Week 31 // Making Art Everyday • Bardot Brush

Week Thirty-One

As a developing artist, finding “your style” is akin to finding the holy grail. For some, it’s the ultimate goal. It’s that special thing that sets you apart from the rest, that thing that makes you a recognizable artist. We work really hard to get there, but we honestly don’t really know what we’re looking for! I’d like for you to think about it this way: your style is what happens when you are NOT trying.

I think “your style” is the look that comes naturally once you’ve mastered your skill. It’s not a look that you have to work hard to achieve, it’s what emerges from you instinctively when you practice creativity. So if you’re still in the learning stage, or even if you’re much further ahead, don’t feel bad if you don’t know what “your style” is yet. You style will emerge even before YOU realize it does!

What to Do

Go back though all the drawings and illustrations you have made this year, and pick out the ones you love the most. Also try to identify which ones were the easiest for you to create (meaning you weren’t trying super hard to achieve a certain look). Once you get a collection of your work, start to identify any similarities you see, or techniques you use over and over, colors you use a lot, or visual styles.
Sometimes other people can see “your style” more readily than you can. It might be a good idea to show your work to someone and ask what they see!
Again, don’t feel bad if you can’t figure out “your style” yet. It takes a while! For one, you might not be there yet with your skill level. Second, you might have many styles! Versatility as an artist is a great thing! My advice is to try as many different visual styles as possible while you are learning – experimentation will pave the road to finding your style.

July Prompts

Buildings

It’s a new month and a new prompt theme! This month we are focusing on buildings and I think this one is going to be a lot of fun! Buildings are all about the little details. Here’s the approach I suggest: start with a basic shape (usually a rectangle, but sometime a triangle or rounded shape) and then add characteristic details to the shape. What makes that type of building unique? Try to communicate that with as few lines as possible.

For example, a log cabin might be a brown rectangle with a triangular roof shape, and then lots of horizontal lines to communicate the logs – you can even add ovals to the end of the lines to represent the ends of the logs. Add a door, a window, and a roof line. Then you can get into the fun details! Use a textured brush to add some wood grain, a brick chimney, and other little details! It can be whatever you want! How about some little plants in front or trees behind? Have fun and don’t overcomplicate it. I spent about 13 minutes on the drawing below.

Week 31 | July 29 - Aug 4

Dwellings

Mon: log cabin
Tue: adobe house
Wed: igloo
Thu: hut
Fri: castle
Sat: mobile home
Sun: apartment building

You can access each week’s prompts at makingarteveryday.com

Week 31 progress Tracker

Track your Making Art Everyday progress! See at-a-glance all you’ve accomplished, and reflect on the work you’ve done at the end of the week. Visit bardotbrush.com/progress to download the monthly tracker and weekly reflection sheet. There are also instructions about how to use them.

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