go. It's imperfect in that I don't there needs to be a moment where we're done?! lol.
It really is a thorny topic! The self discovery part is so important and my hot take is the less time we spend scrolling, the more we get into that self discovery. I look forward to reading more, because you do have such a delightful, unique style and we can all learn from your experience developing it. Thank you for sharing, Jacob!
Thank you, Beth! You put that perfectly and are really good at helping cultivate and push that self discovery. I love that you spark joy for ppl in that process. It’s a a bumpy thing!
I kind of find creating a ‘style’ as choosing a path and sticking to it , refining it , practicing all the time and I think it’s paying off , I’m feeling confident in how I draw and being able to transfer what’s in my head onto paper :)
Absolutely. I think it’s a combo of things that start to get the ball rolling towards a style. I think it’s best to be cognizant of it developing but to just kind of follow your muse as you do the work.
Love this series, Jacob! I've added this first post of your series to my own post for beginners about how to find one's illustration style, in the Resources section.
I am on a self-discovery journey and I believe that making mistakes and creating imperfect things is the best way to learn and improve just make ugly stuff 💯 thank you for sharing Jacob
This kind of discussion is really helpful for me. I agree that personal style just comes out of making the work. Getting caught up in "finding a style" is beside the point, BUT at the same time, I truly do want the eyeballs on my work to see something unique to me. I've been told to forget about style completely and just make work that I like. However, if there's not some form of consistency there, I'll never be able to be that voice your agent references, " a voice so strong that it’s immediately recognizable as belonging to the creator"...
Thanks! I’m really really pleased to see so many well thought out comments - yours included. I think you’ll enjoy part 2 as I hit on some of the things you bring up. I think it’s doing the work and then paying close attention to the bits that really feel special and asking why. Experimenting and playing to see if you can make more of your work feel like that special bit, on repeat. 🔁 I think it’s like doing the work but with intention to figure out the parts that really get you excited and to make it more repeatable.
I had a longer comment but I realized I was just working out some thoughts and reflections and started over. Such a thought-provoking topic! I can’t wait for more!
I agree with the continuous learning, and I think it happens in two phases.
1. Exploration and growth
2. Exploitation
Repeat.
In business, when you hit upon a sweet spot it makes sense to focus on growing that. I think it’s a skill to repeat what works for a season, before going to the next phase of growth.
Imagine if instead of making a new iPhone every year Apple tried to create a new product instead.
Personally, after spending 4 years having a growth spurt, I’m less focused on artistic growth as I am on delivering and exploiting the style I have.
Knowing there will be a season of creative growth around the corner.
For me, that is 100% the cycle but it turns over rather quickly. I'm constantly doing both.
I don't see my style as a product, like an iPhone. I see it as an ever-evolving process where I get the opportunity to apply it to a product (a book!) when the opportunity arises. Every book is different and if I'm growing and getting better at realizing my style in between projects, the job will feel fresh and new and hopefully better than it would have if it fell to me a year prior.
I hope that all makes sense! You know I have a hard time saying my way is the right way lol - your mileage may vary!
When someone, perhaps a stranger, stops by to look at the art created by an artist and says "that has to be so and so's work", then I think a style has been established. Even as that style shifts and changes, there is still a recognizable "something". I don't know about know about anyone else, but I find that exhilarating. Gives confidence to keep on keeping on.
What popped on to my mind was "through line". There's that something that feels so familiar even when you change mediums and play with new concepts. I love that Lane Smith says his style is in using texture. His artwork can be very different from one project to the next and yet, you see it and think, that looks like Lane Smith.
Love this. And it’s absolutely true, even when mediums change. Great points.
MAKE UGLY STUFF!!!!
is my new battle cry, t-shirt, and country's flag.
Gracias for it, Jacob ❤️
I love how you've approached the subject of style! It is so true that as I've looked internally rather than externally, my art gets better -- not better in terms of being like the best art in the world but better as in MORE ME. And my favorite stories are always the ones that feel so uniquely the creator.
Also as a long time fan of your newsletter, I just wanted to say that it has been fun to witness you explore your newsletter/writing voice -- I'm LOVING the humor and the visual language! Your posts have always been full of gold and so fun to read -- I just also want to acknowledge that every post feels even more YOU (which is very fitting for a post on being yourself)
Thank you, Rachel 💪 - I think that’s true and I’m glad it’s getting better. I feel more at ease which is awesome. I really enjoy sharing and finding some community round substack. Lots of hidden gifts I didn’t know I needed.
The comment section for this is like 5 ideas for more writing on style 😂
I feel the same way about the substack community! Such a gift — and even a source of ideas.
That's a really good way to put it, Rachel. As the more you write, the more YOU are revealed. Good reminder for being here, and to keep going with all our newsletters as such a great way to become better writers as well as you become comfy with your writer voice..
💯 true and one of hopes I had starting out. It absolutely mirrors the process of finding yourself in illustration. “Just get better” applies to newsletterin’ too I guess!
Ooh, I love that — being revealed! And yes, it can be difficult and even scary sometimes to post. But it shows that even if not a single person reads it, it could still be worthwhile for the practice and that revealing of you.
‘More me’
is the secret sauce!
