HOW TO GET YOUR OWN STYLE IN WATERCOLORS?

“If you want to be original, get ready to be copied”-Coco Chanel

Alvaro Castagnet, Joseph Zbukvic or Liu Yi

What is common or rather special about these watercolorists?

Why do you think they stand out in the crowd of hundreds or thousands of Watercolorists?

It’s because of one of the most obvious(but rare) fact that they possess their own distinctive style in the medium. 

There is probably a crowd trying to copy these artists in someway or the other. Some probably even getting a little success by that. But at the end of the day, its this quality of having a unique/signature style that differentiates between “Good’ & “Great”

Now, the question is “How do I get my own style?’’

Well, this is something that will happen subconsciously, so there is little you can do about it. But expand that “little” to cultivate some conscious habits and you will definitely gain a style of your own sooner than expected.

From what little knowledge or experience I have about Art or particularly watercolors, here are 7 things to do in your journey as an artist, which will eventually lead you to your goal of getting your signature style:

Observe, but don’t imitate:

With the easy access of the internet, I have recently seen lots of people signing up for online courses, reading books, following master artists on social media. Its a very good thing. We all should do it. But when you start imitating these artists, you are off track.

Any class/course or tips taken with an intention should not end up in imitation of the original thing. You should just observe a certain tip/technique just to know how a particular effect is achieved. Never imitate the exact process or else you will simply end up being lost in the crowd

Look for your own twist:

Whenever you paint something, try to give it your own taste. Forget about criticism. You are doing it for yourself. You are being “You” instead of being someone else. When you adopt this practice, over the years, your strokes will transform into something unique. Something yours.

Practice more often:

Practice is one big & long step in shaping your Art style. The more you practice, the  more you give yourself opportunities to experiment, be brave & improvise. You may cultivate the habit of keeping a travel journal with you. Just take it wherever you go. Paint whatever you see or feel. Do this for yourself. All art need not be displayed publicly. Let this sketchbook be your diary. This will definitely contribute in getting a style. 

Innovate:

Innovate, not just your art, but your way of being an artist. Discover your own palette of preferred colors, choose your own tools, make your own travel kit, etc. By doing this you will already be a step ahead in the game. The innovation will subconsciously be reflected in your work. And as the word “Innovation” signifies, it will definitely be new. Something fresh.

Forget Jack of all trades but definitely be a Master of one thing:

There is a saying-”If you run after two(in this case multiple) hares, you can catch neither”. So don’t go for all styles of the medium(atleast at a time). Instead, try sticking to one style that you have discovered or will discover & perfect it. Polish what you know & you have more chances of turning out to be special & unique.

Let your mistakes befriend you:

Mistakes are often a blessing in disguise. This is particularly true in the case of watercolors. I have experienced this myself & have seen so many artists achieve great results with the mistakes. But more importantly, these mistakes are what shapes you to get your own style. An error free painting experience is a myth.

Be open to the unconventional:

Be open to unconventional styles to achieve a result. Come out of your comfort zone. This will already help you to be different. And as I mentioned earlier, the same will be reflected in your work too. The more conservative mentality you adopt, the more boring your work will be & needless to say it will look “copied”.

These tips are indicative in nature & are just general guidelines to help you get started in your journey to getting your own style. But I am sure you will have your own cool ways of doing the same once you understand the importance of standing out in the crowd as far as Watercolor painting is concerned.

Please do comment below as to what are your ways to achieve the goal of getting your own style in Watercolors.