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How do I prevent all of my artwork from looking the same?
I am a traditional artist with a cartoony take on the anime style. I mainly use graphite pencils.
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James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Leila,
Taking Steps to Diversify Your Artwork
As a cartoon-inspired anime artist who mainly uses graphite pencils, here are some effective strategies to ensure your artwork doesn't all look alike:
1. Try Out Various Techniques and Mediums: Diversifying your artwork can be as simple as experimenting with different techniques and mediums. While graphite pencils are your go-to, think about using other mediums like colored pencils, markers, ink, watercolors, or even digital tools. Each medium has its own unique properties that can bring a new dimension to your artwork.
2. Delve into Different Subjects and Themes: To steer clear of repetitive artwork, delve into varied subjects and themes. Push yourself to draw a broad spectrum of subjects, not just anime-style characters. Attempt landscapes, still life, animals, or even abstract ideas. This variety can help you build a more diverse portfolio and keep your artwork from becoming dull.
3. Learn from Other Artists and Styles: By studying the works of other artists and exploring diverse art styles, you can gather fresh ideas and approaches for your own work. Immersing yourself in a range of artistic influences allows you to blend elements from various styles into your artwork, resulting in a unique fusion that distinguishes your pieces.
4. Participate in Workshops and Classes: Joining workshops, classes, or art courses can equip you with new techniques, viewpoints, and challenges that can help you break free from artistic stagnation. Gaining knowledge from seasoned artists and interacting with a community of fellow creatives can offer fresh perspectives and inspire you to stretch your creative limits.
5. Welcome Feedback and Critique: By sharing your work and welcoming constructive feedback, you can spot patterns or habits that may be making your artwork look similar. Constructive input from colleagues or mentors can direct you towards areas for enhancement and spur you to try new approaches.
6. Maintain an Idea Sketchbook: Keeping a sketchbook for noting down ideas, sketches, and experiments can be an invaluable tool in keeping your creativity alive. Use this sketchbook to explore new ideas, practice diverse techniques, and seize inspiration when it hits.
By integrating these strategies into your artistic routine, you can ensure your artwork doesn't all look alike while continuing to evolve and polish your distinctive style as a traditional artist with a cartoon-inspired take on the anime genre.
Top 3 Reliable Sources Used:
The Art Career Project: This source offers valuable insights into a range of art-related topics, including advice for artists aiming to diversify their style and portfolio.
Artists Network: Artists Network provides resources for artists of all abilities, covering subjects like artistic growth, creative inspiration, and techniques for broadening one’s artistic range.
Art Prof: Art Prof is a web platform set up by art educators that provides tutorials, critiques, and resources aimed at assisting artists to expand and evolve their artistic practice through experimentation and exploration of new techniques and styles.
Stay Blessed!
James Constantine Frangos.
Taking Steps to Diversify Your Artwork
As a cartoon-inspired anime artist who mainly uses graphite pencils, here are some effective strategies to ensure your artwork doesn't all look alike:
1. Try Out Various Techniques and Mediums: Diversifying your artwork can be as simple as experimenting with different techniques and mediums. While graphite pencils are your go-to, think about using other mediums like colored pencils, markers, ink, watercolors, or even digital tools. Each medium has its own unique properties that can bring a new dimension to your artwork.
2. Delve into Different Subjects and Themes: To steer clear of repetitive artwork, delve into varied subjects and themes. Push yourself to draw a broad spectrum of subjects, not just anime-style characters. Attempt landscapes, still life, animals, or even abstract ideas. This variety can help you build a more diverse portfolio and keep your artwork from becoming dull.
3. Learn from Other Artists and Styles: By studying the works of other artists and exploring diverse art styles, you can gather fresh ideas and approaches for your own work. Immersing yourself in a range of artistic influences allows you to blend elements from various styles into your artwork, resulting in a unique fusion that distinguishes your pieces.
4. Participate in Workshops and Classes: Joining workshops, classes, or art courses can equip you with new techniques, viewpoints, and challenges that can help you break free from artistic stagnation. Gaining knowledge from seasoned artists and interacting with a community of fellow creatives can offer fresh perspectives and inspire you to stretch your creative limits.
5. Welcome Feedback and Critique: By sharing your work and welcoming constructive feedback, you can spot patterns or habits that may be making your artwork look similar. Constructive input from colleagues or mentors can direct you towards areas for enhancement and spur you to try new approaches.
6. Maintain an Idea Sketchbook: Keeping a sketchbook for noting down ideas, sketches, and experiments can be an invaluable tool in keeping your creativity alive. Use this sketchbook to explore new ideas, practice diverse techniques, and seize inspiration when it hits.