Oooh good series! I've come to hate the word "style". Maybe it's because it's one of the main questions I hear/get. And I want to scream, "JUST MAKE WORK! YOU'LL FIND IT!" and "DON'T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT IT, IT'S GOING TO KEEP CHANGING ANYWAY." I've become somewhat jaded and also hypocritical because I do like how my *style* is developing right now. haha
It's a good topic to get into!
Ha! Absolutely 💯… I’ll hit on some of those same themes next week. 💪😉
Ooh a juicy topic Jacob and I can feel your enthusiasm for it, I think finding the joy is absolutely key ( and the bad drawings on the way) great stuff - looking forward to the next instalment ☺️
Thanks, Sam! I’m excited. 😈
I am constantly unsure if i have a style. But I must. We all must - right? And anyway, its like you said: Just. Get. Better. Style comes out of that, I think. Great post, as always!
I think we do all have one naturally and the making of things and practice kind of pull us towards a more clear version of that over time. Unintentionally or intentionally… I don’t think there’s a right or wrong. And just get better 💯💪
This is so well put, thank you Jacob. I’ve been ‘finding my style’ for five years and every time I try something new hoping this will be the lightbulb moment, I make a new folder on my Mac. I have 11 folders now! This did make me depressed but recently I’ve got to thinking that they show my journey, with each folder I’m getting nearer to working out what I want to say and how I want to say it. I’m enjoying the self discovery.
Thanks, I'm glad it helped. I think the folder idea is brilliant and an absolutely great way to see your journey. I keep thinking of this process as our style or true artistic self kind of trapped in ice (this is an imperfect analogy, but bear with me!) and we are chiseling and melting chunks off as we go. It's imperfect in that I don't there needs to be a moment where we're done?! lol.
It’s a great analogy! And surely we should never be done otherwise we’d die as artists. Always need to be learning and growing.
It really is a thorny topic! The self discovery part is so important and my hot take is the less time we spend scrolling, the more we get into that self discovery. I look forward to reading more, because you do have such a delightful, unique style and we can all learn from your experience developing it. Thank you for sharing, Jacob!
Thank you, Beth! You put that perfectly and are really good at helping cultivate and push that self discovery. I love that you spark joy for ppl in that process. It’s a a bumpy thing!
Your paragraph makes perfect sense, by the way! 😁
Ha! Thanks! Momentary moment of doubt caught in real time 😂
I stumbled on something recently I enjoy doing very much in my art making. I decided to lean in; let’s see where it takes me.
Great post!
Yes! That's what I'm talking about. It's like a breadcrumb of sorts. Rooting you on!
Really enjoyed reading this .
I kind of find creating a ‘style’ as choosing a path and sticking to it , refining it , practicing all the time and I think it’s paying off , I’m feeling confident in how I draw and being able to transfer what’s in my head onto paper :)
Absolutely. I think it’s a combo of things that start to get the ball rolling towards a style. I think it’s best to be cognizant of it developing but to just kind of follow your muse as you do the work.
Love this series, Jacob! I've added this first post of your series to my own post for beginners about how to find one's illustration style, in the Resources section.
Thanks! It’s a really well done resource. I’ll be returning the favor 💯
I am on a self-discovery journey and I believe that making mistakes and creating imperfect things is the best way to learn and improve just make ugly stuff 💯 thank you for sharing Jacob
Absolutely! I think it’s the best way to grow.
This kind of discussion is really helpful for me. I agree that personal style just comes out of making the work. Getting caught up in "finding a style" is beside the point, BUT at the same time, I truly do want the eyeballs on my work to see something unique to me. I've been told to forget about style completely and just make work that I like. However, if there's not some form of consistency there, I'll never be able to be that voice your agent references, " a voice so strong that it’s immediately recognizable as belonging to the creator"...
Thanks! I’m really really pleased to see so many well thought out comments - yours included. I think you’ll enjoy part 2 as I hit on some of the things you bring up. I think it’s doing the work and then paying close attention to the bits that really feel special and asking why. Experimenting and playing to see if you can make more of your work feel like that special bit, on repeat. 🔁 I think it’s like doing the work but with intention to figure out the parts that really get you excited and to make it more repeatable.
I had a longer comment but I realized I was just working out some thoughts and reflections and started over. Such a thought-provoking topic! I can’t wait for more!
Ha! That’s exactly what writing about this felt like to me… fun to think about.
I agree with the continuous learning, and I think it happens in two phases.
1. Exploration and growth
2. Exploitation
Repeat.
In business, when you hit upon a sweet spot it makes sense to focus on growing that. I think it’s a skill to repeat what works for a season, before going to the next phase of growth.
Imagine if instead of making a new iPhone every year Apple tried to create a new product instead.
Personally, after spending 4 years having a growth spurt, I’m less focused on artistic growth as I am on delivering and exploiting the style I have.
Knowing there will be a season of creative growth around the corner.
For me, that is 100% the cycle but it turns over rather quickly. I'm constantly doing both.
I don't see my style as a product, like an iPhone. I see it as an ever-evolving process where I get the opportunity to apply it to a product (a book!) when the opportunity arises. Every book is different and if I'm growing and getting better at realizing my style in between projects, the job will feel fresh and new and hopefully better than it would have if it fell to me a year prior.
I hope that all makes sense! You know I have a hard time saying my way is the right way lol - your mileage may vary!
Excellent advice! Been there myself. Bravo!