Donald Diddams
The Art of Digital Art
On Developing a “Signature Style”
There has been an interesting debate recently on Sue Favinger Smith’s “Ancient Artist” blog about the importance of developing a signature style. Martin Stankewitz has weighed in with his own contrasting opinion in his Squidoo Lens on the subject.
Rechargeable Sponge - 2008
This has been an issue for me. I often venture off in different directions. While I could force myself to stay within a certain “box” for commercial purposes, I know that box could also become a prison (as Martin suggests).
On the other hand, an identifiable “style” is a likely outcome of the daily discipline of working on one’s art. In time, a style should develop and become apparent on its own. It will not need to be forced. Having a recognizable style may be a mark of maturity and accomplishment as an artist — assuming the artist allows that style to gradually evolve over time.
Style as a mark of maturity and accomplishment may also be one reason the galleries and marketing gurus encourage anyone who wants to advance commercially in the art world to find a style and stick with it. A “signature style” provides the appearance (although not necessarily the reality) of maturity and accomplishment. As a result, some may feel pressured to lock into a style for commercial purposes, perhaps before a genuine personal style has emerged on its own.
In the end, this is one more facet of the age-old tension between art for art’s sake, and monetary and public success. I know few people who have no need for the money or the sense of approval and respect for our work that an occasional sale can provide. Each must resolve the tension between commercial success and artistic freedom in their own way. I will be interested to see how I resolve it for myself.
Donald Diddams 
yes, I think you’ve said it perfectly! Thanks.
Finding the balance – the conundrum of every artist. It’s been said to writers to write what you know.
Maybe artists portray what they feel.
I say, work to please yourself and your audience will appear. Because no matter what you do, you’ll have critics, followers, detractors, and patrons.
Congratulations on starting your blog.
Say goodbye to spare time.
Sue- And thank you for stimulating my first post!
Bonnie- I like “work to please yourself.” Otherwise it really does become work, and then what’s the point?
Don
Aha! The masthead has been launched and you’re on your way.
Have fun and yes, you’re right- if it becomes work, well, you’ve enough of that.
If you scroll to the bottom of your ‘write’ post on wordpress it says simply: You are the author of this blog.
So do whatever you want to. It’s your blog and you can do what you want.