By integrating these strategies into your artistic routine, you can ensure your artwork doesn't all look alike while continuing to evolve and polish your distinctive style as a traditional artist with a cartoon-inspired take on the anime genre.
Top 3 Reliable Sources Used:
The Art Career Project: This source offers valuable insights into a range of art-related topics, including advice for artists aiming to diversify their style and portfolio.
Artists Network: Artists Network provides resources for artists of all abilities, covering subjects like artistic growth, creative inspiration, and techniques for broadening one’s artistic range.
Art Prof: Art Prof is a web platform set up by art educators that provides tutorials, critiques, and resources aimed at assisting artists to expand and evolve their artistic practice through experimentation and exploration of new techniques and styles.
Stay Blessed!
James Constantine Frangos.
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
hello leila,
before I answer your question, it is important to note that as an artist you will inevitably have an art style. this isn't a bad thing, Matt groening created the simpsons, futurama, and disenchantment and all the shows have recognizable similarities in designs. this doesn't mean its bad, it just allows people to recognize that "You drew this image" as opposed to another artist.
if it's regarding artworks repeating in design and setup or characters/people you draw looking too similar to one another here's some good tips to help. first it is important to draw as many thumbnails before you start your actual drawing. experiment with angles, viewpoints, perspective and placement in small scale sketches. this will help find interesting ways to set up a drawing and stop it from feeling the same from a previous one (and remember even if you are set on a particular idea for framing a drawing, you should still explore multiple ideas for set up because your first idea may not always be your best). Second, get out of your comfort zone. if you have a tendency to draw characters with specific features/traits or set up drawings a certain way, try doing the opposite (ex: if you notice you often draw characters with long, straight hair try drawing some with short, curly hair or buzzed cut. or if you often draw works from a head on perspective, try drawing it from up above or different angles). sure, the first few attempts may not be perfect but the more you try the more you will improve.
before I answer your question, it is important to note that as an artist you will inevitably have an art style. this isn't a bad thing, Matt groening created the simpsons, futurama, and disenchantment and all the shows have recognizable similarities in designs. this doesn't mean its bad, it just allows people to recognize that "You drew this image" as opposed to another artist.
if it's regarding artworks repeating in design and setup or characters/people you draw looking too similar to one another here's some good tips to help. first it is important to draw as many thumbnails before you start your actual drawing. experiment with angles, viewpoints, perspective and placement in small scale sketches. this will help find interesting ways to set up a drawing and stop it from feeling the same from a previous one (and remember even if you are set on a particular idea for framing a drawing, you should still explore multiple ideas for set up because your first idea may not always be your best). Second, get out of your comfort zone. if you have a tendency to draw characters with specific features/traits or set up drawings a certain way, try doing the opposite (ex: if you notice you often draw characters with long, straight hair try drawing some with short, curly hair or buzzed cut. or if you often draw works from a head on perspective, try drawing it from up above or different angles). sure, the first few attempts may not be perfect but the more you try the more you will improve.
Updated
Julie’s Answer
Leila, it's fantastic that you're eager to challenge yourself. Here's a practical way to get started: Visit a nearby bookstore and explore the award-winning books from the Society of Illustrators at https://societyillustrators.org/. You'll discover a wide variety of styles and mediums that could spark your creativity. Experiment with these different approaches and find out which ones resonate with you and inspire your work based on the mediums you prefer.
Enjoy this exciting journey!
Enjoy this exciting journey!
Updated
Laura’s Answer
Hello Leila,
What a great question! In my observation of artists who have spoken about either dealing with this/having this as their fear the best way not to have your art look all the same is to try experimenting with other styles and drawing different things. For example, you said your art style is a cartoony take on anime, perhaps researching and experimenting with other styles could be the first step. There is realism, pop art, geometric, graffiti, still life, etc. You can even take a couple of styles and mesh them like you have with cartoons and anime.
Another part that might help you is if you try drawing different things. For example, an artist I follow on YouTube loves to draw people, but after a bit, she got a little tired of it and stopped for a bit. If you continually draw people, animals, etc. it will get repetitive, and there will be a point where all your art will look the same. Research some other things that you would like to attempt to draw could help with your dilemma.
I hope this helps you/inspires you to venture out of your creative comfort zone; happy creating!
-Laura Mills
What a great question! In my observation of artists who have spoken about either dealing with this/having this as their fear the best way not to have your art look all the same is to try experimenting with other styles and drawing different things. For example, you said your art style is a cartoony take on anime, perhaps researching and experimenting with other styles could be the first step. There is realism, pop art, geometric, graffiti, still life, etc. You can even take a couple of styles and mesh them like you have with cartoons and anime.
