Answer some questions about yourself as a person.

This exercise is actually a tool for branding and marketing teams that work for companies. But it works pretty well for describing you as a person and a professional. The questions are: Who am I? What do I do or what do I want to do? For whom? How do I do it? Answering them might be really insightful because for certain you’ll see the connection between your art and your answers and life experiences.

For example, I’m a woman, a mother, a feminist and an immigrant from one of the most hated countries in the world. I used to be the main caregiver of a demented person. I was raised as a nice and obedient girl but fortunately I’m not like that anymore. I’m an artist but I had a long career in journalism. 

I paint watercolors and I teach others. My goal is to contribute to the world where being an artist is a well paid and respectful job, especially for female artists. I’m doing my job for like-minded people who share my values and want to create something beautiful and meaningful. How do I do it? I participate in creative communities (some of them are female-only) and give practical advice and encourage other artists. I work with my students individually or in small groups to help them find their own path quicker. I price my job adequately because damping ruins the art market and reduces opportunities for all artists.

How does it all affect my art? I focus on creating and saving memories with my watercolors. I paint women and children a lot, I reflect on my immigration background and discover my new home, Berlin, through painting. I use my experience in journalism to tell stories with my art. It all leads me to using particular color schemes and approaches. Who I am makes my art really mine.

Ask yourself, what do you do easily?

Your style depends not only on your preferences and cultural baggage but it also depends on what is easier for you to paint (I picked up this idea from Lena Sen, she is an amazing artist with the skill of turning simple objects into magical and poetic).

For example I have a huge number of watercolors with lighthouses because I do them easily, almost automatically. This idea leads to another point: the more you practice, the more happy coincidences in your art become a system and an approach for your new works. That’s how your unique style is forming.

Embrace your imperfections

I beg you to be kind to yourselves and not to aim for perfection. Sometimes the imperfections in your work are what make it uniquely yours. And more than that, they make artwork a breathing living creature. Have you seen perfect faces with tons of makeup on them that look like masks? Would you prefer them to faces with wrinkles and freckles? 

Diverse your inspiration sources

You can draw inspiration from various sources: nature, music, literature, theatre, travels. Combining different influences can contribute to a unique fusion of styles. Recently I’ve watched a BBC documentary about David Bowie and he tells about his method in it: “I wanted to make a mark and I didn’t quite know how to do it. And it took me all the ‘60s to try everything I could think of in terms of theatre and art and music to find out what exactly it was I wanted to do anyway”. 

You don’t have to stick to a particular style forever

Another thing you can pick up from David Bowie (or from Pablo Picasso) is that you can change your style whenever you want. You are totally allowed to change your preferences in mediums, you can switch from realism to abstract art. Your style may evolve as you gain new skills and perspectives throughout your artistic journey.