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I know what experts will tell you: You need to stick to one distinctive art style, or people won’t remember you, or galleries won’t accept you. But…sometimes you just love to try something new, push some boundaries, test your abilities, and learn some new skills because you are a creative soul!

So let me share some thoughts of mine on this topic:

The great thing about exploring different styles is that it can help you become a more versatile artist. 

It can help you develop new techniques and skills you may not have otherwise discovered. 

I have always loved making refined, detailed paintings. Even if the concept is abstract. I still love to mix with lots of realism. But recently, I started to desire to make more loose and painterly art. My new paintings have more spontaneous brush strokes and bold colors. 

See the painting at the end of this post. 

Because I came from a traditional realism training background, this new style is challenging, but I am having so much fun!

This is the thing. If you have had some success with one style for a long time, sometimes it will become your box. You may experience burnout from doing the same thing over and over again. 

So to refresh your artistic soul and avoid burnout, why not challenge yourself,  step out of your comfort zone, and push yourself to explore new territory? Look at Picasso, he has explored vastly different styles in his art career, and that’s one thing that people admire and praise him the most! 

But of course, like anything in life, there are pros and cons to this approach. On the other hand, there are some potential downsides to exploring different styles. 

It can be time-consuming to master a new style, so if you’re constantly jumping between classes, you might not have enough time to develop your skills in any area. 

Or you will overwhelm yourself and end up losing your focus: If you constantly switch between styles, it can be challenging to find a cohesive style that defines your work, which can make it harder to build a recognizable brand and identity.

Also, exploring different styles may require investing in new painting materials. With the inflation level these days, it can end up being costly. 

So, all in all, if you feel that you haven’t found your authentic artistic voice, by all means, go ahead to explore.

Find you why: why do you want to make art in the first place? Most likely, you felt it in your blood, right? So nurture your inner artist child and let them freely adventure in the big wild art world. 

In the meantime, be mindful of the potential drawbacks and find a balance that works for you. 

The idea is to keep pushing yourself to try new things, at the same time, stay grounded in your own unique style and vision. After all, that’s what makes your art truly special!

Here is a good post about Picasso’s art career:https://www.parkwestgallery.com/pablo-picasso-artist-video/

You can also check out my post about finding your inner artist voice here: https://yingmclane.com/what-kind-of-artist-would-you-be/

And my style before and now:

Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you!

Cheering you on!

Ying