Another part that might help you is if you try drawing different things. For example, an artist I follow on YouTube loves to draw people, but after a bit, she got a little tired of it and stopped for a bit. If you continually draw people, animals, etc. it will get repetitive, and there will be a point where all your art will look the same. Research some other things that you would like to attempt to draw could help with your dilemma.
I hope this helps you/inspires you to venture out of your creative comfort zone; happy creating!
-Laura Mills
Updated
Filip’s Answer
When you pose this question, you're preparing to set sail on a voyage towards expertise. Many of your contemporaries may not opt for this route.
Consider exploring the works of other experts, learn from them, emulate, and utilize what you've learned to generate fresh content. You'll encounter a plethora of impressive styles even within the realm of graphic novels. If your proficiency lies solely in Manga, broaden your horizons by examining works produced by Marvel's comics, DC, and a host of graphic novels from Europe. Initially, focus on those that appeal to you, and over time, challenge yourself by delving into those you're yet to appreciate.
Venture out, step out of your comfort zone. When you EXPERIENCE new and unique information, you'll feel a surge of inspiration to document and express them using your skills. For instance, if you're visiting a temple for the first time, capture its essence by sketching it through your perspective.
Stay curious, be daring, both in life and in your art, and it will reflect. Embark on your journey, future maestro Leila.
Consider exploring the works of other experts, learn from them, emulate, and utilize what you've learned to generate fresh content. You'll encounter a plethora of impressive styles even within the realm of graphic novels. If your proficiency lies solely in Manga, broaden your horizons by examining works produced by Marvel's comics, DC, and a host of graphic novels from Europe. Initially, focus on those that appeal to you, and over time, challenge yourself by delving into those you're yet to appreciate.
Venture out, step out of your comfort zone. When you EXPERIENCE new and unique information, you'll feel a surge of inspiration to document and express them using your skills. For instance, if you're visiting a temple for the first time, capture its essence by sketching it through your perspective.
Stay curious, be daring, both in life and in your art, and it will reflect. Embark on your journey, future maestro Leila.
Updated
Warren’s Answer
It seems like you're catching on to the possibility that Anime is very juvenile. A lot of young people draw anime as their mode for doing art, and the truth is that it is very limiting to your artistic development because success is pretty much guaranteed if you have any innate drawing skill. You have to go in search of other ideas, and the best place I think a person in your position could go would be to any of the numerous colleges in Atlanta. Most have exhibition spaces you can visit where people just a little older than you are experimenting with new ideas. Art museums are great, but if you're doing Anime stuff right now, it's a little unrealistic to think you'll really grasp what some of the museum grade artists are doing. Graphite is a wonderful medium, but there are endless methods for working with it that haven't even occurred to you. When you go looking for ideas, most of what you see probably won't really get your attention. When you find a piece that does, you'll see that the search was 100% worthwhile.
Look up the art gallery at a few local universites.
Figure out a day when you can go visit two or three of them.
Find something that you think you would like to try.
Go home and try to make it work.
Warren recommends the following next steps:
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Katie’s Answer
Hi Leila,
I think the best advice to shake up your drawing style and not get stuck in a routine is to try an challenge yourself. You can google various drawing challenges to try or be creative yourself and come up with some! For example a few: try drawing with only one color, draw with different materials (not graphite), drawing only using straight lines, drawing only using curved lines, try using random word generators to give you suggestions what to draw. Another fun idea is to have someone start a drawing for you (even if it's just a few lines) and then you finish the rest. Getting out of your element and trying new things you wouldn't typical draw, or using materials you wouldn't typically use, are key in staying fresh with your own creativity.
I think the best advice to shake up your drawing style and not get stuck in a routine is to try an challenge yourself. You can google various drawing challenges to try or be creative yourself and come up with some! For example a few: try drawing with only one color, draw with different materials (not graphite), drawing only using straight lines, drawing only using curved lines, try using random word generators to give you suggestions what to draw. Another fun idea is to have someone start a drawing for you (even if it's just a few lines) and then you finish the rest. Getting out of your element and trying new things you wouldn't typical draw, or using materials you wouldn't typically use, are key in staying fresh with your own creativity.
Updated
Linda’s Answer
Of course a lot of it will have your unique asteadic but I have found if you begin a piece and loose interest try things you would never do. For instance add black where you would put white, dots, metallic until you have kayos then go back in reverse and you will find the magic.